Estate Jewelry Frederick, MD
Nelson Coleman Jewelers is thrilled to bring our selection of estate jewelry to this affluent and historic area. It is our pleasure and privilege to reach out to this community with the opportunity to serve you!
Whether you are in search of rare and unique estate jewelry or you are interested in getting your own pieces appraised, our team is here to help.
We have a wide selection of pieces from a variety of eras, and our expert jewelers can help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Come visit us today and let us help you find the perfect piece of estate jewelry!
Estate Jewelry Appraisals in Frederick, Maryland
At Nelson Coleman Jewelers, we pride ourselves on being honest and ethical consigners of jewelry. We understand and know antique and estate jewelry better than 9/10 jewelers in America, so whether you’re on the hunt for rare and exceptional pieces or you want to assess the value of your heirloom pieces, our experts are here for you.
We promise to treat you and your jewelry collection with the utmost respect. Within the jewelry business, Nelson Coleman helps to complete the circle of life, and we are here to help you through the process of letting go of your valuables in the most gentle and meaningful way possible.
If you have estate jewelry that you would like to sell or consign, we are great advisors and consults, especially at the acquisition stage. And we aren’t fussy or solely interested in rare, high-end jewelry — our approachable expert jewelers will appraise your pieces and give you a fair estimate based on a number of factors during our jewelry box consultation.
The Jewelry Box Consultation
Before an estate jewelry appraisal, you can partake in our free Jewelry Box Consultation, where we offer a verbal “Antique Roadshow”-like consultation. One of our experts will regularly travel to our Frederick location by appointment, sitting down with clients to evaluate the earthly treasures that they have accumulated from previous generations or the life’s journey they’ve taken.
This free estate jewelry consultation is broken into three parts to assess the value of your jewelry and allow you to decide the next steps you want to take.
Discovery
During the discovery phase, we will “separate the men from the boys,” so to speak — in other words, we’ll separate any costume jewelry from more valuable items made with noble materials and natural gemstones. This helps us get a better idea of what we’re looking at, and which pieces will have a higher-valued appraisal for resale, consignment, or insurance purposes based on the market value of their raw materials.
Desirability Assessment
Beyond material value, we take into consideration the desirability of each piece. Now, “desirability” is a rather fickle word, as what is desirable to customers changes every year. As our Estate Director, Mark Coleman, has said: “What was crazy-cool in 1985 may be ridiculously awful in 2022.”
The values we offer to our clients when assessing their estate jewelry are directly related to their desirability. We will always take the time to explain that every piece you own had three values: average retail selling price, insurance replacement value, and liquidation or wholesale value. For pieces that are not desirable to the public at the time of the appraisal, the difference between the retail value and the offers made for those pieces will be much greater, simply because it will be more difficult to market and resell those pieces.
Estate jewelry is often worth more than the cost of the material value, and when your jewelry is more desirable to the customers of today, you’ll be able to receive higher offers for those pieces.
Documentation
Once we have completed this preliminary assessment of your estate jewelry, we will provide you with the information we’ve collected. As experts in all manner of estate jewelry, including antique and vintage jewelry, we strive to provide you with documentation on the types of pieces you’ve brought to us, noting which are rare and exceptional, to help you maximize the value of your collection to the best of our knowledge.
How Nelson Coleman Entered the Estate Jewelry Business
The story of how Nelson Coleman Jewelers got started in estate jewelry is, as Mark Coleman puts it, a romantic one.
Mark’s father was Nelson Coleman, for whom the business is now named. The first three generations of the business was under Mark’s mother’s maiden name, and at the start of World War II, Nelson Coleman was invited into the family business. He received institutional artistic training and watched his father-in-law to learn the ropes, becoming successful in his own right.
As part of his work, Nelson Coleman saw that some of the store’s clientele would bring in their unwanted jewelry to sell it, and his father-in-law paid them just the material value before indiscriminately sending off the pieces to a refinery to get back the gemstones.
Witnessing this exchange, Nelson Coleman was aghast at the loss of beautiful pieces – art deco and other vintage pieces of yesteryear – and when took charge, he was among the first to open up an antique section in a jewelry store, hoping to give new life to estate pieces without melting them down into their material components.
After starting this initiative, he consistently advertised their practices, encouraging clients to allow Nelson Coleman’s counselors to discreetly take possession of unwanted pieces in a respectful and compassionate manner. The estate jewelry buying business was especially helpful for refugees coming into the area, allowing them to exchange precious heirlooms in a fair, honest way without destroying the pieces.
Still today, Nelson Coleman Jewelers is proud to help our clients let go of their valuables in a meaningful way that celebrates the pieces and their value.
The Everlasting Appeal of Estate Jewelry
Whether you’re looking for a piece to wear every day or something to save for a special occasion, estate jewelry is always a good choice. And at Nelson Coleman Jewelers, we have a wide selection of estate jewelry for you to choose from.
Estate jewelry simply refers to pieces that are pre-owned. This can include everything from antique pieces to modern items that were previously owned by someone else. Many of our customers love estate jewelry for a number of reasons!
Excellent Craftsmanship
Pre-owned jewelry is often made with quality materials and fine craftsmanship. Estate pieces are often durable and attractive as a result, which appeals to many buyers!
Unique Designs
Estate jewelry is also often one-of-a-kind, which means you can find unique pieces that are not mass-produced. This can add a lot of character to your jewelry collection!
Secondhand History
When you purchase pre-owned pieces, especially antique or vintage jewelry, you’re also buying a piece of history. Many estate jewelry pieces have fascinating stories to tell, and you can be the one to carry on that legacy.
Affordable, High Quality Pieces
Estate jewelry is often appealing because you can purchase high-quality pieces at more affordable prices compared to newly-made jewelry.
Types of Estate Jewelry at Our Frederick, Maryland Store
Our stock of estate jewelry is always changing, so you can check back often to see what we have in store! In many cases, we will carry a variety of pieces, including selections of the following:
Estate Designer Jewelry
Vintage Estate Jewelry
Vintage estate jewelry includes pieces that are between 50 and 100 years old. These pieces often have a classical look and feel, which many buyers love.
Antique Pieces
Antique estate jewelry is at least 100 years old, making it a true piece of history. They often have a look and feel that is unique to that era.
Engagement Rings
Estate engagement rings are a popular choice for couples who are looking for a unique and affordable ring. Whether you’re interested in a traditional gold diamond ring or something even more unique, you will have plenty of options when shopping for estate engagement rings.
Wedding Rings
Estate wedding rings are a great alternative for couples who want to save money on their big day. You can usually find a variety of styles, including both vintage and modern pieces, to celebrate your marriage.