FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kate
Treworgy
Tel.: (802)
457-4000
Fax: (802)
457-4004
SPARKLING TREASURES CAN BE
FOUND AT AUCTION…
BY THOSE WHO KNOW HOW!
Auction Purchases of Jewelry and
Gems Up in Recent Years; Consumers Should
Do Research Before
They Buy or Sell
Auction fever has struck America. From eBay to the plush auction salons in New York, Geneva, Paris and London, buying and selling at auction—or just being on the scene—is all the rage. And it’s not just sports memorabilia and art works that are drawing bids these days. Jewelry is one of the fastest growing segments of the auction arena, with everything from sterling silver brooches to fabulous jewels and gems available—all at great auction prices.
Today, both traditional auction houses and “virtual” internet auctions are becoming major new sources for buying sparkling gems and jewels, and as an exciting way to make a profit on yesterday’s treasures. As a result, people from all walks of life are coming together to participate in the action. Some want to find incredible bargains, others to discover hidden treasures, and still others vie for the chance to own the world’s best. For this elite group of high rollers, a visit to the auction house is clearly a social event on par with attending a party at Gatsby’s or the races at Saratoga.
“At auction, the opportunity exists for anyone to buy or sell, and if you are knowledgeable, astute, and lucky, you just may end up acquiring a rare and valuable treasure at a ‘bargain’ price, or set a new pricing record,” says Antoinette Matlins, P.G., a leading authority on gems and jewelry, and author of several books on the subject. In her newest book, Jewelry & Gems at Auction: The Definitive Guide to Buying & Selling at the Auction House & on Internet Auction Sites (GemStone Press / $19.95), she cautions, “But be careful—it isn’t hard to get caught up in ‘auction fever’—and, as with all fevers, you can be burned.”
“Participating in an auction is an exciting experience, filled with the thrill of anticipation,” she notes. “Whether you are buying or selling, whether an experienced veteran or a novice, whether bidding in the auction salon or in a country-style auction while you picnic in a lovely setting, you can’t help feeling your heartbeat quicken as ‘your piece’ comes up for bid. A little adrenaline surge will keep you on the edge of your seat until the auctioneer’s hammer strikes, signaling the end of the bidding on that lot. And then it is over, and if you’ve been successful, you’ll know the thrill of pure delight; but if you’re unsuccessful, well…perhaps you’ll be luckier next time.”
There are many reasons that people are turning to auctions to acquire gems and jewelry: great prices, huge diversity, and easy access to one-of-a-kind jewelry with the distinctive workmanship of bygone days. Auctions also provide opportunities to see and own masterpieces by great artists and the greatest jewelry houses, or to acquire fine, rare natural gemstones of a much higher quality than that being mined anywhere in the world today. Even couples seeking that perfect engagement ring are discovering great deals at auction on beautiful, distinctive rings.
No matter what your motivation, however, you need to be educated about the process before the bidding starts. There’s a lot to know. Not all purchases are bargains, nor is every purchase what it appears to be. How can you be sure of what you are getting, and that it’s a good deal? Where are the hidden risks? To help increase the chance of success at auction, and avoid disappointments, see the advice offered by Matlins in Jewelry & Gems at Auction: The Definitive Guide to Buying & Selling at the Auction House & on Internet Auction Sites.
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Jewelry & Gems at Auction: The Definitive Guide to Buying & Selling at the Auction House & on Internet Auction Sites (6" x 9", 352 pp., 16 pages of full color photographs; more than 150 color and b/w photographs and illustrations, Quality Paperback Original, ISBN 0-943763-29-0, $19.95) is available from retail bookstores, amazon.com, and directly from GemStone Press, P.O. Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091. Tel. (802) 457-4000, Fax (802) 457-4004, www.gemstonepress.com. For credit card orders, call (800) 962-4544. Add $3.75 shipping and handling for the first book, $2.00 for each additional book.