Gold
Next to platinum, gold is the most expensive precious metal, but its value depends a lot on its purity. The karat value refers to gold purity, or the amount of pure gold that is in the jewelry. The higher the karat value, the more expensive the gold is. Most gold jewelry will have a karat stamp on it that shows the fineness of the gold. Another important factor with gold jewelry is the amount of grams or troy ounces of gold it contains. The more weight a piece of gold has, the more expensive the jewelry will be.
Silver
Silver is relatively less expensive when compared to gold, though it is still considered a precious metal. Its value is based on grams and ounces. Sterling silver isn’t as pure because of the additives used to give the metal more strength, therefore its value is slightly lower than pure silver.
Diamonds
Diamonds are one of the most expensive stones that are commonly used in jewelry. There are a lot of factors that play into the price of a diamond, such as the diamond’s shape or cut, carat weight, color, clarity, and if the diamond is certified or not. These different aspects can greatly increase or decrease a diamond’s value.
Jewels and Stones
Prices of other jewels and stones can vary highly, which can make it difficult to know what the piece is worth. In these cases, it may be best to find a company that appraises jewelry. You can find companies that perform jewelry appraisals in Michigan and in many other cities.
Jewelry prices can certainly vary with the economy, but it can be helpful to have a general idea of how much jewelry may be worth before getting jewelry appraised.
