lavalieres Archives

Ebay watchlist, Thanksgiving edition.

November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving, fellow Thanksgiving-celebrators! Whether you are preparing to cook a lot, eat a lot, or drink a lot to deal with all of the cooking and eating, I wish you a marvelous day.

Our ancestors did some horrible things, and I’m not on board with glorifying colonialism or genocide, but I like what this holiday means in my house: a day to sit down and concentrate on spending time with your family. I hope any non-Thanksgiving celebrators out have a marvelous day too.

We’re going to take a moment to be thankful for Ebay. If you’d like to revisit my guide to buying jewelry on Ebay, please click here.

As with any online shopping, please don’t forget to make sure that the pretties you’re admiring are the right size before you pull the trigger. My jewelry sizing cheat sheet can help.

Here’s my current Ebay watchlist. Today’s theme: dainty things.

Victorian amethyst, diamond, and seed pearl lavaliere necklace.

Art Deco diamond filigree lavalier necklace in 14k white gold.

Vintage sapphire and pearl in 9 k gold.

Edwardian aquamarine and pearl lavaliere in 15k white gold, circa 1910.

Art Deco black onyx and diamond filigree ring in18K yellow gold.

1920’s Art Deco green glass and sterling silver filigree pendant and chain.

Edwardian pearl and aquamarine lavalier pendant/brooch necklace.

A diamond and amethyst lavalier necklace.

November 3, 2012

This necklace is very simple and very beautiful. We’ve discussed my love of lavaliere necklaces before, and this one is a lovely example. This kind of necklace is quiet and elegant. I just love the chain of diamonds, and how it looks with the two amethyst drops.

This lovely thing is listed as part of the Bonhams Salon Jewelery auction, Los Angeles, September 24th, 2012. All images and information are thanks to Bonhams.

So you want to buy jewelry on Ebay: a first-timer’s guide.

October 4, 2012

Ebay is dangerous (and fun). You can never really know what you’re buying or who you’re buying it from. Bidding wars are seductive, especially if you’re as competitive and stubborn as I am. That said, I’ve bought some really beautiful jewelry on Ebay. I’ve also bought some jewelry that was so disappointing and worthless that I ended up throwing it in the trash.

The best advice I can give you about buying jewelry on Ebay is to be skeptical. Keep one eyebrow raised at all times.

Some sellers use words like “Art Deco” or “antique” to attract bidders, regardless of the terms’ applicability to their item. If something is lacking in pictures or information, ask the seller questions. If they won’t answer your questions, don’t do business with them. If a seller doesn’t have positive reviews, don’t do business with them. If you do buy jewelry on Ebay (or anything), pay promptly and leave honest feedback.

I like to search for specific things to help narrow down the huge selection. I often use search terms like “Edwardian” “Art Deco” “filigree” “camphor glass” “ring” “Kate Spade” “Anthropologie” on their own or in combination with each other, depending on what I’m looking for. Then I use the categories (on the left of the screen) to narrow down my results. I usually at least select “Jewelry and Watches” and often go further to “Vintage and Antique Jewelry” if that’s what I’m looking for. From there you can choose eras or types of jewelry, but it can be fun to see a wider selection if you’re not on a specific quest.

Never forget to check shipping costs; the price you bid is the price you’ll pay before shipping. I also recommend deciding the maximum you’re willing to pay for something before you place your first bid – and writing that number down, so you can remind yourself to stick to it.

Know all of your measurements – ring size, wrist circumference, and what necklace lengths you prefer. The only thing sadder than buying crap is buying something beautiful you can never wear.
Here are some thing I’m currently admiring on Ebay.