My first attempt at bidding online at a jewelry auction was loads of fun and way easier than I thought! I decided on Skinner’s Fine Jewelry Auction on September 10th, which was convenient for me with my work schedule–I was able to watch live while typing up appraisals.
My first step was to register; very simple and straight-forward–I filled out a form, created a username and password, and then proceeded to wait for a confirmation email. It took about one day to be approved in order to bid, so I recommend doing this at least a few days in advance of auction day.
Next, I browsed the lots, making sure I read every detail about items that were of interest. Using an iPhone to browse can also be done, which made things more efficient. If a ring appealed to me, I made sure to check out the size and evaluated whether or not it was sizable. If stones were missing from a piece, I figured if it would be worth repairing–how much it would cost to repair and how much the piece would be fully restored? These types of answers to questions may be hard for an average person to answer, but there are always people that work the auction houses that are available and ready to answer questions! Once I figured out which items I wanted to bid on, I made sure to jot down the lot number, how much my maximum bid should be, and how much I think the item is worth (its retail replacement value). I also made sure to rank the items–noting which lots were my absolute favorites.
On auction day, I logged in and it was amazing to watch and hear the auction going on, LIVE! I had to mute the sound due to being at work, but luckily there are Live Updates on the Message Center throughout the entire auction. Most bids went to “Floor Bidders,” people that were present at the actual event, but surprisingly the “Online Bidders” kept things exciting and also came away as winners. I bid on the two rings above; with bidding being one-click, it was super quick and easy. Almost too easy, because I bid more than what I figured as my maximum bid, but the excitement is entertaining and contagious. Sadly, I didn’t win the lot, but enjoyed watching the rest of the auction from the convenience of my desk…chiming in every once in awhile, when a good deal came across the screen.
Here are the results of my TOP SIX picks from the Skinner Auction:
18k yellow gold Art Deco, Egyptian Revival enamel watch, Hammer price: $1,046
18k yellow gold antique swag chain and Bloodstone ring, Hammer price: $800
18k yellow gold rings, turquoise & enamel dancing maiden, Hammer price: $840
18k yellow gold fringe necklace, Hammer price: $1,560
Tiffany & Co. reverse crystal painted brooch in 14k yellow gold, Hammer price: $9,600
Gold & platinum topped diamond and sapphire bypass ring, Hammer price: $1,800
This post was brought to you in collaboration with LoveGold
Longevity September 19, 2013 at 2:51 pm:
It was so fun – took all day! Next time we should tweet while we bid 😉
Bijuterii September 24, 2013 at 6:41 am:
Tiffany & Co. reverse crystal painted brooch is gorgeous.