A Guide To Selling Estate Jewelry:
10 Tips From The Experts
FORTUNA® Executor Support Program www.FortunaAuction.com
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#1. Do Not Sell Out—Find an Auction House with Integrity to Partner with. There are many estate buyers out there and they all have one thing in common—their goal is to purchase for as cheap as possible so that they can maximize their profits. Fundamentally, their interest is not aligned with yours. Auction houses on the other hand are the exact opposite, in that their interests are fully-aligned with yours—the more money that the contents of the estate bring at auction, the better the financial return is for both the estate and the auction house. However, not all auction houses are created equal. Pick one that places integrity above all other things. At FORTUNA®, integrity, honesty, and transparency are part of our DNA.
In our industry, finding a company that you can trust your hard-earned clients to is often a challenge. In my 30 years of experience I can tell you that the team at FORTUNA® is not only trustworthy, but will take your clients from the beginning to the end of the auction process with white glove service. Transparent, Ethical and Profitable. I highly recommend them to my clients and colleagues. —Richard J. Malerba, GG (GIA), RMVP, Member NAJA Owner, American Jewelry Institute
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#2. Partner with an Auction House that Specializes in Jewelry and Watches. Most auction houses are not focused—in addition to jewelry, they sell art, furniture, automobiles, real estate, and much more. As the world’s top auction house that focuses exclusively on jewelry and watches, FORTUNA®’s team of specialists have decades of focused experience and are experts in their field. As a result, FORTUNA® is able to deliver on a level that other auction houses simply cannot. An example of this is FORTUNA®’s Value Enhancement Services, which maximize the value of consigned items in order to deliver higher returns at auction. Our team of specialists are able to recognize obscure hallmarks, research and identify rare designers, locate hard-to-find parts, obtain authenticity certificates and lab reports; and determine opportunities for enhancing value through re-setting, re-cutting, and polishing gemstones, and restoring antique pieces.
84,375
$
AFTER ENHANCEMENT
Identified designer of vintage diamond bracelet
35,000
$
BEFORE ENHANCEMENT
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$137,500 AFTER ENHANCEMENT
5,000
$ Identified rare French designer of a carved chalcedony cuff
BEFORE ENHANCEMENT
150,000
$
AFTER ENHANCEMENT
12,000
$ Identified rare French designer of a citrine Retro gold cuff
BEFORE ENHANCEMENT
200,000
$
AFTER ENHANCEMENT
Recut diamond to improve clarity and cut-grade
150,000
$
BEFORE ENHANCEMENT
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#3. Partner with an Auction House that has a Global Audience. There are many auction houses, however, it is important that you partner with an auction house that has a global audience, not just a local audience. More Bidders = Better Results Over the years FORTUNA® has cultivated a global audience of dedicated jewelry and watch enthusiasts, including Ultra-High-Net-Worth individuals and celebrities, as well as a network of private collectors in over 59 countries.
59 REGISTERED BIDDERS IN
COUNTRIES AND GROWING www.FortunaAuction.com
#4. Partner with an Auction House that has a Large Online Following. In today’s world, an online following is essential for success. At FORTUNA® we are proud of the tens of thousands of people from around the globe that are dedicated followers of ours. We have a stronger online presence than some of the largest auction houses in the world that have been around for centuries. We have our talented marketing team, cutting edge technology, and second-to-none photography to thank for that. Most importantly, however, we have folks like yourself to thank for that—all of the jewelry and watches we sell come from people like you that put their trust in us and for that we are eternally grateful.
FORTUNA® has more than 30,000 followers on Instagram alone!
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#5. Partner with an Auction House that Will Go the Extra Mile for You—Literally! Being an executor can be stressful—we know—we’ve worked with A LOT of executors and every one of them felt the weight and stress that comes with the responsibility of being an executor. From the moment you contact FORTUNA®, you will be assigned a White Glove Ambassador, who will be responsible for ensuring that your every need is met and that your experience is as stress-free as possible. Would you prefer to have FORTUNA® come to you, and meet you in the comfort and security of your own home or another place of your choosing? No problem at all! Your White Glove Ambassador will arrange for one of FORTUNA®’s specialists to travel to you. Would you prefer to to send the jewelry to FORTUNA® rather than meeting in-person? No problem! Your White Glove Ambassador will send you a pre-paid shipping label with shipping instructions. The label is fully paid for and insured by FORTUNA® and, if you choose not to consign at any point during the process, we will ship the jewelry back to you for free with no fees or penalties.
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#6. Partner with an Auction House that Will Work at Your Pace and Help You with Everything. Other auction houses cherry-pick the items they like, leaving you to deal with bits and pieces after. We respect your collection—and will help you with all of it. With multiple types of sales occurring on a bi-weekly basis, FORTUNA® is capable of selling everything quickly or taking a “slow and strategic” approach, depending on your needs/ requirements. If an appraisal is required (for tax or other purposes) we will gladly put you in touch with a well-respected certified independent jewelry appraiser in any of the 50 States.
I consigned with FORTUNA® after inquiring with two other auction houses in the city. Both gave me a much lower appraisal value than FORTUNA® and weren’t interested in consigning all of our jewelry–they wanted to cherry-pick. In the end, FORTUNA® got us a higher amount than the replacement value appraisal we previously obtained. I highly recommend them. —Bill M. New Hampshire
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#7. Partner with an Auction House that Will Bear the Risk for You. While most auction houses charge fees for services such as cataloging, photography, marketing, insurance, and will charge you penalty fees if they are unable to sell the jewelry for the estate. At FORTUNA® there are NO FEES for cataloging, photography, marketing, or insurance. In fact, we take things a step further. For any jewelry and watches that we cannot sell at the minimum prices you agree with, we take nothing. If we can’t perform for you, we don’t believe we should be paid—it’s really that simple. We only make money through our premiums, which only apply to sold items—and even our premiums are lower than all other major auction houses.
Your willingness to work within the demands of my family as in setting reserve prices not only helped us achieve successful sales but also kept the siblings from being torn apart in that pursuit. My family was so convinced that FORTUNA® was just right for us because of how you run your house in that, by and large, expenses were not an issue. —Stephen P. Storfer, MD Infectious Disease Specialist Westport, CT www.FortunaAuction.com
#8. Partner with an Auction House that Can Deliver Top Results for You. FORTUNA® was able to sell my ring for about six times more than any other company was willing to pay. After learning about FORTUNA® and selling my jewelry through the company, I would never consider selling jewelry any other way. —Erinn Scheib Creative Marketing Professional Tampa, FL
I was thrilled with the results and used the money for the down payment on our dream house on the water. We could not have realized this without FORTUNA®. I can’t even speak to the joy this has brought us. —Julie Reynolds Real Estate Business Owner Hilton Head, SC
On the next 4 pages you will see just a few examples of FORTUNA®’s performance on estate jewelry and watch collections. In each case, the executor(s) received multiple sell-out (cash) offers and in each case the executor(s) chose to partner with FORTUNA® instead of selling out. For each example, we have listed the highest sell-out (cash) offers that the estate received and then listed the amount that FORTUNA® was able to achieve for the estate as a comparison.
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An Estate from New York
CASE STUDY
FLORIDA PRIVATE COLLECTION BUYER #1 CASH OFFER TOTAL DEALER OFFER
BUYER #2 CASH OFFER PERCENTAGE MORE ACHIEVED WITH FORTUNA
BUYER #3 CASH OFFER AMOUNT FORTUNA REALIZED FOR CLIENT
AMOUNT FORTUNA REALIZED FOR CLIENT SELL-THROUGH BY LOT
$700,000 $26,050
$750,000 175%
$850,000 $45,600
$1,100,000 100%
Cartier Art Deco Colombian Emerald, Diamond Bracelet Tiffany Ruby Diamond Necklace Cash Offer: $50,000 Highest Dealer Offer: $5,000 Realized: $237,500$12,000 Fortuna Realized:
Cartier Art Deco Convertible Fancy Intense Burmese Ruby,Yellow Diamond Necklace Diamond Cash Offer:Ring $40,000 Highest Dealer Offer: $13,000 Realized: $150,000 Unsold at Competing Auction House, with a reserve of $15,000 Fortuna Realized: $22,500
Suzanne Belperron Three Diamond Chalcedony Ring Buccellati Gold Bracelet Cash Offer: $8,000 Highest Dealer Offer: $4,000 Realized: $65,625 Fortuna Realized: $5,500
Suzanne Belperron Chalcedony Diamond Clip Opal Cuff Links Cash Offer: $10,000 Highest Dealer Offer: $400 Realized: $62,500 Fortuna Realized: $550
Rock Crystal Convertible Cuff/ Brooch, Belperron Tiffany Gold Lighter Cash Offer: $3,000 Highest Dealer Offer: $450 Realized: $78,125 Fortuna Realized: $950
Bulgari Burmese and Diamond “Trombino” Ring Gold Mens’ Patek Watch Cash Offer: $10,000 Highest Dealer Offer: $1,800 Realized: $28,125 Fortuna Realized: $2,500
Gold Bracelets Victorian Colombian Emerald Highest DealerEarrings Offer: $1,400 and Diamond Fortuna Realized: Cash Offer: $5,000$1,600 Realized: $37,500
Cartier Art Deco Colombian Emerald and Diamond Ring Cash Offer: $6,000 Realized: $20,000
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An Estate from Texas HIGHEST CASH OFFER
AMOUNT FORTUNA REALIZED FOR CLIENT
$288,030
$391,750
Four-Stone Old-European-Cut Diamond Ring Cash Offer: $3,800 Realized: $8,000
Tiffany & Co. Antique Moonstone & Sapphire Necklace Cash Offer: $7,500 Realized: $24,000
Colombian Emerald and Diamond Ring/Pendant Cash Offer: $5,500 Realized: $10,000
Antique Diamond Bypass Ring, Crafted in Platinum Cash Offer: $7,500 Realized: $13,000
Group of Vintage Diamond Rings Cash Offer: $2,000 Realized: $6,500
Antique Diamond Necklace Cash Offer: $3,750 Realized: $6,000
Antique Diamond Ring, Crafted in 18K Gold Cash Offer: $2,500 Realized: $5,000
Black Opal & Diamond Ring Cash Offer: $1,250 Realized: $5,000
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An Estate from Florida HIGHEST CASH OFFER
AMOUNT FORTUNA REALIZED FOR CLIENT
$273,950
$375,800
13.61-Carat Fancy Yellow Diamond Ring Cash Offer: $75,000 Realized: $140,000
Fancy Yellow Diamond Earrings, 14.62 CTW Cash Offer: $75,000 Realized: $95,000
5.50-Carat Pear-Shaped Diamond Ring Cash Offer: $35,000 Realized: $43,750
Emerald-Cut Diamond Eternity Band Cash Offer: $9,500 Realized: $11,000
Diamond Hinged Cuff Cash Offer: $5,500 Realized: $7,000
Pair of Diamond Feather Pin Cash Offer: $2,000 Realized: $2,750
Lavender Jade and Diamond Ring Cash Offer: $1,500 Realized: $2,250
Diamond Link Chain Bracelet, Italian Cash Offer: $1,800 Realized: $2,500
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CASE STUDY
An PRIVATE EstateCOLLECTION from New York FLORIDA TOTAL DEALER HIGHEST CASH OFFER
AMOUNT FORTUNA REALIZEDWITH FOR FORTUNA CLIENT PERCENTAGE MORE ACHIEVED
$26,050 $125,350
$163,275 175%
AMOUNT FORTUNA REALIZED FOR CLIENT
SELL-THROUGH BY LOT
$45,600
100% Vintage Diamond Flower Brooch Cash Offer: $2,600 Realized: $7,000 Tiffany Ruby Diamond Necklace Highest Dealer Offer: $5,000 Fortuna Realized: $12,000
Vintage Textured Gold Link Bracelet, French Cash Offer: $1,500 Fancy Intense Yellow Realized: $4,000 Diamond Ring Highest Dealer Offer: $13,000 Unsold at Competing Auction House, with a reserve of $15,000 Fortuna Realized: $22,500
Diamond Bow Brooch Cash Offer: $1,800 Realized: $3,750 Buccellati Gold Bracelet Highest Dealer Offer: $4,000 Fortuna Realized: $5,500
4.18-Carat Marquise-Cut Diamond Ring Cash Offer: $19,000 Realized: Opal Cuff $24,000 Links Highest Dealer Offer: $400 Fortuna Realized: $550
V-Link Bracelet, Italian Cash Offer: $1,600 Tiffany Gold Lighter Realized: $3,000 Highest Dealer Offer: $450 Fortuna Realized: $950
V-Link Necklace Cash Offer: $1,800 Gold Mens’ Patek Watch Realized: $3,000 Highest Dealer Offer: $1,800 Fortuna Realized: $2,500
Gold Bracelets Antique Diamond Bracelet Highest Dealer Offer: $1,400 Cash Offer: $6,000 Fortuna Realized: $1,600 Realized: $7,500
1.51-Carat Emerald-Cut Diamond Ring Cash Offer: $4,500 Realized: $6,000
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#9. Partner with an Auction House that has a Flawless Reputation. FORTUNA® has a 5-star rating on Google and Facebook... Google us!
C
Cheryl R.
Extremely well managed. Stunningly beautiful and relevant jewelry and art. Most of all, uncompromised client service. This group goes the extra mile to define service whether you’re a frequent buyer or seeking one unusual small personal dream.
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Christy B.
I was very impressed with FORTUNA® and will certainly use them again. I had several beautiful rings I was wanting to sell and could not seem to do so at any of my local jewelers. Fortuna was able to inspect my rings, provide an estimate for how much I could sell them for....They were professional with every interaction. I’m so glad I found them! I also enjoyed watching the auction online! Thanks so much!
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Lainey S.
I needed help selling a diamond ring. I explored a few different options locally, but was pretty disappointed with some of the offers. I ended up going with FORTUNA®. They were very communicative during the process, and answered a lot of the questions I had. The process was very easy, and it was exciting to watch the day of the auction where other people were bidding to buy my ring....They are very ethical and transparent, and I have recommended a few friends to use them as well.
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#10. Partner with FORTUNA® CONTACT US TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND VALUATION Email: valuation@FortunaAuction.com Phone: +1 (212) 389 9040 Address: 608 5th Avenue, Suite 507 New York, NY 10020
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