Buying Antique Jewellery Online: Eight Questions to Ask Any Seller

A new ring comes with a brand, a warranty and a hundred identical copies. An antique piece comes with none of these. It is one of a kind, it may have been repaired over the years, and a photograph can hide a great deal. So the buyer has to ask more. Here are eight questions worth putting to any seller, including us.

1. Can I see it on a live video call?

Photographs are taken in the best light. A live video call shows the piece moving, in natural light, and lets you ask to see the clasp, the back and the inside. A seller who avoids this is worth a second thought.

2. What exactly is it made of?

Ask for the metal and its purity, and the name of every stone or pearl. A simple answer such as “gold-polished silver” or “natural Basra pearls” is better than a vague “pearl jewellery”. Ask whether any stone is treated, and whether it is natural or lab-made.

3. Is there a laboratory report?

For high-value pearls and stones, a report from a recognised laboratory is the only firm proof. Pearls are a good example. A natural pearl and a cultured pearl can look alike, and only X-ray examination reliably shows the difference (see our guide to natural and cultured pearls). The word “Basra” is also used loosely in the trade, so the name alone guarantees nothing. A report states what the pearl is.

4. What condition is it in, honestly?

Old pieces often have repairs, replaced stones, or restrung pearls. None of this is a fault if you are told. Ask for the flaws to be described and shown.

5. Who am I buying from?

Look for a real address, a phone number that is answered and clear policies. A seller who lists these is accountable.

6. What if it arrives damaged, or is not as described?

Read the return policy before you pay. Ask how long you have to report damage, and whether an unboxing video is needed.

7. Can I sell it back later?

Antique jewellery is often bought to keep, but circumstances change. Ask whether the seller will buy the piece back, on what terms, and how the price is decided.

8. How will it be shipped?

Ask whether the parcel is insured and tracked. A piece worth lakhs should never travel uninsured.

At Antiqo

We offer a live video viewing before you buy. Every piece is covered by our Lifetime Buyback Guarantee, which lets you sell a piece you bought from us back to us, priced by its condition. If a piece arrives damaged or significantly different from its description, our returns policy applies, and our shipping policy covers insured delivery. Every Ravi Varma artwork we offer is carefully authenticated and accompanied by appropriate certification to establish its authenticity.

Explore Jewel Antiqo, or message us on WhatsApp with any question that is not on this list.