Brian, thanks for writing in. There are many factors to consider when making the decision to sell your jewelry. Obtaining an authoritative estimate of your pearls, is your first step. The pearls should be examined at a reputable lab with facilities to X-ray pearls. An important part of the authentication process is provenance which establishes the chain of ownership back (if possible) to the date an item. Provenance can significantly impact the value of an object.
If you decide to offer your property at an art auction house, like Sotheby's - they draw up a seller’s contract for you, which includes the reserve price as well as details concerning their commissions. The seller’s contract sets out the reserve price and the seller’s commission.
One so called "drawback" is that your property will need to be delivered to their offices. As the consignor, you are responsible for packing, shipping and insurance charges.
If the bidding on your item fails to reach the reserve price, some consignors choose to take back their property, while others offer it in a later auction or sell privately. Charges that were agreed pre-sale will be invoiced immediately after the sale – for example, shipping and handling costs. In the event that a lot does not sell, the reserve price is used to determine certain fees.
In other words, fees involved, such as shipping & handling costs, and agreed pre-sale costs regardless of whether your property meet the reserve or not.
Sothebys conduct over 250 auctions around the world. Contacts for Sothebys locations worldwide can be found Here
Depending on your needs, Sothebys auction house also have a Private Sales team that guarantees discretion and facilitates transactions according to your individual needs and schedule.
A cost effective alternative, you might like to consider, is to simply promote your pearls through our website in English and Arabic language (when you have obtained an authoritative appraisal). Our commission is much lower than a major art auction house. We have a unique edge, in that in the area of Natural pearls, promotions would appear in Arabic and English language.
Natural Pearls played an important part in the culture and the history of the Middle-East. All Arabic enquires are translated for you, if you decide to promote your Pearls through Antique-Jewelry-Investor.com We are not involved in shipping, insurance or handling charges - you do not need to send your property to us. If interested, contact for further assistance and details of charges.
