What's It Worth by Jeff Hess

Often when we write a column about a particular subject, it generates interest in our two stores for both buying and selling. Last month’s column about mid-century modern enticed a forward-thinking Tampa resident to bring us perhaps the mother lode of mid-century modern.

Why the mother lode? Because these two rings are a couple of the heaviest and most unusual rings we have ever seen. Additionally, he retained the original artist paperwork (Barry Merritt) outlining the original cost and signed by the artist.

Brown diamonds have typically been unsellable in the marketplace, but in the 1980s, diamond sellers saw an opportunity to market them as champagne colored — and suddenly they became sellable. One company actually trademarked them as chocolate diamonds. Traditionally, if the word brown is included in the GIA report, it kills the value of a stone.

We’re not really disappointed, but this watched received so much publicity, we expected more.

We buy from dealers all across the United States. and a jeweler in Washington, D.C.,called with an extraordinary Patek Philippe watch that was one of a kind. Her customer was a direct relative of the watch’s original owner.

Recently, a Philadelphia jeweler offered us this platinum tiara — with over 25 carats of fine white diamonds — for purchase. While the appraisal value is likely $75,000 to $85,000, the jeweler was asking $25,000.

Tiffany had many designers over the years, and in fact some of the early pre-Tiffany and Company days utiliilized the talents of women who weren’t allowed to be credited. Scores of talented women designed windows and other art that ultimately was signed by Tiffany Studios, a precursor to today’s Tiffany. Later, however, some women — like Elssa Peretti and Paloma Picasso — were given the credit they deserved.

For some reason, boxes of any kind have been a staple of collectibility across all ages, income brackets and societal demographics. It doesn’t matter what era the box comes from – all sizes are sought after. From small snuff boxes (as we have written about) to large humidors.

Boxes can be used for carrying just about anything – valuables, jewelry, keepsakes, business cards or pills – or can simply be decorative. They can be made of rare woods, crystal, gold, silver – or even horn, ivory or tortoise shell (though the last few are highly protected now).

We bought this mid-century modern, Tiffany and Co. 155-gram 14K gold and jade box from a North Carolina Jeweler for only 5 percent over gold value, which was $4,800. While we would love to be able to sell it for double what we paid for it, which was the profit margin jewelers aimed for back in the day, in this day — with gold valued at over $1,500 an ounce — it’s just not feasible.

Ninety-nine percent of opals are what we a call commercial opals. Meaning, whitish with a small play of color. The play of color makes all the difference in the evaluation of opals. Most white opals have little fire or color play. Finer opals have brilliant color play. More sought- after opals are so-called black opals, which are black and dark blue or reddish purple, etc. This week, we obtained three cool examples.

Instead of writing about what something is worth today, we are going to take this opportunity to invite you to meet us in person at the Tampa Bay Times Women’s Expo – which will feature exhibits, seminars and education on a wide range of women’s interests (not the least of which include jewelry and fine art). Taking place on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Florida State Fairgrounds in the Entertainment Hall, we are the major Presented by sponsor of the event. Plus, admission is free!

We recently were able to buy a fantastic platinum, diamond and cultured pearl necklace made by Tiffany in 2006 for one of their more exclusive lines called the Voile Collection.

This collection was undoubtedly made in response to the 21st century fascination with art deco and Victorian antiques. It features 198 perfectly matched cultured pearls, all set in platinum, with D to F color and VS1 clarity ultrafine white diamonds.