Q. What is an estate piece?

A. An estate piece can be classified as any piece that has been previously owned. It is unethical and in some cases, illegal to sell previously owned jewelry as new. Estate does not necessarily equate with an antique. In fact, there is no legal definition of an antique piece of jewelry from the Federal Trade Commission. Some estate items are very old, the most popular of which come from the 1920’s and 1930’s. However, most are relatively new. Several years ago, some retailers got in trouble with long return policies of up to 90 days. In some cases, the jewelry was returned after the 90 day period and placed back out on the show room floor. A court ruled that those items were previously owned and could not be resold as new. Even though they were only worn for three months, they qualified as “Estate.” “Estate” is a pleasant way of disclosing that the item has been previously owned. If you want more information about a collection, then inquire as to what period the “estate” collection includes. There are several periods worth noting, which include: Victorian, Art Deco and Art Nuvo, and Retro. Each period has distinct characteristics and are in high demand. In my family, we treasure some of the very old pieces as they come with wonderful memories. My wife has a ring that my great grandmother was given in 1906. When she wears it, I often think of the great times I had playing cards with my great grandmother long ago, and I remember how much I miss her. But, I still have a ring that her eyes looked at everyday. I think that is the beauty of old estate pieces. All the best, David Nygaard

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