Overview
- How and Why is Jewellery Considered an Investment?
- Things to Consider When Investing in Jewellery
- Maintaining the Value of Your Jewellery Investments
- How Can I Verify the Authenticity of Investment-Worthy Jewellery?
Extravagant jewellery is a perfect statement accessory, elevating outfits and attracting admiration. But did you know that jewellery can also serve additional purposes, such as being an incredible liquid asset for investment?
But what items of jewellery are best to invest in? What factors determine the investment value of jewellery? And how do you make the best choice? In this blog, we’ll cover our top picks for investment jewellery items and tips on maintaining their value.
How and why is Jewellery Considered an Investment?
Jewellery is what is known as a liquid investment, as it can be easily converted into cash without much impact on its value, and it can be sold at any time. Precious metals such as platinum and gold are safe-haven assets. Fine jewellery pieces, set with high-quality diamonds and other precious gemstones, combine aesthetic appeal with inherent value, also making them excellent investment choices.
Gold Jewellery
Gold jewellery is an excellent investment, as it can have value both as a jewellery item and when melted into pure gold to create a new piece. Plus, the value of gold is known to decrease seldom and can often increase during difficult economic times, making gold investment jewellery a helpful safety net for potential future struggles.
The value of gold jewellery is higher when the gold is purer. This can be calculated by comparing the item's weight to the carat (gold content).
To learn more about investment gold jewellery, read our extensive guide, and when the time comes to cash in on your investment, we also have a blog on selling gold jewellery.
Diamond Jewellery
A dazzling diamond isn’t just perfect for creating an iced-out look. It’s also a financially savvy purchase. These stunning stones remain consistently high in value due to their rarity and cultural significance as a status symbol.
The value of a diamond is generally measured by the four C’s. These are:
- Colour
- Clarity
- Cut
- Carat
For the colour, traditional is the safest bet, although coloured diamonds in hues that stay consistently in style can also be a fabulous investment. In terms of clarity, the simple rule is: the clearer the better.
When choosing the cut, round brilliant cut diamonds are often the highest valued. And carat, in this case, simply means the weight of the diamond, with heavier stones being higher in value.
Pearl Jewellery
Saltwater pearls are another item prized for their beauty and rarity. Especially now that deep-sea diving for pearls is practised much less, the scarcity of pearls has made them an incredible investment. Not only that, but pearls are incredibly timeless, appearing in earrings, necklaces and brooches across history.
Pearls are often valued by their size, lustre, thickness, colour and roundness. The more perfectly and flawlessly round a pearl is, the more value it has.
Coloured Gemstones
Diamonds aren’t the only jewel worth investing in. Coloured gemstones like rubies, emeralds and sapphires are also excellent liquid assets, as they are considered “precious stones” due to their rarity and exquisite appearance. The rarer and more unique a stone, the more valuable it is.
Stones outside of these four, such as amethysts or opals, are beautiful on jewellery but are less secure as an investment as they aren’t as rare and therefore considered “semi-precious”.
You can discover more in our ultimate guide to gemstone jewellery.
Vintage Jewellery
Vintage pieces are often a brilliant investment, provided that you choose well.
Authentic pieces in a period-specific style, such as Art Deco jewellery, are immensely valuable due to the continuing reverence held for the fashion of the era. Jewellery with historical significance is also a wise choice, as are pieces by famous designers or jewellers who may no longer be with us.
You can read our guide to new vs. vintage jewellery to learn more.
Watches
Watches are a fabulous investment as they are considered a collector's item, with the rarest watches being the most prized. Plus, they have little correlation to the stock market, meaning their price often remains stable during economic crises.
One helpful tip for investing in watches is to choose Swiss designers, as these are often held in high regard by the watch-collecting community.
Platinum Jewellery
In addition to gold, other precious metals like platinum are a worthy investment.
Platinum, in particular, is a highly valuable metal as it is even rarer than gold. However, its value fluctuates, whereas gold’s value is more stable, so platinum may not be the best choice for a less seasoned investor.
Silver Jewellery
Another fantastic metal to invest in is silver, particularly sterling silver. Like gold, this metal has a strong history, and its value has a tendency to rise in economically challenging times. Plus, as silver jewellery is often cheaper than gold, the risk is lower. However, lower risk, in this case, can often equate to lower reward.
Things to Consider When Investing in Jewellery
Whilst studying which metals and jewels will provide the best financial investment, there are other factors to account for when investing in jewellery.
Emotional Investment Jewellery
Whilst the economic value of a metal or stone may fluctuate, the sentimental value of an item often grows. This is why some of your most significant jewellery investments may revolve less around future-proofing your finances and more around deep, personal meaning.
Investing in a particularly beautiful engagement ring, wedding ring, or christening bracelet can reflect the significance of the item in your life and the moment it is tied to, as well as potentially becoming a treasured family heirloom in years to come.
Jewellery You’ll Wear Again and Again
If you plan to wear an item of jewellery often, it’s certainly worth investing in quality. Whether it's statement diamond earrings that pair with every outfit, a sophisticated gold chain that can be worn with different pendants or a classic gold ring. If a piece is going to become part of your signature look, it’s certainly worth putting money into.
Maintaining the Value of Your Jewellery Investments
Keeping your investment jewellery in good condition is certainly wise. This can be done through proper storage and cleaning.
Can I Wear My Investment Jewellery?
The beauty of investment jewellery is that you have not only a fantastic liquid investment but also something spectacular to wear.
To ensure your investment still remains valuable whilst used as an eye-catching accessory, make sure that you remove it when engaging in sports or outdoor tasks like gardening to prevent chips and scratches. You should also avoid wearing your investment piece when cleaning, washing up or swimming, as chemicals can be damaging.
When not worn, store your investment piece in the box that it came in.
How Do I Clean My Investment Jewellery?
Cleaning investment jewellery is simple.
- Simply soak in lukewarm water mixed with very mild detergent and brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Ensure you use a brush marked “soft” or “extra soft”, as medium or hard-bristled brushes may scratch your piece.
- Polish with a soft, lint-free cloth.
How Can I Verify the Authenticity of Investment-Worthy Jewellery?
To verify the authenticity of your piece, look for a UK Hallmark Stamp. This is a mark in the metal verifying its quality and will include the mark of the hallmarking office that assayed the piece.
Another way to keep peace of mind is to acquire a Certificate of Authenticity.
At Hatton Jewellers, each of our pieces comes with both a UK Hallmark Stamp and Certificate of Authenticity so that you can have complete faith in your investments with us.
Buy your unique investment jewellery piece with Hatton Jewellers today, online or in our charming store. Find a wealth of jewellery inspiration and advice through our blog and Facebook page. And don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Please remember that this guide does not amount to investment advice, and all investment activity, jewellery buying included, is done entirely at your risk.
