Many collectors and designers across the globe are interested in estate jewelry items because they can tell stories about the past, present and future. If you're on the lookout for precious gifts or personal treats, you might want to stay informed about recent festivals and auctions.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, there was a prominent silent auction at Saks Fifth Avenue in Union Square, San Francisco in mid-April. One of the featured collections, with items such as antique earrings, a necklace, bracelet and cocktail ring, was provided by a local jeweler who bought them from Elizabeth Taylor's estate. These pieces, including ruby, canary and diamonds, are all made from 18 karat gold, coming to a value of roughly 1.25 million. Events such as these can make participants feel like champion shoppers while benefitting the local community – Saks will donate 10 percent of the auction's proceeds to The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
If you can't find what you're looking for at local sales, you might be surprised to find that many online retailers make estate items available to a wider market.
