Sell Your Earrings Online
How To Sell Your Earrings
Whether you have a pair of diamond stud earrings that you have inherited or a collection of Art Deco earrings that you have built up over the last 10 years, knowing how to sell your earrings can be somewhat difficult. Over the years, collecting habits have changed and what might have been in fashion 5 years ago may no longer be sought after.
Selling at auction used to be a good option for selling earrings, however, the average seller’s commission is now 18% and the average buyer’s commission is 25% – meaning that if you sell at auction you only get back 57% of what the buyer was willing to pay. We can help you get the most for your earrings so please get in touch.
This guide aims to help you understand what your antique silver is worth and what affects the value of antique silver. You can also get in touch for a free valuation and no-obligation advice.
How Can You Sell Your Earrings?
Are you looking to sell your earrings but don’t know where to start? At Mark Littler LTD we make the selling process as simple as possible by handling all of the logistics, paperwork and fully insured shipping.
We can help you sell your earrings in two ways:
- Through a brokered private sale
- Through specialist online auctions
Our aim is to achieve the best possible price for your jewellery; after all, you can only sell once. By giving you all of your options you can be sure you are making the right decision.
Earring Valuation Contact Form
Common Earring Types

Chandelier – Chandelier earrings are designed to emulate, well…chandeliers, usually comprising an intricate design that dangles from a stud. The motifs that appear in the design depend hugely on the period in which the earrings were made. Chandelier earrings were more traditionally worn for formal events, but have become more multi-functional in modern times.

Studs – Stud earrings are often the first choice of earrings for someone who has recently had their ears pierced. Diamond solitaire studs are perhaps the most commercial form of earring. A timeless classic, they are made using many different types of gemstones and metals and are well-loved for their simplicity and wearability.

Drop – Drop earrings usually consist of a simple design hanging from a wire hook or a stud and dangling below the earlobes. The more understated version of the chandelier, drop earrings often make use of a single diamond that catches the light and draws the eye.

Tassel – Tassel earrings first gained popularity between the 1920s and 1940s. They usually consist of either fabric or precious metal tassels hanging from a stud or wire hook earring. This style of earring was particularly suited to the short hairstyles that became popular in the 1920s.

Teardrop – The first modern record of pear-shaped gem cutting comes from 1457 when a Flemish diamond cutter debuted the first pear-shaped diamond. The pear-cut has seen something of a resurgence in recent years, not least in single or haloed gems hanging from studs or wire hooks, known as teardrop earrings.

Hoop – Hoop earrings are thought to have originated in around 2500 BCE and became fashionable amongst civilisations such as the Sumerian and Nubian civilisations. Hoop earrings became a symbol of wealth in ancient Egypt and Greece, and became a traditional piece of jewellery amongst Native American and Latino cultures.
What Affects The Value Of Your Earrings?

Designer
Jewellery is made either in anonymous workshops or by well-known designers and jewellery houses. As you can imagine, pieces that are designed by famous designers or jewellery houses such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Georg Jensen will command a premium over those that were mass-produced. Earrings by well-known jewellery houses have more provenance and history behind them, making them more commercial than their fashion jewellery counterparts.
Most earrings that were designed and made by famous designers will bear a maker’s mark, telling you who produced the item. This information is important in valuing your pieces of jewellery. The marks can be very small, and you may not be able to read them with the naked eye. For example, the marks on stud earrings usually appear on the post.
The value of earrings can also be affected by whether or not its design is indicative of the period that it is from. For example, a pair of Art Deco tassel earrings that display the typical geometric styles of the period will be more valuable than a pair of Art Deco earrings that are not in the traditional style.

Metal
Most earrings are made from some kind of gold, silver, or platinum. Identifying the purity of the metal can help to determine the quality of the item. For example, gold comes in various different purities, with 24-carat gold being the purest, with 99.9% pure gold. As such, 24-carat gold items are considered of a higher purity than 9-carat gold items (37.5% pure gold).
Certain metals and purities are better suited to gem settings than others. For example, you would not set a 3ct emerald in a 9ct gold setting. Instead, you would use 18ct platinum, which is more durable than 9ct gold.
Silver and platinum also have different levels of purity that affect the value of items made from these metals. The purity of an item can be identified either through testing in a lab or through the hallmarks on the item. For example, a silver item with a full set of UK hallmarks can be called sterling silver.

Gemstones
If your earrings set with gemstones, there are many attributes of these gems that can affect the value of your item.
Firstly, what is the identity of the gemstone? Diamonds have always been, and remain, extremely commercial. Other stones such as tanzanite, sapphire, and emerald are also highly sought after.
Other attributes such as the cut, colour, inclusions, damage, carat weight, and clarity of the gemstone can affect the value. For example, a 1ct round brilliant natural diamond with high clarity will be more valuable than a 1ct round brilliant natural diamond with several inclusions and a chipped girdle.
There is also a disparity in value between natural gemstones and man-made gemstones. Whether or not a gemstone has been treated can also affect the value of your jewellery.

Condition
Of course, the condition of your earrings will have an impact on value. Any dents, missing claws, scratches, etc will affect the value.
However, with jewellery, the condition of the item is more relevant to some styles than others. For example, gold is extremely malleable, and so a missing claw in a ring can be easily replaced. By contrast, items made from enamel can be very difficult to repair and restore.
The same can be said for different gemstones. Some gemstones are much easier to re-cut and re-polish than others.
When sending us photos of your items please be sure to include photos of any damage to the jewellery so that we can accurately assess the condition of the item.

Age
At Mark Littler Ltd we have sold jewellery from many different time periods, from the medieval Green Hammerton Ring to modern Cartier pieces. Jewellery from certain time periods is more sought after than others. For example, jewellery from the Victorian Era (1837-1901) is more sought after by collectors than jewellery from the Retro Era (1939-1950).
Whilst this is not always the case – sometimes more modern pieces command a premium, depending on numerous factors such as the designer – the age of your jewellery can be a good indication of its rarity and value in some instances.
As mentioned above, jewellery from specific periods is always more sought after if it reflects the characteristics of the particular period. For example, Art Nouveau jewellery bearing the characteristic swirls and natural motifs will be more valuable than jewellery from the same period that does not share these features

Form
The form that your jewellery takes can have an effect on the value of your piece due to certain types of jewellery falling in and out of fashion.
As an example, stud earrings, drop earrings, and hoop earrings are somewhat timeless. By comparison, large chandelier earrings have fallen out of fashion somewhat, and are no longer worn every day like their simpler counterparts.
Rings, necklaces, and earrings are all very commercial, with specific styles commanding different premiums at different times in history.
How We Can Help You Sell Your Earrings

Private Sale
Our brokerage service is a simple and stress-free way to sell your jewellery. We will broker the sale between you and one of our private buyers, handling every aspect of the sale on your behalf. For this service, we charge a 10 + VAT commission (12% total). This avenue is quick and easy. We will take care of everything for you.

Auction
We have built relationships with some of the country’s best specialist auctions. These industry relations help us to help you sell jewellery through the auction house that is best suited to you and your item. This is critical given the high cost of selling your items through traditional auctions. We will consign your item to the appropriate auction house for you.
Sell Earrings: Expert Valuations
To make the process as simple as possible for you, we give you the opportunity to get your jewellery valued for free with our quick and easy-to-use valuation form.
Please provide as much information as possible about your item so that we can give you an accurate valuation.
Jewellery Valuation Contact Form
Postage Service
We make getting your jewellery to us simple.
We have a fully insured postage service. We send you specialist packing materials and instructions together with a pre-paid returns label so that you can ship your jewellery back to us quickly and safely.
For large collections and very high-value items, we also have a hand-courier service available.
The History of Earrings
Earrings are, arguably, the most commercial form of jewellery with many women and girls choosing to get their ears pierced during their lifetimes. Earrings are well-loved for their ease of wear and variety of styles.
The earliest records of earrings date back over 7,000 years. Earrings became prolific in Ancient Asia, and Ancient Egyptians would wear earrings to signify their high class and status. Europe son followed suit, and earrings became popular amongst men as well as women. However, in the 13th century, the Catholic Church banned ear piercings as it went against the idea that people’s bodies were created in the image of God, and were not to be altered. During this time, earrings became popular amongst the lower class.
Post-renaissance, earrings served a function for young boys and families. A young boy from a single-mother family would wear earrings, and the only boy in the family would wear an earring in the right ear. If a man was wearing earrings in both ears it signified that the boy was the last male in the family. In this case, this boy was not allowed to participate in war to avoid ending the family line forever.
The 4 C’s
The 4 Cs are common terminology in the world of gemmology, and they refer to the 4 most important factors that can affect the value of a diamond but can also apply to other gemstones. Given that diamond earrings are amongst the most common on the market, these points are particularly important and will affect the value of your diamond earrings. The 4 Cs are:




Clarity – The clarity of a diamond indicates how inclusion-free the diamond is. A diamond free from inclusions is commonly graded as Flawless (F). The better the clarity of the stones in your earrings, the higher the value of the earrings will be in comparison to similarly-sized stones of lower clarity.
Cut – The cut of a diamond or gemstone refers to how deep or shallow the cut is. A well-cut stone will direct light through the crown. A cut that is too deep or too shallow will allow light to escape. As such, a well-cut diamond, or other gemstone, will hold more value than one of a similar size but with a shallower cut.
Carat – Carat refers to the carat weight of a diamond or gemstone. A 1ct diamond will be worth more than a 0.95ct diamond. As such, the larger the stone the more value the piece will hold.
Often the central diamond in a motif is the largest diamond in the piece. This, as well as the added carat weight of other stones in the piece, will contribute to the value.
Colour – Colour refers to the tint within a diamond. Diamonds range from colourless to very light yellow (this is specifically in reference to colourless diamonds). There are also coloured gemstones, which refer to any gemstone that is not a diamond. The colour of these gemstones can also affect their value. For example, padparadscha sapphires – which are a beautiful orangey-pink colour, are considered the most valuable sapphires. Pale blue sapphires are generally considered the least valuable.


Quick Online Earring Valuation
We provide free jewellery valuations. Please use the form below and provide as much information as you can about your item so that we can make sure your valuation is as accurate as possible.
Alternatively, please send photos of your jewellery (as well as any other information you can provide) to our WhatsApp .