The Basic How-To Guide for Buying Jewelry on eBay is my way of sharing what I've learned about buying jewelry over the years, how to search for it on eBay, and how to avoid some common mistakes.

Finding and bidding on jewelry on eBay is one of my guilty pleasures, and I love the hunt almost as much as actually receiving the item I won. However, as with most hunts, you need to know your quarry well.

With that end in mind, decide upfront what you're looking for jewelry-wise: Fine Jewelry, Mid- or Low-range Jewelry, Costume Jewelry, or that ubiquitous catch-all, Vintage Jewelry. Think of it this way: Fine Jewelry is of the type you'd expect to find in a high-end couture-type shop; precious stones, gold, platinum, sterling silver, and so on. Mid- or Low-range Jewelry can be found at the far end of the counter in some fine jewelry departments, malls, and boutiques, featuring lower carat golds, sterling, pewter, semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, and so on. Costume Jewelry, gold- and silver-tones, plastic, some woods, synthetics, and so on, can be purchased anywhere from street vendors, flea markets, malls, outlets, and some department stores. Vintage Jewelry is trickiest of all. You will definitely see it in garage sales, flea markets, fairs, jewelry and craft shows, and it literally can be anything from a fine old sterling bangle bracelet or 10kt. rose gold Victorian ring, collectible bakelite or pinchbeck, old world glass and beads, semiprecious stones, to out-and-out crap that has been thrown into the 'vintage' catchall for lack of a better designation.  

So, with those loose definitions in mind, do your homework on the jewelry you are looking for, and keep in mind that wise old Roman adage, "Caveat Emptor," or "Let the Buyer Beware." This means do all your checking up front before committing to buy. And here's one more wise adage (source unknown) I've learned more times than I care to remember: "Buy in haste, repent at leisure."

Understand, too, that not all of the sellers out there may necessarily have listed their jewelry items the way you personally would list them. Some may lump "bangles, sterling" with other sterling items they have for sale, like Grandma's tea set, Auntie's iced tea spoons, or Uncle's silver-plated bowling trophy. I find it's best to just enjoy the adventure and the thrill of the hunt. Shopping for your quarry on eBay is something to be enjoyed and savored; try not to be in a hurry. And please--no criticisms should go to the sellers, just questions if you need more information. Here are some good sample questions for different jewelry items:

ITEM DESCRIPTION: "Silver bangle bracelet."

QUESTIONS TO ASK: Is it real sterling silver, that is, is there a hallmark or "925," or "sterling" marked anywhere on it? What is the weight in grams? What is the inner and outer circumference  in inches, centimeters, or millimeters? What is the width in inches, centimeters, or millimeters? Is it a real bangle (meaning a complete circle, with or without a hinge and safety chain) or a cuff (meaning the bracelet has an open area and is not a complete circle)?

ITEM DESCRIPTION: "Blue topaz gold ring." 

QUESTIONS TO ASK: Is it real blue topaz? How large is the stone? Is it real gold, and if so, is there a hallmark? Is it 10kt, 14kt, 18kt, etc.? What size is the ring? Can it be sized, and if so, what's the cost?

ITEM DESCRIPTION: "Pearl necklace."

QUESTIONS TO ASK: Are they real pearls? What material are the pearls strung on, and are there knots in between each pearl? How were they stored? How long is the necklace? If there is a clasp, what is the material?

ITEM DESCRIPTION: "Diamond ring set in platinum."

QUESTIONS TO ASK: Is it a real diamond, or is it a lab-created diamond? If so, does the appraisal come with it? Are there any flaws or inclusions in the diamond, and what is its size and weight? Is the platinum real (again, is there a hallmark) or plated over silver? What size is the ring, and can it be resized? If so, is there a charge?

With all this in mind, what's the best way to search for a specific jewelry item on eBay? You can select Jewelry and Watches as your category, and then get specific in your search by typing in, for example, "bangle, sterling." What you'll see next is a "top level" of offerings that may be broken down into Bracelets, Vintage/Antique, Ethnic/Tribal Jewelry, Designer Brands, Men's Jewelry, Handcrafted/Artisan Jewelry, and so on. If you decide that you only want to review bangle bracelets, then select Bracelets. That category may be further broken down into "Sterling, w/o stones," "Other Stones/Materials," and so on. Just be patient, and plan on taking some time to get to what you really want.

You may be surprised to find that not all jewelry items may be listed in the Jewelry and Watches category. Go out on a limb and search in the All Categories sometime and you'll find there is a whole new venue to check out! Again, remember that not all sellers think the way you do, and may list their items in other ways than you might.

If you find, say, a fabulous "bling-y" CZ ring set in rhodium you just have to have, then don't forget to check the seller's other items. This is a great habit to get into; not only can you find more great stuff from the same seller, but many will combine items for shipping, thus saving you money to buy MORE STUFF!

Another nifty feature of eBay is the Items I'm Watching feature. Say you see a gorgeous beaded necklace that you just know your mom would love--you can click the "Watch This Item" feature. This puts the item into your very own My eBay area, where it will be listed for however many days the auction is on. This way if the item will be visible to you for a few days you can think about it, check its progress in My eBay, bid on it if you decide to--basically, it buys you time. I wish I had a buck for all the times I bought something on an impulse instead of simply storing it on My eBay so I could think first and buy later! So put that great My eBay feature to work for you.

I've put together a couple of "mini-guides" for you on pearls, gold, and gems that may help you as well:

Pearl Mini-Guide: real pearls (layers of nacre naturally formed in the oyster) and cultured pearls (the oyster is impregnated with a 'seed' and the nacre forms around it) can be distinguished by the "tooth test." Rub the pearls on your teeth. Real ones will feel gritty; fakes will feel smooth. Don't be fooled by the shape of pearls; there are many varieties. Although a perfectly round naturally-occuring pearl can be a rare and precious treasure, there are those (like myself) who prize the baroque (odd shape) pearl even more. Remember that specific shapes, like coins, diamonds, squares, and such generally are seeded with a manmade shape around which the pearl nacre can form.

Gold Mini-Guide: The higher the percentage of gold; 18kt, 22kt, and 24kt, means that it tends to be softer and more subject to dents, scratches, and dings than 10kt and 14kt gold. If you're going to wear a ring every day, the lower gold percentage may work better for you.

Gems Mini-Guide: Check the Moh's Scale of Hardness (just Google it; you'll find it) on your gem of choice. For example, we all know that a diamond is the hardest and most durable gem (in fact, a #10 on the Moh's Scale), and is therefore a great choice for any jewelry you wear daily and/or knock around, like a ring. Corundums, like rubies and sapphires, are the second hardest; again, a great choice for rings. But lovely Tanzanite is relatively fragile at 6.5 on the Moh's Scale, so I myself would not recommend it for rings, although earrings and pendants (not as easily knocked around) should be fine.

There is a LOT of jewelry out on eBay. It's a worldwide community, and in my estimation, it is THE place to find dang near any jewelry item you could possibly want. I hope that this little guide will help you in your search, and I hope I help you avoid some of the mistakes I've made in the past.

Enjoy the hunt!