Jewelry · 9 min read
How to Buy Vintage Estate Rings
Eras, hallmarks, old cuts, condition and sizing — the complete checklist we run before a ring joins the collection.
Read the guide →Learn before you buy
Estate & Vintage Buying Guides
We sort, test and photograph estate lots every week. These are the checks we run ourselves — written plainly so you can use them on any listing, anywhere, not just ours.
Silver · 7 min read
How to Read Sterling Silver Marks
Sterling, coin silver, EPNS, 800, or plate? A practical field guide to the stamps on the underside of estate hollowware and flatware.
Read the guide →Watches · 8 min read
Buying Vintage Watches Online
Movement, dial, case, crystal, service history. The five checks that separate a good vintage watch from an expensive paperweight.
Read the guide →China · 6 min read
How to Identify Fine China Patterns
Flip the plate over. Backstamps, pattern numbers and gold trim tell you the maker, the decade and whether the set is worth completing.
Read the guide →Jewelry · 7 min read
Collecting Vintage Costume Jewelry
Signed or unsigned, rhodium or pot metal, prong-set or glued. How to tell 1940s craftsmanship from a 1990s copy.
Read the guide →Dolls · 6 min read
Buying Collectible Dolls
Retired American Girl, porcelain artist dolls and vintage bears — what markings to look for and which flaws are dealbreakers.
Read the guide →Have a question we haven't covered?
Ask us about a specific piece, a hallmark you can't place, or something you're hunting for. We answer every message ourselves.