FAQ

WHAT DOES “ESATE JEWELRY” MEAN?

Excellent question. “Estate jewelry” is a term used to describe any previously owned jewelry. Estate pieces are often categorized as “vintage” or “antique”.

  • Vintage jewelry has to be about 30 years old to be considered vintage. Vintage estate jewelry is most of what you will see on this site.

  • Antique jewelry is jewelry that is 100+ years old. That isn’t something I will have a lot of on the site because that is in a league of it’s own, but the occasional antique piece may make an appearance.

HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF MY ESTATE PIECE?

Answer: Carefully.

Don’t wear your new old jewelry to do dishes, laundry (pulling things out of the dryer has decapitated some engagement rings), working out, etc. Though I inspect all pieces and deem them fit for wear, they are still older pieces and care needs to be taken in order to maintain them.

If you want to shine up the stones on a piece, I recommend:

  1. Rinsing it with a little warm water

  2. Dipping it in some soapy water, use a mild, lotion-free hand or dish soap.

  3. Giving it a gentle scrub with a soft-bristle toothbrush, focus on the under side of the stones, that is where gunk can accumulate.

  4. Giving it another rinse with warm water

  5. Thoroughly drying it off.

This will work for most jewelry EXCEPT jewelry with opal, coral, turquoise, or pearl stones. These stones are porous so spraying them with any chemicals isn’t a great idea. With these, I’d just gently wipe them with a lint-free cloth, like the ones that come with new sunglasses.

HOW DO I KNOW MY RING SIZE?

The easiest way to know your ring size is to go to your local jewelry store and ask them to size you. This is something they should be able to do quickly and for free.

Note that your same finger may be different sizes between your left and right hands. Our dominant hands tend to do more, so our fingers are bigger on that hand. Make sure to get the finger you plan to wear your ring on sized, don’t assume your pointer finger on your left hand is the same size as the one on your right.

Also, salt and alcohol can make your fingers swell a bit, so if you had a late night, then had a big bacon, egg, and cheese bagel for breakfast, maybe pick another day to make the trip to get your fingers sized.

If you can’t make it to a jeweler, there are a bunch of websites that give sizing guides. However, the best way is to be sized in person.

I SEE A RING I LIKE LISTED, BUT IT ISN’T MY SIZE. CAN YOU RESIZE IT?

It depends! I will have to take these on a case by case basis. Ideally the ring would be bought as-is since resizing the piece can put stress on the metal and stones. Additionally, it will add a little time and there will be a small charge to get the ring resized.

WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MY RING AFTER I GET IT?

A stone falls out, something breaks, etc. I offer a 30-day guarantee on each piece I sell. Outside of that, finding a local, well reviewed jeweler for maintenance and repairs is your best bet.

CAN YOU BUY SOME OF MY OLD PIECES I DON’T WANT ANYMORE?

At this time, I don’t buy pieces to add to my inventory. However, if you are in the Austin, TX area, I can connect you with someone who will happily take any gold and gemstone pieces off your hands.

QUESTIONS? THOUGHTS? 

Email us at hello@taylorhalljewelry.com