LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE BUY
Bring in your unused valuables and National Rarities will provide a free evaluation and a no obligation offer. Our skilled team of estate specialists include GIA Graduate Gemologists, a watchmaker with his WOSTEP and CW2 certification, and specialists in a variety of areas. Every interaction at National Rarities is conducted with respect, honesty and integrity.
FINE JEWELRY
We buy any age, any style, gold, silver, platinum, broken or damaged and designer jewelry
SCRAP GOLD & SILVER
We buy gold, silver, and platinum, dental gold, old mountings, class rings and fraternal pins
RARITIES
Military memorabilia, pre-1950s advertising and toys, old photos and autographs
WATCHES
Wrist watches, pocket watches (Rolex, Breitling, Patek, Omega, Elgin, Waltham, Illinois, Hamilton, etc.) any condition
DIAMONDS
Loose and mounted, damaged, any size, color or style
FINE ART & COLLECTIBLES
Original art by known artists, designer handbags and pens
Check out our selling guide below for a general outline of what we buy most frequently. Please note it’s impossible to include information on all the items we purchase. The prices we offer vary based on condition of the items, market value and demand.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 1 (888) 787-1112 to speak with one of our estate specialists about your specific items. We’re here to answer any questions and guide you in making the right choice for you.
FINE JEWELRY
At National Rarities, we buy a variety of jewelry. We consider the type of metal, stones, designer, condition and quality. We begin by asking a few questions about the pieces while we look them over. We ask questions such as: Why are you selling this item? Who owned the piece?
WATCHES
We purchase all sorts of brand name and upscale watches, such as Rolex, Tissot, Elgin, etc. While we purchase an array of watches, there are three specific movements that we are looking for. These are manual mechanical, automatic mechanical and quartz battery operated watches.
DIAMONDS
We purchase natural diamonds of any cut, color, clarity and carat weight. Diamonds can be loose or mounted stones. We have graduate gemologists and accredited jewelry professionals on staff who will grade and identify your stone. We are equipped with the proper tools necessary for testing a diamond's authenticity, measurements and characteristics. The four characteristics of diamonds we examine are the cut, color, clarity and carat weight.
SCRAP GOLD AND SILVER
We purchase gold in necklaces, bracelets, rings, etc. in all kinds of karats and purity. We also buy white and rose gold and dental gold.
COINS AND CURRENCY
We purchase a wide variety of coins, such as old United States currency, some foreign currency and numismatic and bullion coins. While we accept most coins, we most often see dimes, quarters and half dollars from the mid 1900s.
RARITIES
We buy an array of rarities, including pipes, toys, sports memorabilia, military memorabilia, old autographs, photographs/tintypes, etc. We look for rarity, condition, quality and demand when purchasing antiques. These characteristics help us to determine the current market value of each item.
FINE ART AND LUXURY GOODS
We purchase a wide variety of luxury goods and fine art pieces including designer handbags, original artwork by known artists, pens and more.
STERLING SILVER
The most common type of silver that we buy is Sterling Silver. These are marked somewhere on the item with “Sterling” or “925”. While more rare, we do buy coin silver. Coin silver is strictly made in the United States and is usually marked with “COIN” or “PURE COIN”. Although commonly mistaken as Sterling Silver, we do not buy Silver Plated items. Silver Plated items have an outside layer of Sterling Silver, but have nickel or base metal underneath that layer. To tell whether the item you have is plated, check for the Sterling Silver markings known as hallmarks (often STERLING or .925 . 835 etc). Silver Plated is hard and will not bend like Sterling or Coin silver.
TYPICALLY NOT FOR US
China, Crystals, and Glassware
With changing times, less and less people are entertaining like they used to. Younger generations aren’t registering for these types of items when getting married and prefer an easier method of cleaning with the ability to add everything into the dishwasher. The best way to resell these items would be on consignment at your local antique shop.
Silver Plate
Although commonly mistaken as Sterling Silver, we do not buy Silver Plated items. Silver Plated items have an outside layer of Sterling Silver, but have base metal underneath that layer. To tell whether the item you have is plated, check for the Sterling Silver hallmark and refer to the Sterling Silver category above.
Stamps
The world of stamp collecting has evolved over time. While some collections hold significant value, the market has shifted. We currently do not purchase stamp collections.The good news is there are still excellent options for selling your stamps. Find them a new home through platforms like eBay or dedicated stamp collecting websites; or contact an auction house that specializes in stamps to reach serious collectors and potentially achieve a higher selling price.