Anyone who has experience with estate jewelry knows it’s just different than other jewelry. Whether you have a piece that you’ll never part with or you own jewelry that needs a new home, these pieces are precious objects from the past. Their rarity enhances their beauty.
In 2015, LTL welcomed Eco Estate Jewelry to the Lake Travis area, and today they’re one of our favorite knowledgeable neighbors. Nobody understands the unique history and value of estate jewelry like they do.
A true story that perfectly illustrates the wonders of estate jewelry is one of their customers had a grandfather who purchased jewelry for his wife in 1912 instead of buying her tickets on the Titanic. This is what defines estate jewelry because each piece has a unique history with a fantastic story to tell.
If you haven’t explored the world of estate jewelry or you don’t fully understand what kind of services are offered by Eco Estate Jewelry, now’s the time. With the holidays approaching, estate jewelry may be the perfect gift for lots of people on your list, yourself included.
What you’ll find
As defined by store owners and Austin natives Alida and Eric, estate jewelry encompasses any era from antique period pieces to vintage Native American styles, to modern designers like Tiffany and Cartier. Estate jewelry also covers every price point from $10 to $100,000.
At the Eco Estate Jewelry showroom in Lakeway, you’ll find a vast selection of carefully curated collection pieces from the early 1800’s through the present day including collectibles like celebrity-owned items.
They offer a wish list service that makes shopping personalized and easy, so you can build a profile of your favorite pieces that the staff can use as a roadmap to guide anyone shopping for you. Remember, one-of-a-kind estate jewelry typically costs 50%-70% less costly than retail. And you’re buying a little piece of history too.
What they do
Eco Estate Jewelry doesn’t just specialize in estate jewelry; they’re a full-service jewelry store with more than 15 years of experience evaluating jewelry and collectibles. Plus, they have a GIA trained Graduate Gemologist on the team and state-of-the-art GIA equipment for verifying precious metals and gemstones.
Jewelry services include:
- Repairs including ring resizing, mending broken necklaces or adding a safety chain to a bracelet
- Watch services from full restoration of a vintage Rolex to changing a watch battery
- Jewelry sourcing for diamonds or a unique designer piece
- Walk-in or make an appointment by calling ahead or booking online
Parting with precious objects
If you’ve collected or inherited estate jewelry, there are often lots of emotions attached to these pieces. Parting with them can be difficult. The friendly staff at Eco Estate Jewelry can help you through that process and give you options to consider so that you can make the best choice for your situation.
That’s why Eco Estate Jewelry offers in-store evaluations at no charge to help you determine the value of your jewelry. They may make an offer to purchase or consign jewelry if you’re ready to let it go. It’s not uncommon to shed a few tears along the way. You’ll rest easier knowing your pieces are cherished by someone else for years to come.
On average, Eco Estate Jewelry conducts 5-10 estate valuations in the store every week. They also offer private in-home consultations (by appointment) if circumstances require discretion.
Upcycling pieces of the past
If you have estate jewelry or gemstones sitting in your jewelry box that you’d like to wear, Eco Estate Jewelry can help you create a new heirloom piece. You can transform a diamond ring into a gorgeous necklace or bracelet. The sky’s the limit on creative ways to make your pieces functional again.
You can trade in jewelry that you no longer wear towards the purchase of a new item, cost of repairs, or a custom design. It’s the perfect way to treat yourself or someone special this holiday season.
Do you have an heirloom piece that’s been in your family for generations? Share your story with us in the comments section on our Facebook page.
