Finding Value: Tips To Buying Crystal At Estate Sales

The discovery of a valuable treasure at an estate sale can be one of the most exciting experiences of a lifetime. If you are a crystal collector and are on the hunt for a specific type of item, unearthing a nice piece is a huge thrill.

However, beware of purchasing crystals at an estate sale until you have learned a few necessary facts about identifying authentic crystals. You can find the best estate sales auctions online. 

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One important thing to remember is that if the crystal piece you desire is rare, has intricate detail, is of high quality and heavy, is old and in great condition then you can expect it to be at the forefront value-wise. Below are a few other rules of thumb to help identify authentic crystals at an estate sale:

Look for maker's marks: The majority of true crystal pieces will have a maker's mark on the bottom. It may be the name of the manufacturer, the country where it was produced, and/or a number or symbol of some sort. If you have been buying crystal at estate sales for any length of time you will usually be able to tell who the manufacturer is even if there are no markings.

The older and heavier the better! When it comes to crystal, age is a big determining factor in deciding its value. Old pieces are even more valuable when they are out of production. Another way to tell how old an estate sale piece of crystal is by the pattern. Oftentimes, popular patterns are easily recognizable as made by a particular manufacturer.