Who Would Have Thought It?

Really? Really? A fashion plastic doll made in Hong Kong circa 1967, without a box, fetching £55o.oo, at auction is remarkable. There were diamond rings that sold for a great deal less!

I thought I knew the market ... but nope! I'm completely confused now ... everything I thought I knew has just evaporated.

ONE FOR THE BARGAIN HUNTERS, ME THINKS!

I love auctions, the research, and the possibility of finding a hidden gem that no one else has spotted, just constantly fills me with excitement.

The doll in the picture is Mitzi, Sindy's French Friend, is rare because she wasn't popular with young Sindy collectors. My sister had one, but it looks very likely that it was lost in various house moves.

Luckily for fortune hunters, there are websites with lots of bargain goodies - but as always, buyer beware!

Beautiful antique jewellery pieces are up for grabs, selling at often bargain prices. The rise in the gold value has increased prices over the last year.

The one piece of jewellery I love is Cameos - they're like miniature works of art. Two very stunning ladies, Jessica Parker-Fletcher and Beyoncé have raised the profile of cameos; both ladies look fabulous wearing them.

Likewise, with Pearls, once seen as 'stuffy' and old-fashioned, they are now seen as elegant and sophisticated.

Princess Catherine is regularly photographed wearing the late Queen Elizabeth II's triple string of pearls. But then, Princess Catherine could make any piece of jewellery look stunning; she has natural grace and beauty.

The Hidden Treasures in Costume Jewellery

Recently, I've started buying job lots of Costume Jewellery, with surprising success. (Yes, I'm a bit broke and desperate!)

I found the following 9-carat gold necklace in one of my hauls; the hallmark was minuscule, and I could only decipher it by taking a photo and enlarging it, which worked spectacularly. This £28.00 collection of 'junk' fetched £220.00 for the necklace alone!

Vintage has had a revival, thank goodness. Recycling has never felt like such fun.

Marketing these gorgeous pieces is also important. Antique Jewellery Boxes can be bought on eBay. Again, prices are increasing constantly. Any box with a 'Gold Crown' stamped near the name indicates that Royalty buy from that Jeweller, guaranteed to elevate the price.

The book I would recommend to find out more about Antique Jewellery is: Selling Antique Jewellery: Identify and market exquisite Antique Jewellery for profit. Written by Jayne Austen, and available on Kindle, costs $5.99 (US) £4.46 (UK)

The book guides the reader to identify real quality antique jewellery to sell online for profit.

Describing the historical periods and typical jewellery produced during that time. With beautiful colour photographs from the Author's private collection, the reader will be able to navigate the complex world of antique jewellery.

The book describes the various eras, confirming the dates of the Monarchs relevant at the time. Detailed descriptions of gems used and their settings.

The brilliant thing with Kindle is that you don't have to buy the entire book; you can buy just a couple of pages, increasing your knowledge - and hopefully your BANK ACCOUNT!

At the risk of sounding boring ... The First Million is the Hardest!

Thank you for reading to ... The End