What’s New

We just posted photos of some brand new arrivals on our facebook page. An English diamond pendant shows off her original fitted case to a few of her pals… come visit, friend us, and take a peek!

Finally, a bunch of new pieces are up in the featured section- check it out!

Our bench jewelers have been busy setting up more rings for the sales floor. Lots of new arrivals. We are posting some pictures on facebook… friend us, and you will be treated to sneak peeks of some of our newest arrivals before they make it onto the website. Remember, only a tiny fraction of our wares ever even make it to this site, so visiting us is always best!

Yes, Maloy’s has dipped yet another toe into the rushing stream of technology. We are now on facebook and posting regularly! (but not annoyingly so). We are posting updates on new arrivals, tidbits from the shop floor, and plenty of candid shots of Ned, our mascot and muse. We have provided a handy “like” button so we can be virtual friends, but we like face to face friendships too, so come visit us in person- you can pet the real Ned, and try on the real sparkles!

Every day more and more of our recent finds are making it downstairs from our expert restoration workshop.  Come and browse, our new arrivals are all spiffed up and ready to find new homes. Remember, our bench jewelers can also work wonders on your own vintage pieces that have seen better days.

We are just back from one of our biggest buying trips of the year and, wow, did we come home with some great finds! Lots of delicious Edwardian and Art Deco engagement rings, some beautifully proportioned, delicate and detailed diamond bracelets (most well under $2,000), and even a lovely group of the ever elusive vintage daytime dangle earring. Of course there are also a few show stoppers. How about a sexy French 18k bracelet set with a sprinkling of persian turquoise and natural pearls? A luscious but streamlined Victorian necklace with dozens of graduated matte finished gold dangles, or a 1920′s demi-parure of diamond set dangle earrings and a matching ring, in the original fitted case from Barcelona? Things will be gradually hitting the sales floor over the coming week, but feel free to come in and ask for a little sneak advance peek!

With all the talk and news reporting these days about scandalous gold buying practices, we thought we’d take a moment to demystify the process for you.

Gold is a commodity, and the base value of any piece of jewelry starts with the value of the precious material – metal and stones that it is made from – with some special pieces, there are additional layers of value added- rarity, exceptional craftsmanship and antique value sometimes come into play.

We are in a time of financial upheaval and resettling. Metal prices are volatile, household incomes are volatile.  As a result, many jewelry shops are offering gold buying services as a way for people to turn their unwanted jewelry into needed cash.  In the process of determining a bid, there are several steps that should ALWAYS be taken.

1)  The gold content of your pieces should be individually tested.  14 karat gold is 58.5% pure gold, with the balance being other metals that are alloyed with the gold in order to improve durability, alter the color (to white or rose gold, for example), and also to decrease the manufacturing cost of the item.  18k is 75% pure gold, and 10k is only 41.6% pure.  This is one reason an ounce of jewelry will not get a scrap bid equivalent to  the price of an ounce of gold… that second number is for an ounce of pure refined material.

2) Once your pieces have been tested and grouped by karat (gold content), they should be weighed.  Some jewelers use ounces, some prefer pennyweights (one twentieth of an ounce), some use grams.  These are all matters of personal preference, and are all equally accurate systems.

3) Using the above steps, the actual amount of pure gold in your items is calculated.  If you are considering selling some scrap items to a dealer who does not use a scale and calculator, you should take your items and leave.

Now for the trickier parts.  Gold needs to be refined before it can be reused.  Refining costs money, and those fees are subtracted from your bid.  Testing, weighing, and calculating takes an employee’s time, that is also factored into the bid. Now for the trickiest part.  By Oregon law, scrap purchases need to be held for 30 days before refining, and refining itself takes time.  Who knows what direction gold prices will move over the next several weeks?  Reputable jewelers are going to build a cushion into their bid to help ameliorate the gambling element inherent in such a transaction!  As mentioned above, this is a service we are providing, and as a business, we can’t afford to loose money every time we provide it.

Yes, this is a way we make a little money too, but not a lot.  What is so scary, and making headlines, is that some businesses are bidding so little for your gold, that when you question the bid, they have room to automatically double it!  Others are offering coupons for 20% “higher” bids… You shouldn’t need a coupon to get a fair price for your gold.

 I am obsessed with pearls this spring.  I think it comes from them being born of conflict and irritation!  Just think–all the difficulties we are facing could just be what we need to create beautiful pearls!  That and I find them soothing– like prayer or worry beads.  Their smoothness and luster are just the thing to contemplate on a stressful day. 

To celebrate pearls we are offering 25% off any strand we have in the store!  

See you soon!

 Kaaren Maloy

We’re proud to announce the launch of our freshly redesigned website, which features selected work, information on restoration services and – of course –  Ned!