For many people, the phrase “estate jewelry” will conjure up visions of opulent diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires worn by wealthy socialites or celebrities. While that is certainly a segment of people associated with estate jewelry, there is much more to the story, according to Walter Bauman, grandson of founder Walter O. Bauman, and owner of Walter Bauman Jewelers with his brother, Russell.
“We buy our estate jewelry from the public,” he says, “pieces clients no longer want, jewelry that once belonged to beloved relatives who are now deceased, or from people simply seeking to make money from the sale.” While there is no age range that defines estate jewelry, the pieces for sale tend to be older or vintage, going back to the early 1800s, Bauman notes, adding that they sell many newer pieces as well.
A family-owned business for 154 years, through five generations, the store began as a wholesale jewelry and watch business in Pittsburgh. A fixture on Eagle Rock Avenue for around 60 years, Walter Bauman Jewelers also own stores in Fairfield and Boonton. The West Orange store houses a keepsake grandfather clock with intricate detail that dates back to the 19th century. “When he was a boy, my father liked to hide inside the clock,” Bauman says.
Over the years, the store has developed an enviable reputation in the jewelry industry. It was named the best jewelry store in Essex County from 2009 through 2023 by Suburban Essex Magazine readers and the best jewelry store in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly.
Today, Walter Bauman Jewelers boasts estate jewelry clients from all over the world. “Right now, top quality pieces from France and Italy are popular, as well as names such as Cartier and Tiffany,” Bauman says.
The majority of his clients—from celebrities to everyday people—are incredibly knowledgeable about jewelry, in a large part due to doing their own research on the Internet, especially via YouTube videos. However, there are people who are new to selling estate jewelry who cannot discern the value of a piece of jewelry or a collectible. “It takes experts in the field of jewelry art and history to truly identify or recognize a valuable estate piece,” according to a blog found on the Walter Bauman website. Diamonds, the blog states, are one of the most long-standing trends in gemstones, although there are also other precious stones with rare values. Some popular gemstones are worth more on their own, relative to the settings they are in at the time of the sale. These gemstones include diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and alexandrite.
Estate jewelry pieces are “not always antique designs, but often consist of family heirlooms and intricate pieces, according to the blog. “A gemologist can analyze the artistic carvings and design for unique value within the fashion and art industry. If a piece of jewelry happens to be one-of-a-kind or a rare remnant of a deceased designer, it can certainly be worth more as a whole piece than melted down for its gold value.”
Bauman, who graduated from the Gemology Institute of America, and his associates are experts in appraising estate jewelry to determine its value, learning where and when it was made, and how collectible it is. Estate jewelry is sold directly to the client, not through an auction, Bauman adds. To best serve customers, Walter Bauman Jewelers has at least one trained gemologist or diamond expert, as well as a jewelry craftsperson, at each of its locations.
When asked the most expensive item he has ever sold, Bauman recalls a diamond and platinum necklace “for a big wedding” that sold for more than $700,000. However, he is quick to add that he is not looking exclusively for expensive pieces. “If we sell a piece for $500, we’re happy.”
Estate jewelry currently listed on their website includes a Henry Dunay 18K gold tiger’s eye and diamond flower brooch, a Tiffany & Co. gold ruby and diamond elephant pin, and a David Yurman 18K gold diamond Chatelaine bracelet. In addition to fine jewelry, the website also features items that may pique the interest of particular collectors, such as a 14K gold diamond 1998 issue Don Mattingly career ring that features the number 23, which he wore when he played for the New York Yankees.
In addition to its website, the store publicizes offerings of estate jewelry via a weekly email that is sent out every Tuesday and lists all the new pieces. “We also hold special events and parties throughout the year,” Bauman says.
www.walterbaumanjewelers.com
instagram: Walter Bauman Jewlers
His main goal, he says, “is to become someone’s personal jeweler and to nurture a long-term relationship. Some clients may come in once a year, others every two years. Regardless of how often they visit, we want them to feel comfortable with us.”
"It takes experts in the field of jewelry art and history to truly identify or recognize a valuable estate piece,”
“Right now, top quality pieces from France and Italy are popular, as well as names such as Cartier and Tiffany,”