How to Sell Jewelry on Etsy

Imagine you've just inherited a box of vintage jewelry from your grandmother. Among the pieces are sparkling vintage finds and some timeless sterling silver you know would look stunning on someone else. If you’ve been eyeing Etsy as a place to sell these treasures but aren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive into the practical steps of selling jewelry on Etsy, where millions of buyers seek unique handcrafted and vintage items daily.

Understanding Etsy's Fee Structure

Before listing your jewelry, it’s crucial to understand how Etsy’s fees work. Each item costs $0.20 to list on Etsy, and this listing lasts for four months or until the item is sold. Once you make a sale, Etsy takes a 6.5% transaction fee on the item’s selling price, including shipping. There’s also a payment processing fee of 3% + $0.25. If a sale occurs through Etsy's offsite ads, an additional fee of 12-15% is applied, especially if your shop earns over $10,000 a year. This means if you sell a necklace for $100, here’s what the fees look like:

• Listing Fee: $0.20
• Transaction Fee: $6.50
• Payment Processing Fee: $3.25
• Total Fees (excluding offsite ads): $9.95, leaving you with $90.05.

Sourcing Quality Jewelry

Finding the right jewelry to sell on Etsy starts with sourcing pieces that appeal to the platform’s audience. Estate sales are gold mines for vintage costume jewelry. You can often find lots priced between $5 and $20, with individual pieces selling from $20 to $50. Look for well-known brands like Monet, Trifari, and Sarah Coventry, which have strong followings among collectors.

Thrift stores are another excellent place to find hidden gems. Staff often underprice items like sterling silver and gold-filled jewelry. Be sure to check for stamps like "925" for silver or "GF" for gold-filled. Pawn shops, especially those closing down, can offer deals on gold and silver sold by weight.

For those interested in fashion jewelry, consider buying wholesale on Alibaba. Trendy pieces like minimalist necklaces and layering bracelets can be purchased at wholesale prices and sold at a 3-5x markup on Etsy.

Preparing and Grading Jewelry

Once you’ve sourced your pieces, grading their condition is key. Check clasps for functionality, look for any plating wear, and ensure no stones are missing. Chains should be pulled gently to test their integrity. When dealing with sterling silver, remember it tarnishes but cleans up easily. However, some collectors prefer the vintage patina, so be cautious about cleaning.

Gold items may need an acid test kit for authenticity verification. This extra step ensures you aren’t listing items incorrectly, which could lead to customer dissatisfaction.

Photography Essentials

High-quality photos are crucial on Etsy. Use a lightbox to achieve diffuse, even lighting and avoid harsh shadows. A macro lens or the macro function on your phone is necessary for capturing details like stone clarity and hallmark stamps. Always include a reference for scale, such as a ruler or a shot of the item worn. Detailed close-ups of any stamps like "925" or "14K" are critical as they can significantly affect the perceived value of your pieces.

Creating an Etsy Listing

Creating your listing is where the magic happens. Start by navigating to your Etsy Shop Manager and selecting ‘Add a listing’. Fill in a descriptive title, making sure to use relevant keywords. For example, "Vintage Trifari Gold Tone Necklace" is more descriptive than "Gold Necklace". Utilize all 13 tags with long-tail keywords like "1960s vintage Trifari necklace".

Descriptions should be detailed and engaging. Consider using ListingGenie's Etsy listing generator (/etsy-listing) to help craft optimized descriptions that include history, materials, and care instructions. Set your pricing based on the piece type: costume jewelry often ranges from $5-$25, while fine jewelry starts at $50.

Shipping and Handling

Etsy expects sellers to handle their shipping logistics. Use Etsy’s discounted USPS labels for cost efficiency and ensure your items are well-packed. Small padded mailers or boxes with cotton or tissue padding work best. Wrap chains separately to avoid tangling. For items over $100, consider adding insurance and using a small rigid box within a mailer for extra protection. Shipping costs remain low due to the lightweight nature of jewelry, often under $4 for First Class.

Boosting Visibility and Sales

Utilize Etsy’s free shipping guarantee for orders over $35 to improve search rankings and appeal to buyers. Renew listings periodically to gain temporary search boosts, and make use of all ten photo slots to increase your chances of making a sale. Complete listings with every detail filled in tend to perform better in Etsy's search algorithm.

FAQ

• How do Etsy fees affect my jewelry sales? Understanding Etsy's fee structure is crucial, as they take a percentage from the sale price, which impacts your net profit.
• What type of jewelry sells best on Etsy? Unique, handmade, and vintage items tend to perform best, especially if they tell a story or come from a recognized designer.
• How can I improve the visibility of my jewelry listings? Use all available photo slots, fill in all tags with detailed keywords, offer free shipping on orders over $35, and renew listings regularly.
• What are the best ways to package jewelry for shipping on Etsy? Use padded mailers or small boxes with tissue padding, wrap chains individually, and insure valuable items.