Retailers who are interested in carrying antique, vintage and estate jewelry are often faced with a few obstacles. Exceptional retailers want to have a comprehensive understanding of the product they carry, they want to make sure the pricing is beneficial both to their stores and their customers, and they need to ensure that they have the right client for the pieces they carry.

Prices of gold, platinum and silver are public knowledge, with the current price per ounce of the metals (at press time) $2,343.70, $930.90 and $27.57, respectively. It’s also easy enough to find out the going rate for diamonds and, with a little more digging, fair market prices for colored gemstones and pearls. Yet those numbers only paint part of the picture, as anyone in the trade can attest.

March is officially recognized as Women’s History Month, and it is a prime opportunity to reflect on the impact women have had throughout history. From abolitionists to scientists, from teachers to doctors, from authors to politicians, women have had a profound effect on the world around us. Being the jewelry obsessives we are, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on a few key women (out of many!) who have meaningfully altered the world of jewelry. Whether by designing jewelry or influencing the way women adorn themselves, Suzanne Belperron, María Félix and Iris Apfel have created seismic shifts in the jewelry landscape.