Whether you want to buy or to sell jewelry or watches, the first step in figuring out value is to identify what it is, when and where it was made, and by whom. A maker's mark can help but if jewelry has hallmarks, this process is almost foolproof.

August is a big month in NYC for tourists on summer vacation. If you find yourself in downtown Manhattan on a jewelry shopping spree, here are some spots you won't want to miss in SoHo and the West Village.

SoHo is a fashion lover’s heaven and the place to find everything from big-name brands to small designer boutiques. From local fashionistas in basic black to leather-clad Europeans, the neighborhood’s cobbled streets and old-world architecture provide the perfect atmosphere for all types of trendsetters.

The axiom “all that glitters isn’t gold” is ringing true for a number of investors right now. At the moment, silver has an especially beguiling gleam.

After the spiraling silver prices of the Great Recession ended with a massive slump in 2013, the price of the white metal – with the exception of a temporary rally in early 2014 – has been stable to the point of stagnation. As of this writing, the spot price of silver in New York is $19.46 per troy ounce, where it has been roughly nestled since its high of just over $22 per ounce in April.