The RealReal vs Vestiaire Collective vs The Alloy Market

When it comes to reselling designer jewelry online, a few names stand out. This article will discuss three of those big brands and compare The RealReal vs Vestiaire Collective vs The Alloy Market. By the end, anyone with designer jewelry to resell should have a clear understanding of which platform offers the best options for them. 

Where to Sell Designer Jewelry: The Options

By now, everyone is familiar with sites like eBay and Poshmark for reselling all varieties of items, but for people with designer jewelry, where are they to turn? 

What is The RealReal?

The RealReal is a high-end consignment platform that makes the circulation of luxury items simple by handling most of the legwork. They handle the authentication, listing, and shipping of all items sold on their platform. In their almost 15 years of existence, they have grown to become one of the most trusted authorities on luxury resale. 

Is The RealReal legit?

Yes, The RealReal is a long-standing, established luxury consignment brand with operations throughout the US. While they primarily operate through their online platform, they have physical locations in several large US cities.

What jewelry items does The RealReal accept?

The RealReal accepts many varieties of jewelry, including:

• Fine jewelry: Rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, brooches, etc.
• Watches: Luxury and designer watches
• Unsigned/unbranded fine jewelry: They accept unbranded pieces if they meet material and quality criteria (e.g., 14K+, gemstones, etc.). 
• Designer & luxury brands: Jewelry from recognized high-end designers (Cartier, Tiffany, Bvlgari, etc.) is a core part of their jewelry inventory.
• Vintage & “one-of-a-kind” pieces, as long as they pass quality/authentication check.

They will not accept jewelry with the following conditions:

• Loose or missing gemstones
• Severe metal scratching or denting
• Damage to the watch functionality
• After-market diamonds on watches
• Counterfeit or replicas

What is Vestiaire Collective?

Vestiaire Collective (VC) is a global peer-to-peer marketplace for pre-loved luxury and vintage fashion and designer goods. Sellers list their own designer clothing, accessories, shoes, jewelry, and more on the platform. VC provides quality checks and buyer protection to make the process safer and more trusted for everyone.

Is Vestiaire legit?

Yes, Vestiaire Collective is a legitimate, long-running marketplace that opened in 2009 and has since hosted millions of listings. The company boasts global authentication hubs and a widespread user base.

What jewelry items does Vestiaire Collective accept?

Vestiaire Collective accepts designer and fine jewelry, including:

• Fine jewelry: Rings, bracelets, earrings, etc.
• Watches: Luxury and designer watches, as well as unbranded fine pieces that meet their material and condition standards.
• Gemstone jewelry: Sellers must provide accurate details, including treatments and any certifications. VC may route items with stones to jewelry experts during authenticated shipping.
• Designer jewelry: Vestiaire will accept gold-plated jewelry as long as it comes from one of their accepted designers AND has a hallmark stamp. They will return pieces without a hallmark to the seller.

They will not accept jewelry with the following conditions:

• Counterfeit pieces
• Unsigned or unbranded jewelry 
• Jewelry without a hallmark
• Anything made with materials from a protected, endangered, or at-risk species, such as ivory, natural pearls, etc.
• Fast-fashion brands
• Watches with after-market modifications

What is The Alloy Market?

The Alloy Market is an online precious metal buyer specializing in the purchase of gold, silver, and platinum. Alloy offers the opportunity for sellers to turn old, unworn, and unwanted jewelry into cash. Offer prices are based on a piece’s purity (karat), weight, and the spot price of the metal and do not take into account designer names or resale value.

Is The Alloy Market legit?

Yes, The Alloy Market is a legitimate business, having operated since 2023, served thousands of customers, and paid out millions of dollars. They have been featured on outlets such as CBS, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, and many more. Though the company is newer than the other platforms, countless customers express delight in working with Alloy. 

What items does The Alloy Market accept?

The Alloy Market accepts more than just jewelry; however, in terms of jewelry, they buy anything made of pure precious metals, including gold, silver, and platinum. They will purchase any karat from 10K gold earrings to 24K gold wedding bangles. Sellers can also send in sterling silver or platinum pieces.

They do NOT accept any gold-plated (marked GP) or gold-filled (marked GF) jewelry. Offer prices are based solely on the precious metal content. Pieces do not need to be designer or even in good condition; Alloy will accept broken pieces or single earrings as well, for example.

Reselling Luxury Items: A Look at The Platforms

Selling high-end, designer jewelry can feel different depending on the platform chosen. This comparison will show that some platforms act as full-service luxury brokers, while others provide sellers with a more hands-on approach, enabling more interaction with their buyers. Here’s how these three options handle reselling designer jewelry.

Selling on The RealReal

Selling on The RealReal (TRR) is a “set it and forget it” type of experience. This type of service is perfect for someone who doesn’t want to mess with the minutiae that reselling entails. The platform facilitates everything needed to complete a sale, including consignment, photography, and shipping. In exchange for these services, TRR takes a hefty commission. 

How to sell on The RealReal

To sell on The RealReal, sellers first need to verify that the items they want to sell are accepted on the platform by checking the designer directory. Pieces must also stand up to their condition standards (as mentioned above).

Sellers can deliver their items to TRR in three different ways:

• Ship it to them with a prepaid label (which is free to consignors).
• Drop off or book a valuation appointment at one of their retail offices/stores.
• Schedule an in-home pickup or appointment with a “Luxury Manager”. (This option is best for people with a larger volume to sell.)

Once TRR receives the items, it will begin the authentication and verification process. The team will assess for condition, noting any wear, damage, flaws, etc. Finally, they will prepare the items for listing by taking photos, measuring and detailing all product information, and writing the listing copy.

The RealReal then lists the items on its marketplace. They will manage pricing, markdowns, discounts, and promotions based on market demand and a proprietary algorithm. Generally, the process takes 2-3 weeks for TRR to receive and list an item. 

Selling on Vestiaire Collective

Selling on Vestiaire Collective is more of a DIY marketplace. This option is ideal for sellers who like to have more control over their listings and connection to the community. Essentially, it’s similar to eBay, but for luxury. Sellers will manage listings, pricing, and buyer interactions, and as a result, keep more money in hand.  

How to sell on Vestiaire Collective

Sellers must list and handle their own items on Vestiaire Collective (VC). To sell jewelry on VC, sellers must verify that their item comes from a listed designer and meets the condition standards above. Listings take 24-48 hours to go live as the Vestiaire Collective staff reviews each to ensure compliance with the catalog rules.

A seller must take photos, fill in the brand, category, material, condition, and size, and set the price. Vestiaire suggests using data from past sales and will indicate a realistic price during the listing process. Buyers can “buy it now” or make an offer for an item, which the seller can choose to accept or counter.

Once a buyer purchases an item, the seller will pack and ship it. A buyer has the option to add authentication at their own expense. If they have selected this option, VC will provide the shipping label accordingly, and the item will go to VC for review. After authentication, they will ship directly to the buyer. Vestiaire will release funds to the seller after final delivery and clearance of any return period.

Selling on The Alloy Market

The Alloy Market is not a marketplace in the same sense. Alloy offers a straightforward transaction for sellers: send items in for appraisal and then decide whether to accept or decline the purchase offer. Sellers are not required to list items, take pictures, or deal with third parties. This option is ideal for someone with jewelry that doesn’t have much demand, or for someone who doesn’t have the time to wait for the right buyer and payment processing.

How to sell to The Alloy Market

A seller requests a free Appraisal Kit that gets shipped directly to their door. Alloy provides a free, postage-paid parcel to pack an item for shipment. They provide insurance and tracking to protect valuables along the way.

When an item arrives, a team of professionals tests the jewelry for purity and weight using highly accurate tools. Offers are based only on the precious metal content. The team then sends an offer to the seller that they can accept or decline. If a seller accepts, payment is initiated the same day. In cases where they decline an offer, Alloy will return items to the seller at no cost. If the items turn out not to be pure gold and the seller doesn’t want them back, Alloy will recycle them.

Selling thoughts

Each platform offers a different experience for resellers of designer jewelry. While The RealReal focuses on convenience and prestige, Vestiaire Collective emphasizes control and community, and The Alloy Market prioritizes speed and transparency. Sellers must decide what benefits are the most important to them.

From here, this article will dive deeper into the differences in authentication, pricing, shipping, and more. 

The Authentication Process

When reselling fine jewelry, authentication is essential for buyers and sellers. Authentication protects the seller and reassures buyers that what they are buying is really what the listing claims. Here’s how each platform handles this process.

The RealReal authentication center

The RealReal’s authentication is rigorous, making it a highly trusted platform for users across the globe. Every single item sold goes through a physical inspection by their team of in-house experts, gemologists, horologists, and brand specialists.

Jewelry is verified for:

• Metal purity (karat)
• Gem authenticity
• Hallmarks (maker’s marks, serial numbers)
• Condition and craftsmanship 

This process takes time, but in the end, buyers can buy with peace of mind that they are getting what they paid for. Confidence is worth the time spent. 

Vestiaire Collective authentication

Authentication through Vestiaire Collective is not mandatory, but can be purchased optionally by the buyer. When a seller lists an item, it is reviewed individually by AI and a team member to look for any red flags. After a buyer purchases and requests authentication, the seller must ship it to the authentication center. 

Specialists check for:

• Hallmarks and serial numbers
• Gem and material verification (for fine jewelry)
• Condition against the listing description

Without the mandatory authentication process, a seller can more quickly list their item for sale. However, most buyers purchasing designer fine jewelry will opt for authentication, which extends the time on the back end of the process. While it does take longer, it provides greater protection for both parties involved in the transaction.

The Alloy Market authentication

Because The Alloy Market bases its valuations only on the precious metal content of a piece, the authentication process is different from the other platforms. The process here includes testing metal with an XRF Spectrometer to verify the purity (karats) of a piece and sometimes acid testing if necessary. Scales tested and certified by the state of Pennsylvania are used to weigh the items for a precise reading. 

Using the spot price of the day, the three factors work together to determine Alloy’s offer price. Gold buyers purchasing only for the melt value never pay the full market value. Sellers should always assume they will only receive a percentage of the melt value when selling this way. 

Selling Fees

Because most designer fine jewelry sells at a higher price point, it’s crucial that a seller closely examine any fees they might incur from selling on a platform. This way, they can estimate the money they take away from the deal. 

The RealReal fees

The RealReal’s payment structure rewards loyalty and sales volume by offering a tiered commission structure.

Their “loyalty tiers” look like this:

• Trendsetter ($1,499 and under in net sales)
• Influencer + 1% ($1,500 – $4,999 in net sales)
• Tastemaker +2% ($5,000 – $9,999 in net sales)
• VIP +5% (Over $10,000 in net sales)

They say their Trendsetter breakdown for fine jewelry is:

• 20% – $0 – $99
• 30% – $100 – $149
• 45% – $150 – $199
• 55% – $200 – $299
• 65% – $300 – $749
• 70% – $750 or more

From there, consult their Earnings Guide to see the full breakdown of what to expect for selling jewelry at a different tier level.

Remember, when using The RealReal, a seller is paying for convenience. The take-home percentage is lower than other options because the platform handles everything once the seller hands over their items. 

Vestiaire fees

As of July 2025, seller fees on Vetiaire have been updated. Here is what the new fee structure looks like.

Vestiaire Collective selling fees

Listing items on Vestiaire is free. Upon final sale, sellers who sold items over $83 must pay a 12% selling fee. Items under $83 will incur a flat fee of $10. Any item sold for more than $16,667 has a fixed sales charge of $2,000. Vestiaire deducts these costs directly from the seller’s final payment. 

Vestiaire Collective also charges a 3% processing fee for all transactions. Please note that these numbers are different for sellers in Canada. 

The Alloy Market Fees

The Alloy Market does not charge any fees to a seller. The offer they send is the amount the seller will take away from the deal. 

Pricing

Pricing designer jewelry for resale can be tricky. One must consider the going rate for similar pieces and hope they priced their item attractively enough to grab buyers’ attention. Here’s how pricing works on each platform.

Pricing on The RealReal

The RealReal handles the listing, pricing, and shipping of designer resale items. Because of this, the seller doesn’t control the listing price of their item. Instead, TRR uses the advice of its in-house curators and its pricing algorithms to set the price. 

The platform will systematically drop prices or run promotions to accelerate the sale of an item, rather than let it languish for weeks on end (though an item is allowed to stay listed for up to 365 days).

Pricing on Vestiaire Collective

The seller is responsible for setting the price of their item listed. They can accept offers, counter offers, or drop the price at any time. VC provides a suggested pricing tool during listing, offering pricing guidance based on recent sales of similar items. Following these suggestions leads to a more probable sale.

Vestiaire Collective’s culture includes negotiation. It is not uncommon for buyers to make offers that are lower than the listed price. Sellers can decide to accept or decline the offer, or better yet, counteroffer.

When pricing, sellers should factor in the fees associated with selling on this platform so as not to undercut themselves

Pricing on The Alloy Market

The Alloy Market prices their offers based on the content of precious metal in a piece. Through their evaluation process, they will determine the market value and offer a percentage of that price. Alloy provides a best price guarantee, so if a seller has received a higher-priced offer elsewhere, they can contact their Alloy Advisor to discuss meeting or beating that price.

Shipping Costs

The different platforms handle shipping in various ways. Some sellers may decide they don’t want to deal with packing up and shipping items themselves, making one platform more appealing than another for that reason alone. Here’s how they compare. 

The RealReal shipping info

The RealReal makes shipping simple. If you choose to send your items in for consignment, they will provide a pre-paid label. Don’t forget, they also have drop-off and pickup options available, bypassing the shipping requirement. Sellers may also request the return of their items before a sale, but they may be responsible for shipping and return fees.

When an item ships to the buyer, they are responsible for those fees. The RealReal shipping includes insurance; however, they also offer additional coverage to buyers at an extra cost. 

Vestiaire Collective shipping info

There are two ways Vestiaire handles shipping: direct shipping and authenticated shipping. The buyer can choose to purchase the authentication service. In those cases, the buyer will pay for the service and shipping to the authentication center. If they forgo the authentication, the seller will ship it directly to the buyer at the buyer’s expense.

Vestiare Collective’s shipping labels include insurance. If the seller uses a different service, it is essential to provide shipping insurance to protect both parties. 

The Alloy Market shipping info

The Alloy Market provides a free postage-paid parcel to all sellers when they request a free Appraisal Kit. Items are shipped insured up to $100,000 and include tracking. If a seller declines an offer, items are shipped back the same way at no additional cost to the seller.

Shipping, Insurance, and Loss Policies

Reselling designer jewelry online can be worrisome to some people. There are many ways for things to go wrong. Fortunately, each platform has policies built in to protect both sellers and buyers. 

The RealReal policies

Once a seller hands over their items to be sold by The RealReal, either by drop off, pickup, or by using the provided shipping label, The RealReal assumes responsibility for them. After they authenticate it, they store the item until it sells or the seller requests it back from consignment.

The RealReal will insure items against loss or damage while shipping, only if they use their pre-paid postage label.

Items can stay listed for up to 365 days, but at the consignor’s request, TRR will return the items and charge a $20 fee per item.

When an item is rejected during the authentication process, TRR will send the item back at no cost to the seller. 

Vestiaire Collective policies

When a seller ships an item, whether directly or through the authentication center, they MUST use the provided shipping label and ship within 7 days. VC will cover lost or damaged items ONLY if the seller used the provided label. Otherwise, the seller is responsible to the buyer. 

The Alloy Market policies

The Alloy Market automatically insures shipped packages for $25,000, but a seller can request up to $100,000 of free insurance by replying to texts from the company.

If a seller does NOT use a pre-paid envelope from The Alloy Market, they are responsible for their own insurance for damage or loss in transit.

Payout Timeline

The payout structure for each platform is different. Most importantly, before getting paid, something must sell. Sellers need to account for the time on the marketplace while listing in addition to the time it takes to get paid after the transaction is complete.

Payout at The RealReal

The RealReal offers two payment options. For standard consignment, TRR issues payments on the 15th of the month after the sale. For example, items sold in January pay out on February 15th.

For sellers who don’t want to wait that long, there is also a “Get Paid Now” option, which operates similarly to selling to a pawn shop. The seller gets paid up front for their items after authentication and valuation, but they receive only a percentage of what they would if they consigned. This selling option is excellent for people who want to cash out on their items quickly. Jewelry is paid out at 60% using this method.

Selecting the “Get Paid Now” option allows sellers to be paid through direct deposit within 48 hours or receive a higher percentage back in instant site credit. 

Payout at Vestiaire Collective

At Vestiaire Collective, sellers get paid more quickly. The platform issues payments every day.

For sellers shipping directly to the buyer, funds are released 72 hours after the buyer confirms receipt or delivery is verified.

When using the authenticated shipping option, the seller is paid after the item passes through the authenticity and quality control at Vestiaire. 

Payout at The Alloy Market

The timeline to payout when selling at The Alloy Market is much quicker than the previous platforms. Time considerations to account for include the initial shipping of the Appraisal Kit, the shipping of the jewelry, the appraisal process, and the acceptance of the offer. Shipping on both sides takes the longest.

Appraisal is typically done the same day items arrive at Alloy, and when a seller accepts an offer, The Alloy Market initiates payment the same day. When the money is received depends on the payment processor used, but most of the time, sellers can expect money within 24 hours.

Customer Experience

Each platform offers excellent customer service options, but here’s more information on the specifics and how to get the best outcome for concerns.

The RealReal customer support

In 2023, The RealReal began implementing an additional customer service initiative for sellers called RealService. In addition to their Luxury Manager, sellers will also have a point of contact called a Consignor Concierge. The concierge is there to answer any questions during the selling process.

Sellers who made an in-home appointment may always reach out to their Luxury Manager by phone and should have received that information at the initial meeting.

You can contact The RealReal’s Consignor Concierge team using one of these methods:

• Text message: Text “MYTRR” or “TRR” to 50347 to get in touch with consignor support.
• Email: Reach the consignor support team via email at [email protected].
• Phone: Call The RealReal’s general customer service line at 1-800-664-9073.

For the best outcome, always have your consignment number and item ID available for reference. 

Vestiaire Collective customer support

Vestiaire Collective provides 24/7 customer support via live chat or email to sellers who have questions. Sellers on this platform are responsible for answering any questions from buyers, as this is a DIY selling platform.

To prevent any issues, always document everything with images, tracking numbers, and other relevant details in case a buyer questions any part of the transaction. Use the provided postage label at all times. 

The Alloy Market customer support

When a seller sends their items in for evaluation, they are assigned an Alloy Advisor. This person becomes the point of contact throughout the process. They are available via text, phone, or email. The advisor will reach out to the seller once the item has been shipped. Otherwise, the seller can always call or text (888) 672-1471 or email [email protected].

Alloy video records all unboxings, which may be referenced if there is ever a question about the handling of items. 

Reviews

When deciding where to resell designer jewelry, a seller should always review what other customers are saying. Keep in mind that for every cranky review, there are 20 happy customers at home who didn’t take to the internet. 

The RealReal reviews

Reviews for The RealReal, specifically regarding jewelry, are mixed. This Reddit thread shows a mix of happy and disappointed jewelry buyers and sellers. One seller wrote about her experience in an article here.

One seller claims the company lost items, sold them for much below value, and promised to let them review prices before listing, which didn’t happen. Of course, buyers in the thread came away from the situation happy with their purchases, including the original poster, who shared a follow-up, “Update: I’m happy with my purchase, looks just like the listing!”

This thread discusses one seller’s experience selling three pieces of 18K gold jewelry. She expresses frustration and regret selling on the platform because she would have received more by selling her jewelry for melt value.

Fairly Curated writes about her jewelry-selling experience with The RealReal, both by mail and in person. She found that she procured a higher commission when she did an in-person deal with TRR vs mailing items in.

The RealReal has a Trustpilot profile, so take a look through there and see what the happy customers are saying. They also hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, though their customer review ratings on the site are a 1.05.

Vestiaire Collective reviews

Finding reviews from jewelry sellers on Vestiaire Collective is more complicated than for the other platforms. Overall reviews are mixed, as one would expect. Browse through these Google search results to reach more. 

Vestiaire Collective is not BBB Accredited and holds an F rating with the organization. Their Trustpilot page, however,  shows a 4.2 rating with many happy customers.  

The Alloy Market reviews

The Alloy Market has an excellent reputation for buying fine jewelry. Look through these Google search results to read more. They have an A+ rating with the BBB and a 5-star customer rating. Even more impressive are Alloy’s Trustpilot reviews. 

Where to Sell Designer Jewelry – Which Platform Is Best for You?

The RealReal: Best for high-end, hands-off sellers (especially with high volume)

Sellers with branded, high-end, luxury fine jewelry such as Cartier, Tiffany, Van Cleef, etc., who want someone else to handle everything, will love this option. The platform provides white glove treatment and will facilitate everything from authentication and images to listing, shipping, and anything in between.

The trade-off is that the process can take a long time and the company takes a higher commission than other platforms, but for many, it is worth it. 

Vestiaire Collective: Best for control and buyer interaction

Sellers with high-end, designer fine jewelry who like to be more hands-on will prefer this option. The platform provides more control for sellers and enables open communication between both parties involved in the transaction. A seller can control pricing and negotiate openly with interested parties.

One drawback is the time it can take for items to sell, so it’s something to consider.

The Alloy Market: Best for fast, guaranteed payouts

For jewelry with less demand, that is not designer brand or for sellers who want fast cash without dealing with resale, The Alloy Market is the place to go. Selling is straightforward, and payment is quick. It’s perfect for people who don’t want to deal with having to respond directly with potential buyers or deductions for large commissions on the sale of their items. The offer price is based solely on the content of precious metals, so there is no ambiguity and you get to keep 100% of the quoted price.

To compare all the details for each platform, consult the extensive table below: