Jewelry, like artwork, can be an iffy thing in a live auction. Is it the right color, shape, style, length, size? And can a piece of jewelry stir up as much demand as a luxurious trip or a posh private chef?

In all auctions, we want items where everyone wants to “own it for a moment.” If you want to own it, but so does she, and so does he, but you want it badly, that’s how auction bidding goes up and up and up.

Jewelry typically has fewer bidders fighting over it, and sometimes it can be difficult to know if you’ll even get the opening bid you want. You definitely don’t want a long silence when no one bids.

However, if you’ve got a great piece, it’s likely to do at least as well in the live auction as it would in the silent auction, so make sure you promote it like this poster, with a huge, detailed, clear photo AND the actual piece right next to it with a mirror so folks can see themselves wearing it. They have to envision owning it to bid on it.