Collector tips
Collector Tips from Dion Abadi
Calm, practical notes for buyers and collectors from Dion Abadi, an Atlanta-area art and jewelry auctioneer and author.
Buying a watch at auction? Check the size before you bid
Case diameter, lug-to-lug, thickness, and bracelet links—plus an easy paper test at home so the watch fits the day it lands on your wrist.
Read the tip →Ask about shipping before you bid
Call or email the house while the lot is open: carriers, packing, insurance, cost to your ZIP, and pickup-only limits—then fold shipping into your hard max.
Read the tip →How to read an art auction lot description
Attribution terms like “attributed to” and “after,” original vs. offset prints, signatures, editions, certificates, and why the estimate comes last.
Read the tip →Buying estate jewelry at auction: 9 checks before you bid
Metal marks, natural vs. lab-grown vs. simulant, treatments, lab reports you can verify, carat weights, condition, and the true cost.
Read the tip →Buying a pre-owned watch at auction: a practical checklist
Reference vs. serial numbers, what “box and papers” really includes, service history, original parts, polished cases, and remedies.
Read the tip →Buyer’s premium at auction: what to check before you bid
Understand the buyer’s premium, taxes, and other charges so you can set a clear all-in budget before bidding.
Read the tip →Ask for the condition report before you bid
A condition report and thoughtful questions can help you make a more informed decision about an item.
Read the tip →What a reserve price means at auction
Learn how reserve prices protect consignors, why lots may pass if the reserve is not met, and how to ask about reserved vs absolute auctions.
Read the tip →Absentee bidding at auction: how to bid without being in the room
Learn how written bids work, how to set a clear maximum, and how to prepare when you are bidding from somewhere else.
Read the tip →How to read auction estimates before you bid
Understand what low and high catalog estimates mean, how they differ from reserves, and how to use them in a calm bidding plan.
Read the tip →How collectors verify provenance before bidding at auction
Learn what provenance means, which documents to request, and how to check ownership history before you bid on art, jewelry, or collectibles.
Read the tip →How to check an auctioneer’s license
Find the state regulator, search the official public lookup, and confirm the name, license number, and status before you bid or consign.
Read the tip →After the hammer falls: payment, pickup, and shipping tips
What to sort out after you win: the payment window, the invoice beyond the hammer price, pickup windows, and shipping terms in writing.
Read the tip →Set a hard max bid before the auction starts
Work out your all-in maximum—hammer, buyer’s premium, tax, and shipping—before the first bid, write it down, and treat it as final.
Read the tip →In-depth buying guides
Buying art at auction
Artist research, attribution terms, prints vs. reproductions, provenance, condition, and authentication basics.
Buying estate jewelry at auction
GIA and older AGS reports, treatments, hallmarks, condition, and why an appraisal is not an auction estimate.
Buying luxury watches at auction
Box and papers, service history, authenticity checks, condition terms, returns, and independent inspection.
Art & Auctions guide series
Prefer video? Watch the collector-tip Shorts.
For more about Dion Abadi and his work, visit the About page, the FAQ & clarifications, explore his collector’s guide, or contact Dion Abadi.
This general information is a starting point; always review the specific auction’s terms and ask the auction house questions before bidding.