Those antique gems you don’t use … it may be worth exploring their value. Antiques and Coins can be trusted for expert appraisals and valuations.
Open a drawer. Check the back of that long-unopened cabinet. Somewhere between old letters and tangled chains, there may be a treasure you haven’t thought about in years.
Perhaps it’s the Denco pocket watch your grandpa gave you on your eighteenth birthday or that vintage gold bracelet that once belonged to Aunt Diane, which you accidentally broke the last time you wore it. Often, these vintage objects can open a Pandora’s box of feelings – a mental album of fond memories, sentimental moments, or even decade-old resentment.
As much as ‘things’ can be an extension of ourselves, they can also mean a new beginning for something else. Selling valuables might be a difficult decision, but perhaps the greatest worth of something is what it allows you to do next … financial breathing room. Relief from clutter. A long-postponed trip. Or simply some peace of mind.
But one thing is certain … parting with valuable pieces is often a decision that is long-weighed and complex. And when the day comes that you do decide to sell, you want expert appraisals and trusted valuations. You want to know – am I getting a fair price? Can I trust the buyer/dealer?
A reputable buyer-and-seller business understands this hesitation and respects it. That’s why transparency matters. Clear testing. Accurate weighing. Real-time pricing and payments. No games, just honest and straightforward offers.
Meeting these expectations daily are modern-day treasure hunters, Rivac and Devon Alberts. This sibling duo are antique fanatics whose hobby turned into a business – Antiques and Coins. They have been professionally and efficiently dealing with people’s valued items for more than a decade.
Rivac started the business in 2010. “Antiques and Coins was born from a profound love for history,” says Devon – who is the current director. She and her brother, Rivac, are both avid collectors of all things old, each with their own large collection of various SAAND graded coins, war medals, books, furniture, record players, crystal crockery, vintage weapons, the list goes on. They’re essentially SA’s experts of the Antique Roadshow, just without the scripts and cameras – and, no surprise here, it’s one of Devon’s best-loved television shows.
Some of her personal prized collection pieces include an R. Lalique bowl made by a Frenchman in the 1900s. “I also adore my antique gold diamond ring I bought from a client years ago and decided to add to my personal collection. It’s a piece I will never melt down or change. I absolutely love Victorian pieces. They always tell a story.”
Apart from being surrounded by antiques – their homes can attest – there is nothing more they love than having personal interactions with their clients. While their head offices for both Antiques and Coins as well as We Buy Gold (of which Rivac is the director) are situated in the same building in Garsfontein, Pretoria – they travel all over the country to see clients.
“Over the years we have built a trusted bond with most retirement homes across South Africa. We arrange an appointment through the home’s management channels and evaluate and appraise the resident’s prized pieces in the comfort of their familiar surroundings. This makes the whole process safe, simple, and efficient for everyone,” says Devon.
“Building meaningful relationships with our clients is what I love most about my work. I still have clients from years back wishing me Merry Christmas each year and bringing me muffins when I visit their retirement estate.”
Paired with a long, long list of certifications and specialised experience, they also use top-notch equipment to check coin authenticity, do currency validations, metal analysis and measuring of precious stones and metals, among others. Ensuring that you, and your valued items, are in the very best hands!
Their business thrives in keeping the present and past in constant touch. And perhaps most importantly, they understand the substance of remembering – this is not only their line of work, but also their life’s quest.
What they buy:
Antique furniture and electronics. Postage stamps, antique train sets, brass and copper antiques. Bullion gold and silver coins and bank notes. Die-cast vehicles and vintage toys. Fine art and pottery, porcelain, historic war items. Jewellery, antique glassware, luxury pens, silverware, wristwatches and pocket watches. Visit their website for the full and detailed list.
Details: 582 Jacqueline Drive, Garsfontein, Pretoria. 078-827-9421 or 063-847-9421. www.antiquesandcoins.co.za
