Pricing Your Items
Pricing is part experience, part intuition — but mostly evidence. Four factors set a specimen's value; the market tells you the rest.
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The four factors
Species & rarity
A common quartz point and a rare twinned species from a closed mine play in different leagues. Classic localities, unusual habits, and striking color all move a piece up the ladder.
Ask yourself: How many like it are for sale right now?
Aesthetics & condition
Luster, clarity, crystal form, and how the piece sits on its matrix. Damage and repairs cut value sharply — and cut trust even more when undisclosed.
Ask yourself: Would a collector display this side out?
Size & proportion
Bigger isn't automatically better: a thumbnail with perfect crystals can outprice a dull cabinet piece. Crystal-to-matrix ratio and display presence matter more than the tape measure.
Ask yourself: Does it impress at its size, or despite it?
Provenance & extras
Original labels, a documented ownership chain, a known collection, a custom stand. Story is value — a specimen with history sells the history too.
Ask yourself: What can you prove about where it's been?
Research sold, not asking
An asking price is a hope; a completed sale is a fact. Before pricing, find what specimens of similar species, size, and quality actually sold for. EarthWonders Market Data shows real sales activity, median prices, and trends by species — start there, then sanity-check against comparable live listings.
Count every cost before you set the number
Acquisition price, photography time, packing materials, shipping, insurance, and the 5% commission. Listing on EarthWonders is free — but a price that ignores your costs is a discount you didn't mean to give.
Pricing do's and don'ts
Do
- Compare against completed sales of similar pieces
- Disclose repairs and treatments — price them in
- Price slightly keen while building early feedback
- Revisit prices as the market moves
Don't
- Copy the most optimistic asking price you can find
- Hide flaws and price as if they don't exist
- Undervalue dramatically just to move fast
- Forget shipping and commission in your margin
Common questions
How do I price a mineral specimen for sale?
Consider four key factors: species and rarity (research similar listings, classic vs common locations), aesthetics and quality (clarity, luster, visual impact, repair history), size and dimensions (display appeal, crystal-to-matrix ratio), and provenance (locality labels, ownership documentation, collection history).
Should I look at asking prices or completed sales when researching the market?
Completed sales. Asking prices reflect what sellers hope to get, not what buyers actually pay. Research recent transactions on EarthWonders and similar platforms, watch for seasonal variations, and adjust for current market trends to set competitive yet realistic prices.
Should new sellers price their specimens below market?
Slightly lower can help build feedback and credibility quickly, but don't undervalue significantly. Honest, market-appropriate pricing builds long-term reputation. Always factor in all your costs (acquisition, photography time, packaging, shipping) before setting the final price.