Consignment has become one of the smartest ways to buy and sell luxury fashion. With rising retail prices and growing demand for pre-owned luxury, consignment offers sellers the opportunity to maximise value while giving buyers access to sought-after designer pieces at more accessible prices.
We break down exactly how luxury consignment works, why it’s worth considering, and how to get the most from the process.
What Is Designer Consignment?
Designer consignment is a service where you entrust your luxury item, such as a handbag or a piece of jewelry, to a specialist reseller who sells it on your behalf. Consignment exists across a number of different categories, but it is typically best suited to high-value items.
Unlike selling outright, consignment allows you to retain ownership of the item until it sells. Your consigned items will be managed by the business you sell through. This helps authenticate your item, and it also prepares it for sale, in person or online. As a result, it can sell faster. Once sold, you receive a pre-agreed percentage of the final selling price.
This model is particularly effective for high-value brands such as:
- Hermès
- Chanel
- Cartier
- Van Cleef & Arpels
- Louis Vuitton
- Dior
- Goyard
These brands retain strong resale value, particularly for classic and limited-edition pieces.
Why Consignment Makes Financial Sense
1. Retail Prices Continue To Rise
Luxury houses increase prices regularly, particularly for iconic handbags. These increases can happen yearly, and sometimes even more frequently. This strengthens the resale market, especially for classic styles.
2. Strong Secondary Market Demand
Timeless models like the Hermès Birkin and Kelly, the Chanel Classic Flap, or Cartier Love Bracelet consistently attract buyers who prefer to skip waiting lists or access discontinued colors.
3. Sustainability Matters
Buying and selling pre-owned luxury extends the life cycle of pieces that were designed to last, aligning style with sustainability.
4. It Benefits Everyone
The seller can sell unwanted luxury goods for a great price. Buyers can either get designer items for less, or find hard-to-buy items.
Where’s The Best Luxury Consignment For Designer Handbags?
The best consignment service depends on personal preference and your needs. It's important to check reviews and do your research.
Here’s what to look out for:
Expertise In Luxury Handbags
Specialists with deep brand knowledge can better price and position pieces from houses like Hermès or Chanel, where condition grading and model details significantly affect value.
Transparent Commission Structure
Clear, competitive commission rates without hidden fees are essential.
Authentication Guarantee
A reputable consignment company provides professional authentication, giving buyers confidence and protecting sellers.
Premium Presentation
Luxury resale is about trust and desirability. Professional imagery, accurate descriptions, and maximum visibility. The latter helps not only to speed up sales, but it also promotes credibility.
myGemma’s luxury consignment service offers a streamlined, risk-free way to sell designer handbags, jewelry, and accessories, helping you potentially earn up to 25% more than selling outright.
We handle authentication, professional photography, and listings across 25+ top marketplaces (including myGemma.com) at no extra cost, boosting your item’s exposure and chance of sale.
Consignments are processed quickly, typically listed within days, and payment is issued about 35 days after sale, with a buy-out option available if you prefer immediate payment.
Free insured shipping and industry-low return rates add extra peace of mind.
Tips To Maximize Your Consignment Return
- Keep original packaging, receipts, and authenticity cards where possible
- Maintain excellent condition (storage and care impact resale value)
- Be realistic on pricing; the market ultimately determines value
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Choose a specialist platform aligned with your item’s tier
Where To Buy Designer Accessories Online?
If you are not only in the market to consign but also to buy, myGemma offers the full luxury resale experience. You can not only consign, sell directly, or trade in, but you can also discover our wide selection of designer accessories. Shop items such as designer handbags, luxury jewelry, accessories (such as wallets and belts), as well as unique pieces.
You'll find pre-loved offerings from top-tier luxury brands, such as Hermès, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, Louis Vuitton, David Yurman, and many more. Each item has gone through our rigorous authentication process before becoming available for purchase on our website and app. We guarantee authenticity or your money back.
Luxury resale is the most sustainable way to buy designer goods, as it helps contribute towards a circular economy. In partnership with Ecologi, myGemma also plants a tree for every purchase and every sale. With Ample, 10 bottles of ocean plastic are removed from the waters with every sale.
Check out myGemma's reviews to see what our customers think of us.
