Stylish Antiques: Find antiques, estate jewelry, furniture at the Northborough Barn

By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer

Company Name : Elegant antiques

Address: 75 Main Street (Route 20), Northborough

The owners: Steve and Joyce Longvall

Contact details: 508-393-8736, www.cashforgoldmetrowest.com

How long have you been doing this?

“It’s been 40 years. I left the company where I had worked for 25 years, but I was doing this on the side. We’ve been doing this full-time for about 30 years, ”said Steve Longvall, who, along with his wife Joyce, owns Elegant Antiques. The business moved just down Route 20 to the colonial-era barn it now occupies about five years ago.

“Before, we were called Elegant Junk. A lot of my clients were really upset when we changed the name, but times changed and I had to get rid of “Junk”. “

What are you specialized in?

“We sell estate jewelry, antiques, collectibles and good second-hand furniture. In jewelry, we have rings, chains, bracelets, everything from diamond rings to the right costume jewelry, ”said Steve. In furniture, the Longvalls take orders for new tables of all sizes, made to measure from wood from old barns, as well as the sale of quality second-hand furniture.

“We are proud of the store. Everything is well organized, not all muddled up.

“And we’re very, very reasonable with our prices. I tell people to come in, look around, don’t be fooled by the posted prices. We are very negotiable. This is what you need to do in today’s market. You do a little bit and just get things done. We have fun doing it. “

Do you buy as well as you sell?

“Absolutely. I’m an appraiser, so we do a lot of appraisal work. If I go out home I have to charge, but I invite people to bring things in and I give them my opinion. areas.

“Recently, with this economy, we bought a lot of gold and silver. Most buyers pay 40 or 50 percent of the metal’s value, but I pay a good 80 percent. Yellow gold is old fashioned, so it is discarded. I remove the stones, and if it’s a sentimental piece, I give the stones back to the people. If white gold jewelry comes in, I might try to resell it. Sterling silver jewelry that I can resell after cleaning it. If people bring interesting coins, I can pay a little more for them. If it’s just a sterling knife and fork, the price of scrap in sterling is so high that it’s not worth trying to resell.

“Last week a guy came over from Boston with a bunch of gold, and I asked why he had come this far. He said he’s been on the internet, but I’m not on the internet. I am an older man and not much for computers. When he said we had five stars on the internet, I thought I would ask my grandson about it. He explained that people who have dealt with us have posted comments. I thought it was cool. We try to be fair with people.

What else are you doing?

“We do a lot of repairs, jewelry, pocket watches. I have a friend who does this. We also repair furniture.

When are you open?

“We are here Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm, Sunday from 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm. Or by appointment.