Market Trends & Intelligence
Antique & Collectible Market Trends
InstAppraisal Market Trends provide insight into how antiques, collectibles, art, and vintage items are performing in today's resale market. These trends are based on aggregated appraisal submissions, observed buyer behavior, and current market demand patterns — not isolated auction results or promotional pricing.
Our goal is to help item owners understand what buyers are actually looking for, what affects value most, and how market conditions may influence resale outcomes. Want to know what your item is worth? Try our free online antique appraisal service.
Explore pricing trends from InstAppraisal's archive of 25+ years of expert appraisals.
Data shown reflects our archive. External market data shown separately when available.
Inflation Index
CPI (Consumer Price Index) measures inflation and shows how prices change over time. Our valuations are inflation-adjusted to reflect current market conditions.
Archive Gainers
Categories with highest price growth (last 12 months vs prior 12 months)
- Jewelry and Gemstones +91.4% $479 avg (86 items)
- Books and Manuscripts +40.3% $91 avg (28 items)
- Silver and Silver Overlay +38.5% $277 avg (35 items)
Based on InstAppraisal archive valuations
Archive Decliners
Categories with lowest price growth (last 12 months vs prior 12 months)
- Other -68.9% $435 avg (903 items)
Based on InstAppraisal archive valuations
Browse by Category
Explore detailed market trends for specific collectible categories
How We Track Market Trends
Market trends on InstAppraisal are derived from aggregated appraisal data and market observations across multiple categories. We analyze common characteristics such as item type, era, materials, condition sensitivity, and typical value ranges. Individual appraisal submissions are never published directly.
Trends are updated periodically to reflect changing demand, design preferences, and buyer behavior.
What Market Trends Can (and Can't) Tell You
Can Help With
- Understanding demand and resale interest
- Identifying features buyers value most
- Estimating realistic value ranges
- Deciding whether an appraisal or sale is worthwhile
Can't Replace
- Formal insurance appraisals
- Authentication requiring physical inspection
- Provenance research for rare or museum-level objects
Using Market Trends to Maximize Value
Knowing current trends can help you photograph, describe, and position an item more effectively. In many categories, presentation and accurate identification influence value as much as age.
Explore our specialized value guides: jewelry appraisals, art & painting values, coin valuations, and antique furniture guides.
Data Sources & Disclaimer
About This Data
These figures reflect InstAppraisal's archive dataset — historical appraisals and derived valuations submitted by our community. Where external sold-market data is available, it's shown separately as "Market." AI-generated text provides interpretation and context only.
Data Sources
- Archive (Internal): Historical appraisals from InstAppraisal users, including AI-assisted valuations and expert comments from trusted appraisers.
- Market (External): When available, sold prices from auction houses and secondary markets. Currently limited.
- AI Overview: Generated commentary that interprets archive data — not a source of pricing data itself.
Important Limitations
- Trends are based on available data and may not represent the broader market.
- Categories with fewer than 10 items have limited statistical reliability.
- Individual item values vary significantly based on condition, provenance, and market timing.
- Historical trends do not predict future values.
This information is for educational purposes only. InstAppraisal is not responsible for buying, selling, or investment decisions made using this data.
For high-value items, consult a certified appraiser, professional auction house, or industry expert.