So, you’ve recently inherited a few pieces of fine jewelry from a relative or friend. You browse through the collection and find a variety of different baubles including a long pearl necklace with frayed stringing, glittering gemstone earrings, a few antique brooches, and a marvelous engagement ring that has been passed down as a family heirloom for generations. Some of the items you adore, some not so much. But you feel obligated to keep them. Suddenly, the question becomes what to do with inherited jewelry? You actually have a few different options when it comes to deciding what to do with inherited jewelry. You were chosen to receive the inherited jewelry for a reason. Did you receive any clear instructions from the person you inherited the jewelry from about what they would like you to do with the items? If not, the decision is entirely up to your discretion. The first option is to simply keep the jewelry you inherited. This is the simplest solution. There are a few different ways you can keep inherited jewelry. Your second option is to sell inherited jewelry. You might be wondering: “Is it wrong to sell inherited jewelry?” While we can’t give you a straightforward answer to this question, we can offer some advice. We completely understand that deciding what to do with inherited jewelry can be stressful and overwhelming. That’s exactly why we’ve created this comprehensive guide for a few different steps you can take whether you decide to keep or sell inherited jewelry. Read on for help with deciding what to do with inherited jewelry.

Keeping the Items You Want

Inheriting jewelry can be an emotional experience. Oftentimes, the jewelry we inherit is a family heirloom with an important story to tell. If any of the jewelry you inherited has personal significance, it’s best to keep it. If you decide to keep inherited jewelry, there are a few different options you have for what to do with it.

• Wear it yourself– The most obvious choice is to keep the jewelry and wear it yourself. Did those glittering gemstone earrings catch your eye? Take them to your local jeweler for a cleaning and it’ll be like you bought a brand new pair of sparkling earrings! You will love having a little piece of your loved one with you whenever you wear them. And you will certainly enjoy sharing the special story behind them whenever anyone compliments your newly acquired pieces.

• Save it as a family heirloom for many generations to come– If your family has a tradition of passing down wedding rings or other pieces of fine jewelry, it’s probably best to keep those items in the family. Those pieces have sentimental value and share your family’s history. Maybe you personally won’t be wearing the inherited engagement ring or wedding band. But it’s possible another family member might be interested in giving it to their future spouse. Or you could just wear it as a right-hand ring as a special tribute to your ancestors. Don’t feel like wearing inherited jewelry, but just can’t seem to let it go? Use the inherited jewelry as a decoration! Why not put grandma’s favorite diamond necklace on display in your house? This is a lovely way to signify your connection to your family history. It also makes for a great story whenever you have new visitors over! Grandpa’s vintage gold watch is sure to catch their attention. And when the time comes for you to pass it onto another family member, it is sure to be a special moment. Just be aware of arranging such valuables in a locked display case to prevent pilfering.

• Repurpose inherited jewelry– Do you love the center stone in an inherited ring, but don’t really like the setting? Or maybe you love the pearls in the necklace you found, but the stringing can’t be saved. Why not turn inherited jewelry into something you will actually wear? The center stone in that ring can be reset into a different ring that is more your style. Or you can completely repurpose it into an entirely new piece of jewelry, like a fashionable necklace. Those gorgeous pearls on the frayed string? How about turning those into a lovely bracelet or a nice pair of earrings? The options are endless when you work with skillful and knowledgeable custom jewelers. Repurposing inherited jewelry is a great way to modernize family heirlooms, ensuring they will be cherished for many generations to come. And you’ll still be reminded of your loved one every time you wear that special piece.

Don’t be afraid to get creative if you decide to keep inherited jewelry. Just because you are keeping it doesn’t mean it has to be worn or it can’t be polished or repurposed. It’s your jewelry now- do with it as you please. You might even start a new family tradition! But if you really don’t see any reason to keep inherited jewelry, you might want to consider selling it.

Selling Inherited Jewelry

First things first, there is no reason to feel bad about selling inherited jewelry! Your loved one left their valuables to you, trusting you would make the right decision about what to do with it. Unless you were clearly instructed not to sell that specific engagement ring or brooch, it is completely okay to let go of these inherited items. If you are not going to put them to good use, why let them sit around collecting dust? Your loved one wanted you to enjoy their jewelry, and that doesn’t mean they expected you to wear it. Enjoying their jewelry can also mean enjoying its monetary value. Imagine taking the funds you receive and using it towards a meaningful experience or life improvements. Your loved one would be happy they were able to help. However, before you decide to sell any of the jewelry you inherited, you might consider checking with other family members to make sure it won’t generate hard feelings. A sibling or a cousin might want to keep the inheritances and you may not want to cause any family feuds by selling it. If no other family members have any good reason to keep the inherited jewelry, it’s safe to say you can move forward with selling it. Once you have decided you are comfortable with selling inherited jewelry, you want to be sure you do so in the most responsible way possible. But how do you go about doing this? The first step you should take is to have your inherited jewelry evaluated. If you have the time, visit a few different jewelry buyers so you can compare prices. Even though these items may not have a significant amount of meaning to you, you still want to be sure you’re receiving your money’s worth and not letting go of your loved ones valuables for less than its value. So, how do you know what the jewelry you inherited is worth?

How to value inherited jewelry

Before taking your jewelry in for an evaluation, it’s always a good idea to inspect it yourself. This may give you a better idea of what you should expect in terms of value. Look for any indications of what the jewelry is made of. Precious metals will typically have markings on the inside of the jewelry to indicate what kind of metal was used (925 is sterling silver, 10k, 14k, 24k all relate to the amount of gold used, etc.). Unfortunately with family heirlooms, these inscriptions might have been rubbed off due to normal wear and tear. If an heirloom has been in your family for quite some time, it is very possible one of your family members still has the original paperwork and certifications for the jewelry. If these did not come along with your inheritances, ask around! This may ensure that you receive a higher payout when you go to sell inherited jewelry. Once you have a better idea of how much your newly acquired jewelry might be worth, you want to be sure you choose to sell inherited jewelry to someone you can trust.

Sell to a reputable buyer

The best way to sell inherited jewelry is to an honest and reputable jewelry buyer, like Leo Hamel Jewelry & Gold Buyers. We’ve helped over 750,000 San Diegans buy and sell jewelry since 1979. We would love to help you, too! Our friendly jewelry buying experts are the best in the business. Free online jewelry appraisal estimates are simply that- an estimate. Jewelry buyers need to be able to examine the jewelry in person. If they are just looking at a picture and a description online, chances are that estimate will not be accurate. Don’t waste your time waiting around for a free estimate online when you can receive better, in-person service at Leo Hamel’s! All evaluations are free and no appointment is necessary. Simply drop by one of our 5 jewelry buying locations throughout San Diego to meet with one of our certified Graduate Gemologists. At Leo Hamel Jewelry & Gold Buyers, jewelry evaluations are performed right in front of you. Our expert buyers walk you through the entire process, answering any questions you might have. We will take the time to explain the price you are being offered to help eliminate any confusion. Additionally, we completely understand that letting go of these items might be an emotional experience. We will never pressure you to sell inherited jewelry. If you have a piece evaluated and then decide you would rather keep it that is entirely your choice. If you decide to go through with selling inherited jewelry you should be confident in your decision.

How to sell inherited jewelry

At Leo Hamel Jewelry & Gold Buyers selling inherited jewelry is simple and stress-free. We completely understand that everyone has a different situation and a different reason for selling inherited jewelry. Because of this, we offer four different ways to sell inherited jewelry. All transactions are confidential and secure.

• Sell inherited jewelry for cash today– the fastest and easiest way to sell inherited jewelry for money on the spot.
• Get a temporary loan on your inherited jewelry– pawn your inherited valuables to receive a quick loan. No credit check is not required. When you repay the loan, you get the jewelry back.
• Trade inherited jewelry towards a new purchase– trade in your valuables towards anything else in the store.
• Sell inherited jewelry from your home– if you’re unable to make it to one of our San Diego buying offices, we’ll come to you. Schedule a meeting with one of our expert buyers or contact us for more information. This is part of the estate liquidation services we offer. Not sure what ‘estate liquidation’ means? Keep reading to find out! This might be exactly what you need if you’ve inherited more than you can handle.

Liquidate jewelry

Did Grandma seem to have some hoarding tendencies? If you’ve inherited a large amount of fine jewelry and other valuables, you might be more interested in estate liquidation services. Essentially, this would be like an estate sale. Say you inherited an entire jewelry collection from your loved one and you only wish to keep a few pieces. What should you do with the rest? A great way to sell a large amount of inherited jewelry is through estate liquidation. We take all the stress out of selling jewelry and do all of the work for you. We’ll help you find the right buyers for your unwanted jewelry so you make the highest profit possible in the shortest amount of time. For an in-depth guide on how estate liquidation works, click here.

What to do with Inherited Jewelry in San Diego

The next time you find yourself wondering how to sell Grandma’s jewelry, think of Leo Hamel Jewelry & Gold Buyers. We are here to help with all of your jewelry selling needs. Whether you wish to sell one piece of inherited jewelry or an entire collection, one of our expert buyers would be more than happy to help. So, what’s the bottom line? When you inherit jewelry, some thought needs to occur before you decide to do with it. If it’s a family heirloom and has significant meaning, it may be best to keep it and enjoy it. But that doesn’t mean you have to wear it if it’s not your style. If you do wish to wear it, don’t be afraid to take different elements of the jewelry’s design to create a new piece of jewelry you’ll love. If neither of these options sounds appealing to you, there is nothing wrong with selling inherited jewelry to get cash. No matter what you decide to do with inherited jewelry, just remember- your loved one will be happy you made the right decision for you.