A box of someone else's jewelry is a strange thing to be handed. There's grief in it, and paperwork, and usually no idea what any of it is worth. Here's the order to do things in — and the mistakes that quietly cost families the most.
Step 1 — Do nothing yet
The most important stepDon't clean it. Don't repair it. Don't melt anything. Don't split the box between relatives yet, and don't take the first offer from the first shop you walk into.
Every irreversible step taken before you know what you have is where value disappears. Jewelry that sat in a drawer for thirty years can sit one more month while you find out what it is.
Step 2 — Sort and photograph
Lay everything out on a plain surface in daylight and photograph each piece. Then look closely — with a phone camera zoomed in if you don't have a loupe — inside the bands and on the clasps. That's where signatures and hallmarks hide.
A name like Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Tiffany or Bulgari changes the entire conversation. So can a hallmark that dates a piece to a specific era.
Don't assume unmarked means worthless. Plenty of genuinely valuable pieces carry no signature at all, and plenty of marked pieces aren't what the mark claims. This is exactly why a professional needs to see it.
Step 3 — Get it identified, piece by piece
Have a trained gemologist identify the metal, grade the stones and recognise the makers — one item at a time. Not weighed as a lump. Not "eyeballed" across a counter.
This should cost you nothing. A free valuation tells you what you own; a paid insurance appraisal is a different product for a different purpose (see below).
Step 4 — Understand melt vs resale
This is the distinction that decides how much you walk away with:
- Melt value — what the raw metal is worth by weight and karat. It's the floor.
- Resale value — what the piece is worth intact, to the next owner. For signed, antique or gem-set items this is usually far higher.
The single most expensive mistake in this whole process is letting a signed or antique piece be bought at melt. Once it's melted, that value is gone forever. Our guide on what determines jewelry value breaks this down further.
Step 5 — Decide what to keep
You don't have to sell all of it, and you shouldn't decide under pressure. Once you know what each piece is and what it's worth, separate the ones that carry meaning from the ones you're ready to release. Knowing the value often makes that easier, not harder — it turns a guilt decision into an informed one.
Step 6 — Sell the rest properly
Only sell against an itemised, written offer that shows metal value and premium separately, piece by piece.
The test: if someone weighs the whole box and hands you one number, walk away. That number is designed to be accepted quickly, not to be fair. An honest buyer shows their working — and doesn't mind you thinking about it.
The mistakes that cost the most
- Cleaning antiques — patina is value; scrubbing it off destroys it.
- Accepting one lump price for a mixed collection.
- Selling to the first shop because the box feels heavy and the grief is fresh.
- Melting signed pieces — irreversible, and usually the most expensive error of all.
- Confusing the insurance appraisal with what you'll be paid.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an appraisal before selling inherited jewelry?
Not necessarily. A free valuation from a trained gemologist tells you what you have. A paid insurance appraisal states replacement value — a different, higher number than what you'd be paid when selling.
Should I clean inherited jewelry before selling it?
No. Improper cleaning can strip the patina that gives antique pieces their character and value, and can loosen stones in worn settings. Leave it exactly as it is and let a professional handle it.
How do I know if an inherited piece is valuable?
Look for signatures and hallmarks inside bands and on clasps, which can indicate a significant maker. But plenty of valuable pieces are unmarked — and plenty of marked pieces aren't what they seem — which is why a gemologist should look at everything.
Do I have to sell the entire collection?
No. Keep whatever carries meaning and sell only what you're ready to release. We value each piece individually so you can decide item by item.
What about taxes on inherited jewelry?
Tax treatment depends on your situation and jurisdiction, and we're not tax advisors. Speak to a qualified tax professional or the attorney handling the estate before you sell.
How long does selling inherited jewelry take?
With mail-in: you ship on a free insured label, we value everything and email a written breakdown, and you're paid the same day you accept. Decline and everything ships back free.