Estate Jewelry Do’s and Don’ts: What to Do with Estate Jewelry

If you have inherited estate jewelry, you surely have enough on your mind. Knowing what to do with estate jewelry can feel overwhelming, especially during a complex and emotional time. To keep things simple, here are some quick do’s and don’ts when it comes to dealing with inherited estate jewelry.

Do: Consider What’s Important to You

You may feel an attachment to some, all, or none of the inherited jewelry. And that’s okay – it’s entirely up to you! Whether you choose to sell the entire estate jewelry collection, or keep a number of items for yourself, the main idea is to take a moment to consider the sentimental value of these items.

Don’t: Rush to Sell Everything

Selling estate jewelry might be the right choice – but you don’t need to rush into it. You likely have enough on your plate with clearing out the larger physical estate items, and of course dealing with the grief of a lost family member. Since jewelry is often quite valuable and doesn’t take up too much space, it may be worth taking the collection home with you to properly deal with later with a level head.

Do: Take Pictures or Notes on the Collection

It’s a good idea to briefly catalogue what you have in the estate jewelry collection. This can help keep track of everything, plus give some more information to an eventual buyer should you choose to sell it. You don’t need to go too detailed here – just lay everything out evenly and take a few pictures or notes.

Don’t: Clean or Handle Jewelry Too Much

Estate jewelry, and particularly older items, can be delicate. While your instinct may be to clean or “fix” items that need some love, this can sometimes make things worse. It’s best to leave this kind of processing to experts, particularly with delicate looking items.

Do: Research a Trustworthy Estate Jewelry Buyer

When it does come time to sell, take your time to find the right partner to work with. Good options include estate jewelry buyers and coin shops. We do NOT recommend using pawn shops because coin shops generally pay more for jewelry and gold compared to pawn shops. Look for a licensed business with a long history of serving customers, and positive customer reviews.

Selling estate jewelry in the greater Seattle area? Come into Bellevue Rare Coins to sell jewelry with ease. We have locations in Bellevue, Issaquah, Lynnwood and Tacoma, and have been serving the PNW since 1979.

Don’t: Risk a Private Sale to an Individual

We strongly recommend working with a licensed business to sell estate jewelry items. While there are many individuals (often on marketplace apps like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist, etc.) that buy jewelry, working with valuables on these apps can be risky. The risk of scams and even robberies is substantial, as you’re dealing with items that are worth potentially thousands of dollars. Stick to a reputable business with a physical location and adequate security to ensure you and your items stay safe.

If you keep these basic guidelines in mind, you’ll have an easier time figuring out what to do with estate jewelry.

If you decide to sell estate jewelry collections and you live in the Seattle area, we hope you’ll trust Bellevue Rare Coins with your needs. With more than four decades of experience in the industry, our trusted buyers are here to help you get the most for your items – with a simple, stress-free selling experience.

Learn more about selling to Bellevue Rare Coins here.