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Tips for Selling Estate Jewelry

Selling Estate Jewelry

If you’ve recently inherited an estate, you may be tasked with difficult decisions about what to keep, what to sell, and how to sell certain items. Many estates include jewelry or even entire jewelry collections. These tips for selling estate jewelry will help you figure out what you have, what it might be worth, and how to go about selling items.

First, Decide What You’d Like to Keep

Estate jewelry may have sentimental value. For many people, keeping a few choice items is a great way to remember the lost loved one.

The choice of what to keep is of course up to you. You could look for items that you or a loved one would like to wear, or any items that particularly catch your eye.

It can be tempting to keep the entire estate jewelry collection for sentimental value – but in most cases, this just leads to clutter in a box somewhere. Plus, you could be missing out on a substantial sum of money if you choose not to sell anything.

For these reasons, it’s often best to select a handful of items that speak to you personally, and sell or give away the rest.

You may also wish to gift items to other family members or friends.

Tips for Selling Estate Jewelry

These specific tips for selling estate jewelry will help you understand what you have, what it might be worth, and how to get the most money for your items.

1. Locate a Trusted Jewelry Buyer in Your Area

The simplest way to get an estate jewelry collection evaluated is to work with a jewelry buyer near you. This could be a jeweler, a coin shop, a gold buyer, etc. or in rare cases an individual. It’s best to avoid pawn shops because they typically pay far less than the items are actually worth.

How do you find a trusted jewelry buyer to work with? First, look online for coin shops and jewelers in your area. Be sure to check reviews on Trust Pilot, Google Maps, etc. to check other people’s experience working with that company.

It’s best to shop around and identify 2-3 options in your area. Then, give them a call and see what their process is. Most buyers will evaluate items for free, and provide offers for the item(s) they would like to buy.

Keep in mind that buyers won’t necessarily want all your items. But getting estate jewelry evaluated is a great place to start.

Are you in the greater Seattle area? If so, come to Bellevue Rare Coins to sell estate jewelry for top dollar. Our friendly representatives are ready to evaluate your items for free with no obligation to sell – and we offer top dollar for gold jewelry, diamonds, antique jewelry and more.

2. Evaluate the Items You Have

If you don’t go to a professional, you can take some time to examine and evaluate the items you have in the collection. Here’s what to look for:

  • Check for any markings that may indicate precious metal content (for example “sterling” or “925” markings indicate sterling silver content).
  • Check for any gemstones (and work with a professional to verify their authenticity)
  • Check for any original packaging or certificates that may indicate an item’s composition or original value
  • Examine the items for condition

In general, it’s best to not clean older jewelry unless you research the proper way to do so. In some cases you can end up damaging items, so it’s best to leave jewelry cleaning to professionals (or look up material-specific guides online).

3. Gather and Consider Cash Offers

You can consult with jewelry buyers to obtain offers for your items. In some cases, it’s worth getting a few offers, particularly for more valuable items.

For instance, you may take a diamond ring to two or more jewelry buyers to obtain independent offers for the items.  This will allow you to shop around and make sure you’re getting the most money for your items.

4. Avoid Private Sales, in Most Cases

There is also the option to sell estate jewelry to private individuals. This can be risky, however, as the chance of scams and robberies is always there. If you do choose to meet buyers in person, make sure it’s in a safe, well-lit location with cameras – like a bank or police station parking lot.

You could also choose to sell estate jewelry online, on a platform like eBay or Etsy. This is best if you’re an experienced eBay seller – most buyers won’t want to make purchases from a brand new account with no sales feedback, so it can be tricky for new sellers. Also keep in mind platform fees can really add up, and are often in the 10-15%+ range.

5. Only Make Deals You’re Comfortable With

Selling estate jewelry can be an emotionally difficult decision. It can also be logistically challenging at times. Ultimately, it’s important to only make deals that you feel comfortable with. Usually this means working with a trusted buyer that you know you can trust, and making sure the amount you’re paid seems fair.

Bellevue Rare Coins is Seattle’s Best Estate Jewelry Buyer

If you’re in the PNW, head to Bellevue Rare Coins to sell estate jewelry for top dollar. We have locations in Bellevue, Issaquah, Lynnwood and Tacoma. Our friendly and experienced staff are standing by to evaluate your items. We buy jewelry, coins, gold, silver, platinum, broken jewelry and more, so we can be a one-stop-shop for all your needs. Learn more about selling to Bellevue Rare Coins here.

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  • Bellevue

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    321 Bellevue Way NE
    Bellevue, WA 98004
    Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am - 6 pm
    Saturday & Sunday Closed
    Phone: 425-454-1283
  • Lynnwood

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    18411 Alderwood Mall Parkway Suite F
    Lynnwood, WA 98037
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    Phone: 425-672-2646
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    Issaquah, WA 98027
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    Saturday & Sunday Closed
    Phone: 425-392-0450
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    Tacoma, WA 98402
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    Phone: 253-328-4014