Sell inherited and estate jewelry
A jewelry box from an estate usually holds a mix: some pieces worth more than their metal, some worth their metal, and some worth neither. DeKlutterNow sorts them honestly, so signed pieces are not treated as scrap and plated pieces are not oversold.
Short answer: Send photos of the whole collection plus close ups of any marks to (858) 247-2017, or use the form below. We tell you what looks like a fit, look at the items, and make one offer for the lot. In Southern California we can meet in person. Elsewhere we use prepaid mail-in. You can say no.
How should I sort an inherited jewelry box?
Sort into four piles before you sell anything. It helps you ask better questions and spot an offer that treats everything the same.
Precious metal pieces
Gold marked 10K, 14K, 18K, 585, or 750, sterling or 925 silver, and platinum. Broken chains, single earrings, bent rings, and class rings belong here. The metal has value even when the piece is damaged.
Signed and designer pieces
Pieces stamped or boxed by a known jewelry house or designer can be worth more than their metal. Look for names, logos, and serial numbers on clasps, backs, and inside bands.
Vintage, antique, and stone pieces
Older settings, hand made work, and pieces with real gemstones. Age, craftsmanship, and the stones all matter, so these should be looked at as pieces, not as scrap.
Costume and plated pieces
Most fashion jewelry and anything marked GP, GEP, or plated has little or no precious metal. We say so plainly if a piece is not a fit.
What we look at
- Inherited jewelry boxes and whole estate collections
- Signed and designer jewelry, with or without the original box
- Broken, tangled, or single piece gold and silver
- Sterling flatware, serving pieces, and tea sets
- Watches and pocket watches that come with an estate
- Mixed estate lots with coins, silver, and jewelry together
What is usually not a fit
- Plated, gold filled, and costume jewelry with no precious metal
- Replicas and counterfeit designer pieces
- Silver plated flatware and serving pieces
- Unmarked items nobody can verify. Send a photo of any marks and we will say whether they need testing
- Anything you do not own or are not authorized to sell
What should I do before I send photos?
- Keep the whole collection together and photograph it in one shot first.
- Take close ups of any stamps, signatures, or maker marks, and of clasps and backs.
- Do not polish, clean, or repair anything. Cleaning can remove detail and value.
- Do not scratch or file a piece to test it. We can test safely.
- Keep boxes, papers, receipts, and appraisals with the matching piece.
- Set aside anything your family wants to keep before you decide what to sell.
- If the estate is still being settled, check with the person handling it before you sell.
Why not sell the whole box as scrap?
A buyer that only pays for metal weight will treat a signed or antique piece like a broken chain. That is fine for scrap, but it can leave value on the table for the better pieces. Whoever you sell to, ask how they separate collectible pieces from scrap, and ask them to explain the offer. See our guide to inherited jewelry for how to read marks and compare offers.
Selling mostly gold, silver, coins, or bullion by weight? See our gold and silver page. For a single watch, see selling watches. The general jewelry page covers everyday pieces.
Going deeper on one kind of piece? See broken gold chains and single earrings, signed designer jewelry, sterling silver flatware, and inherited silver coins.
In some cases we work with trusted partners to get you the best offer possible.
How an offer works for estate jewelry
We make one offer for the whole lot after we see the items. You are free to say no.
Step 1
You send what you have
Photos and a few details are enough: what it is, roughly how many, and what condition. A form, a text, or a call all work.
Step 2
We tell you if it is a fit
We reply with whether we buy it and whether we can come to you or you should mail it in. If it is not a fit, we say so.
Step 3
We look at the items, then make one offer
We do not quote a price from photos. Once we have seen the items, you get one offer for the lot, and we can explain what drove it.
Step 4
You decide
Say yes and we complete the sale. Say no and you owe nothing.
What moves an offer
- Which exact items, titles, or models are in the lot
- Condition and completeness, such as boxes, manuals, and all the parts
- Whether it works, if it is a device or a console
- What similar items are selling for right now
Who you are dealing with
DeKlutterNow is a small business based in Oceanside, California. You can ask questions before you send anything: text (858) 247-2017 or email hello@deklutternow.com.
Estate jewelry questions
Do you buy broken gold chains and single earrings?
Yes. Broken chains, single earrings, bent rings, and scrap gold and silver can still have metal value. Include them in your photos and send close ups of any karat marks.
Do you buy signed designer jewelry?
Yes, authentic signed pieces. A signature can add value beyond the metal, so we look at the maker, the condition, and any box or papers. Replicas and counterfeits are not a fit.
Do you buy sterling silver flatware?
Yes. Full and partial sets, serving pieces, and sterling tea sets are a fit. Look for a sterling or 925 mark on the back. Silver plated pieces, often marked EP or EPNS, are not a fit.
Should I get an appraisal first?
Not always. An appraisal can help for insurance or very high value pieces. Many people start by sending photos to a few buyers and asking each one how they work out their offer.
How do you figure out what inherited jewelry is worth?
We separate the pieces that are worth more than their metal from the ones that are not. For metal we look at purity and weight. For signed, antique, and stone pieces we also look at the maker, age, and condition. We do not quote a price from photos alone.
Can I sell if I live outside Southern California?
Yes. Outside our Southern California areas we use prepaid mail-in. See the gold and silver page for how shipping works.
Do I have to decide on the spot?
No. You get one offer for the lot after we look at the items, and you are free to say no or take time to think.
How do I tell if a piece is solid gold or plated?
Look for a karat mark such as 10K, 14K, 18K, 585 or 750. GP, GE, HGE, GF and 1/20 point to plated or filled pieces. Marks can wear away, so testing confirms. See our page on broken and scrap gold.
Do I need to sort the jewelry box before sending photos?
Only roughly. Separate what the family wants to keep, then photograph the rest in groups with the stamps in view. Do not polish, repair or dip anything.
What if there are coins or silver mixed in with the jewelry?
Include them in your photos. We look at flatware, silver and coins as part of an estate, and do not clean coins before they are reviewed.
Get a quote
Tell us what you have
The more you tell us, the faster we can say whether it is a fit and what happens next. We do not quote a price from a form. Final offers come after we look at the items. You can also text photos to (858) 247-2017.
What to send
- • One photo of everything together, then close ups of the best pieces
- • Titles, brands, model numbers, or marks like 14K or 925 when you can read them
- • Boxes, manuals, papers, or graded labels if you have them
- • Anything that is broken, missing, or not working, so we can price it honestly
- • Your city and zip so we know if we can come to you
What we do not buy
- • Plated, gold tone and costume jewelry with no collector interest
- • Replica and counterfeit designer pieces
- • Anything you suspect is stolen
- • Unmarked pieces that cannot be tested
Not sure? Send it anyway and we will tell you. See the full list.