What Can I Do With My Inherited Jewellery?

Inheriting jewellery is often a deeply sentimental experience; a connection to loved ones, family history, and moments long past. But deciding what to do with inherited pieces can also feel overwhelming, especially when you're unsure of their value, authenticity, or how they might fit into your life today. At Gerard McCabe, we can help you navigate this process backed by our team of experts. We asked our Antiques and Estate specialist Belinda Bown to answer the most commonly asked questions about what to do with inherited jewellery.

WHAT HAVE I INHERITED?

“This is one of the questions we are most frequently asked,” says Belinda. “Often, clients come to us with a jewellery box with bits and pieces, and they have no idea if they have any value. We help our clients to identify which pieces are fine jewellery and sort these from costume jewellery. Part of this process includes testing the gemstones and alloys in each piece with specialised equipment to determine their authenticity and content. We have had families come to us who thought grandma’s brooch was diamond, but when tested, it reported as cubic zirconia. On the other hand, one of our clients discovered a forgotten heirloom in a drawer that, upon testing, was proven to be a genuine piece of Victorian-era jewellery. So learning what you have will then help you make decisions about what to do next with your jewellery.”

Can you fix or restore inherited jewellery?

“Yes, we absolutely can,” says Belinda. “We firmly believe that jewellery is meant to be worn and enjoyed! Family heirlooms, treated with respect and care, can be worn for special occasions, to be treasured for many generations.” Belinda continues, “The jewellery you have inherited is also worth assessing for any maintenance that might be needed. Pieces can be cleaned, repaired or restored if necessary to ensure that jewels can be safely worn. Our team of experts are some of the best in the business and have extensive experience, particularly in specialist areas such as antiques.

What if I want to keep inherited jewellery that isn’t my style?

“Remodelling jewellery is a fantastic option to update jewellery without losing its sentimental value.” Belinda continues, “Many of our clients have chosen to remodel their inherited jewellery to suit their style and ultimately means it can be worn and enjoyed instead of tucked away.” Belinda says, “Our team will work with the client using gemstones and diamonds from inherited jewellery to design a piece they will love. It’s a wonderfully sentimental way to keep an item that has travelled throughout the generations, evolving over time.”

What do I do with inherited jewellery that I don’t want to keep?

“We can help with that too,” Belinda says with a laugh. “We really are a one-stop shop for everything you need for inherited jewellery. We understand that it can be a daunting task, and sorting through what to keep versus what to sell can be overwhelming. Depending on what a client is willing to part with, we may make an offer to buy certain items for our collection. Pieces that we wouldn’t buy but that have scrap value, for example items with gold value, we will refer to a trusted vendor.” Belinda continues, “We are really here to make sure our clients are equipped with the knowledge to make good jewellery decisions depending on their circumstances and desires, it’s as simple as that.”