Inherited a load of jewellery. How best to sell it?

hgnsvd

Apologies in advance if this isn't the right forum - I couldn't see one that would fit better.

I've inherited two boxes of jewellery from an elderly relative containing a lot of rings, necklaces, tie-pins etc. Some of the stuff could be as old as 1920. A lot of it is 'costume jewellery' which may not be made of valuable materials but could have some vintage chic value. There are a number of gold necklaces and ring as well, some with small stones including a couple of diamonds and a ruby.

I know nothing about jewellery. What would be the best way for me to sell this lot? Should I go to an auctioneer, put it on ebay, get it valued for insurance first, drag it round half a dozen local jewellers soliciting offers? What's the done thing, and how can I be confident that I'm not getting ripped off? My relative left me this stuff with the understanding that I'd sell it and I don't want to squander her legacy.

Many thanks.

hgnsvd

Anyone at all?

sarah1972

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/gold-selling-sites

Lipstick99

Check the gold price.
DO NOT sell by post. Find a jeweller in your area and compare their price to the current price. You will get more if the items are sellable rather than scrap value. Antique shops may be interested in your paste jewellers. Latest price today in my area from reputable jeweller I have sold to is £8.70 per gram for 9 carat.

sarah1972

Lipstick99 wrote: »

Check the gold price.
DO NOT sell by post. Find a jeweller in your area and compare their price to the current price. You will get more if the items are sellable rather than scrap value. Antique shops may be interested in your paste jewellers. Latest price today in my area from reputable jeweller I have sold to is £8.70 per gram for 9 carat.

£9.16 a gram if you sell to this very reputable jeweller http://www.hattongardenmetals.com/sell-scrap-gold.aspx

So local jewellers do not always give the best deal as the above shows.

shimmer101

I would get a couple of opinions from local antique shops so you have an idea of worth and then use Ebay. Old costume jewellery can actually sell very well, as my grandmother found out, much to her delight haha. Ebay will reach the most amount of buyers, so after you have an idea of what you want..I'd put things on there with reserve prices on the nicer items x

ejr2403

As I have said many times before there are three companies in the Uk that do stand out, not just in terms of price offered but also in what they actually pay out
They are Hatton Garden Metals
Lois jewellery
and the Birmingham Gold Company,

PasturesNew

Auctioneers will tell you the value you might get
Buy gold people won't be interested if it's special/valuable, but will only look at the weight of the gold; interesting/valuable stones will be wasted and not paid for.
Ebay is probably not 'specialised enough' especially as you don't know what you have to be able to describe it to get the best price.
Antique dealers might also not know - but I'd take some photos round to ask them if they could value it - then take the real stuff back to the 2-3 who impressed you most.

Don't sell in a hurry though ..... you could also look up those Antiques Roadshows. Wait until you're confident you've identified its type/style/value then sell when you feel it's the right way/method.

Mara_uk7

Go to your library, get out some Millers Collectables books, theyre pretty good for values, and have good clear photos too.