Selling rings - opinions please

Sponge_Cake

I have two rings given to me by my grandparents a long time ago. My grandad owned and worked in a jewellers in our town during the war and just after.

They are both thin gold bands. One has a line of 5 diamonds and the other has a cluster of 4 sapphires.

I know some people will think I'm being heartless considering selling these but I know my grandparents wouldn't want me to have financial difficulties and my mum has the majority of the gold and old jewellery - including the sentimental things like engagement rings and so on.

My partner and I need money for a deposit on a rented accommodation. We are currently renting a house but are downsizing to a smaller apartment. The landlord is obviously asking for a full months rent up front + deposit. As my full time job doesn't start till September, we are struggling. He works full time but we need this extra deposit money from somewhere. Even taking into account the deposit we will get back on this place...

So I just want your opinions, should I take them to an antiques shop (there's one in our town) or will they need to be sold before I gain any money there? My other options are to take them to a local jewellers or alternatively, a cash for gold shop...I'm not as keen on this as I'm thinking they might con me slightly. The thing is, there isn't a lot of gold on them but they do have the diamonds and sapphires and according to the woman at the jewellers I took them to last week, they are "a unique style you don't see much anymore". And the stones are genuine.

Please let me know your thoughts and don't judge me too harshly

SeduLOUs

Cash for gold shops will ignore the stones and only give you the gold weight value. Unless they are special antiques I wouldn't get your hopes up as you'll probably only get peanuts for them.

Start asking around in jewellers and see what they offer you...

graham73

Is an auction house a better option? You could speak to them anyway, they'd be able to give an approx. value.

lincroft1710

If you sell at an auction house you will have to pay commission (possibly as high as 15%) and also possibly VAT, but you may get a higher price than by selling to a jeweller or you may not.

culpepper

Some auction places offer free valuations so you might want to go down that path even if just to see what they are worth.
Then at least you will know how accurate other places are in what they are offering.

susanjessejames

I got a very good price for my 60's charm bracelet - admittedly it was a lot of gold - but if your rings are 'pretty' you might do well and of course you can place a reasonable reserve on them, as to whether you should sell I'm sure your grandparents would be more than happy for you - good luck