Authority to sell
If the estate is still being administered, the executor or administrator deals with the assets. Where several people share an entitlement, agree in advance what is being sold. Buyers record the seller's identity, and a clear position at the outset avoids difficulty later.
Sort before you decide anything
Inherited collections are usually mixed: some solid gold, some plated, some costume, occasionally something valuable. Group by fineness mark, keep unmarked items separate, and put anything with a name, a hallmark you cannot read, or a substantial stone into a third pile for identification.
What is often worth more than its metal
- Signed pieces from recognised makers or retailers.
- Period jewellery — Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco — in original condition.
- Diamonds and good coloured stones, particularly in older cuts.
- Gold sovereigns and other coins, where date and condition matter.
- Watches, which are valued as watches rather than as cases.
And what usually is not
Worn 9ct chain, odd earrings, damaged rings and unmarked costume pieces generally carry metal value only. That is not a reflection on the person they belonged to; most twentieth-century jewellery was made in volume.
Take your time
There is rarely any urgency. Gold keeps. Have the collection identified and valued, ask what each pile is being valued on, and sell only the part you are ready to part with. Keeping one piece back is a perfectly normal thing to do.
This guide is general information. For questions about estates, probate or entitlement, take advice from a solicitor.
