Inherited jewellery. Carefully valued, honestly bought.
Dealing with a parent's or grandparent's jewellery collection after a bereavement is rarely straightforward. You may have little idea what pieces are worth, feel uncertain about which items to keep, and understandably want the process to be handled with care and without pressure.
Fair Vintage specialises in exactly this. We provide written assessments of each piece, make individual offers, and leave all decisions entirely with you. There is no deadline, no pressure, and no obligation.
Before you contact us — gather what you can
You do not need to have any of this — but the more information you can share, the more accurate our initial estimate will be. None of these items are required to proceed.
- Clear photographs of each piece, ideally in natural daylight against a plain background
- Close-up photographs of any hallmarks — the small stamped marks inside rings, on clasps, or on the backs of brooches
- Original boxes, cases or pouches if still with the jewellery
- Any receipts, valuations, insurance documents or certificates of authenticity
- The approximate age of the piece if known (e.g. "grandmother's engagement ring from the 1930s")
- Any background information — who owned it, where it was purchased, any family stories attached
- Your best guess at the metal — gold, silver, platinum — even if you are unsure of the carat
Many clients send us a box of mixed jewellery with no documentation at all. Our job is to assess what you have, not to test your knowledge. Send what you have and let us do the rest.
How our service compares
| Consideration | Fair Vintage | Auction house | High-street jeweller | General buyer / cash-for-gold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written offer per piece | Yes — always | Estimate only; final price at hammer | Verbal offer, typically | Rarely in writing |
| Assessment of artisan or antique value | Yes — specialist assessment | Yes, if consigned appropriately | Focused on scrap or resale value | Metal weight only |
| Fees or commission | None — no charges to seller | 15–25% seller's commission typical | None, but lower offers | None, but very low offers |
| Partial sale — keep some pieces | Yes — sell any combination | Possible, but each lot incurs fees | Usually buy all or nothing | Usually bulk purchase |
| Timeline | At your pace, no deadline | Auction dates fixed — can be months | Immediate but final | Immediate but low |
| Transit insurance | Fully covered, both ways | You arrange delivery | You bring it in person | You bring it in person |
The process, step by step
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Send photographs and a brief description Email support@fairvintage.co.uk with photographs of each piece. Include anything you know about the items — or simply say "I've inherited these and don't know much about them." We respond to all enquiries within one working day.
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Receive a preliminary estimate range Based on your photographs, we will give you an honest estimate range for the items we are interested in. This is not a final offer — just an honest indication before anything is posted.
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Post items to us in free insured packaging We send you specialist jewellery packaging with full insurance cover. You pack the items and post using the included tracked, recorded label. Everything is insured in transit at our cost.
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Receive written offers per piece Once we have physically assessed each item, we send written offers detailing what we have found and what we are prepared to pay for each piece. You choose what to sell — one piece, several, or all of them.
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Payment within 72 hours — or free return Accept our offers and we pay within 72 hours by bank transfer. Decline, and we return everything to you fully insured at no charge. There is no fee, no commitment, and no pressure.
Common questions
I don't know what my inherited jewellery is worth — is that a problem?
Not at all. Most people who contact us have no idea what they have — and that is exactly why a specialist assessment is valuable. We will examine each piece, identify hallmarks, assess metal content and craftsmanship, and provide a written offer based on current market values. You will learn what you have as part of the process.
Can I sell some pieces and keep others?
Yes, absolutely. We make written offers on each individual piece so you can choose exactly what to sell. There is no pressure to sell everything. Many families keep sentimental pieces and sell only those with no personal significance. See our sell jewellery page for more detail on how individual valuations work.
Some of the jewellery is costume or low-value — should I include it?
Send photographs of everything and let us assess it. What appears costume may contain gold or silver not immediately obvious to an untrained eye. We will tell you honestly if certain items fall outside what we can buy, and we will never make inflated offers to take items of little value.
We have receipts and original boxes — does this affect the price?
Original boxes, receipts and documentation can add value to certain pieces, particularly signed pieces from known makers such as Asprey, Cartier or Liberty. For everyday gold and silver, hallmarks matter more than paperwork. Either way, do include any documentation you have — it helps us give the most accurate assessment possible. If the jewellery is part of a deceased estate, our estate jewellery service may also be relevant.
Ready to find out what you have?
Send us photographs whenever you are ready. There is no deadline and no commitment — just an honest assessment from people who understand what they are looking at.
support@fairvintage.co.uk · Free insured postage both ways