What to Do with Inherited Jewelry: Your Complete Guide

Article Snapshot

Six options for inherited jewelry: wear as-is, resize/repair, repurpose, document and store, sell, or gift
How to get jewelry appraised and understand what you have
Emotional considerations: guilt, obligation, and permission to choose
Why documenting the story matters regardless of what you decide

You open a jewelry box that belonged to your grandmother. Inside: her wedding ring, a brooch you remember her wearing to church, a watch that stopped working years ago, and pieces you've never seen before.

Now what?

Inherited jewelry carries more emotional weight than almost any other possession. It touched someone's skin daily. It marked their milestones. It represented their taste, their era, their identity.

And now it's yours, and you have to decide what to do with it.

This guide walks through your options honestly, from keeping everything to letting it all go, and helps you make decisions you won't regret.

For a broader look at handling all types of family heirlooms, see our complete heirlooms guide.

First: Understand What You Have

Before making any decisions, take inventory. Some inherited jewelry is valuable. Some isn't. Some pieces are costume jewelry with sentimental value. Some are fine pieces worth thousands. Knowing the difference matters.

Get an Appraisal

For any piece that might be valuable, get a professional appraisal. Look for:

A certified gemologist (GG) or accredited appraiser
Someone independent from dealers who might buy the piece
Written documentation of value, materials, and condition

Expect to pay $50-150 per piece for formal appraisals. Many jewelers offer free informal assessments, which can help you decide what's worth appraising formally.

Document Everything First

Regardless of what you decide to do with each piece, document its story now. Take photos from multiple angles. Record any information you know about who owned it, when they got it, and why it mattered to them.

If you later sell, donate, or give away the piece, you'll still have the story preserved. If you keep it, you'll have documentation for insurance and future generations.

Option 1: Wear It As-Is

The simplest option. If a piece fits your style and size, wear it. There's something meaningful about putting on grandmother's ring or grandfather's watch and making it part of your daily life.

Best for:

Pieces that fit without modification
Styles you genuinely like (not just tolerate)
Items in good condition

Consider: Will you actually wear it regularly? Keeping jewelry "for special occasions" often means never wearing it at all. Be honest about whether this will become part of your life or sit in a box.

Option 2: Resize, Repair, or Restore

Many inherited pieces need work before they're wearable. Rings need resizing. Clasps break. Stones come loose. Watches stop running.

Common repairs:

Ring resizing (most can be adjusted 1-2 sizes)
Replacing broken clasps on necklaces and bracelets
Re-tipping prongs that hold stones
Cleaning and polishing
Watch servicing and battery replacement

Cost considerations: Get repair estimates before committing. Simple resizing might cost $30-100. Complex restoration can cost hundreds. Weigh repair cost against the piece's value and meaning to you.

Best for: Pieces you want to wear but can't in current condition.

Option 3: Repurpose Into Something New

This option works well for pieces you value but wouldn't wear in their current form. A skilled jeweler can transform inherited jewelry into something entirely new.

Examples:

Reset grandmother's diamond into a modern ring setting
Turn a brooch's stones into a pendant necklace
Combine stones from multiple pieces into one new piece
Melt down gold from several items to create something new
Turn a ring into a necklace charm

What to keep in mind:

The original piece will be altered or destroyed
Document and photograph the original before any changes
Custom work can be expensive ($500-5,000+ depending on complexity)
Find a jeweler who does custom work regularly, with references

Best for: Valuable pieces you want to keep in the family but wouldn't wear in their current style.

Option 4: Document and Store

Not every piece needs to be worn. Some jewelry is meaningful as an artifact, a connection to someone you loved, even if it never leaves the box.

If storing:

Use a proper jewelry box with anti-tarnish lining
Store pieces separately to prevent scratching
Keep in a climate-controlled space (not attics or basements)
Consider a safe deposit box for valuable pieces
Document for insurance purposes

Document the story: Take photos, record any provenance you know, and ideally capture video of yourself or a family member telling the piece's story. Future generations will want to know whose ring this was and why it mattered.

Telloom's Objects feature lets you create a complete record: photos, video story, transcription, and inheritance wishes, all searchable and shareable with family.

Option 5: Sell

Selling inherited jewelry is a legitimate choice. It's not dishonoring anyone. Sometimes the most meaningful use of a piece is funding something the original owner would have valued: education, travel, charitable giving, or simply reducing financial stress.

Where to sell:

Estate jewelers: Specialize in pre-owned pieces, may offer fair prices
Auction houses: Best for valuable or unique pieces (Christie's, Sotheby's, or regional houses)
Consignment: Jewelry consignment shops take a percentage but may get higher prices
Online: eBay, Etsy, or specialized sites like Worthy or I Do Now I Don't
Gold buyers: Pay for metal weight only, lowest return, but fast and simple

Before selling:

Get an independent appraisal first
Understand what you're selling (materials, quality, provenance)
Get multiple offers
Document and photograph the piece for your records
Consider whether any family member might want it

Emotional note: Give yourself permission. Keeping jewelry you don't want, won't wear, and feel burdened by doesn't honor anyone. Selling it and using the money for something meaningful might be exactly what the original owner would have wanted.

Option 6: Gift to Family or Friends

Sometimes the best home for inherited jewelry is with someone else who'll treasure it. A cousin, a daughter-in-law, a close friend who knew your mother, someone who would appreciate both the piece and its history.

How to offer:

Be specific: "I think you'd love this piece. Would you want it?"
Include the story: "This was grandmother's engagement ring. Here's what I know about it..."
No pressure: Make clear there's no obligation to accept

Best for: Pieces with sentimental value that you can't keep but want to stay connected to family or someone who knew the original owner.

Handling the Emotional Complexity

Inherited jewelry decisions are rarely just practical. They come tangled with grief, guilt, obligation, and memory.

Common feelings:

"I should want to keep this" (but you don't)
"Mom would be hurt if I sold it" (but she's not here to be hurt)
"I can't let go of this connection" (the connection isn't in the object)
"What will family think?" (your choices are yours to make)

Permission you might need: The person who owned this jewelry would almost certainly rather you be at peace than burdened. Keeping things out of guilt isn't honoring anyone. Making thoughtful choices, whatever they are, is honoring the memory.

A Note About Conflict

Inherited jewelry can cause family conflict, especially when multiple people want the same piece or disagree about what should happen.

Prevention strategies:

Document the original owner's wishes if possible (before they pass)
Have open conversations rather than making assumptions
Consider fair distribution methods: rotation, drawing names, or letting each person choose one piece in turn
For truly contested items, professional mediation may help

For more on preventing heirloom disputes, see our guide on documenting and organizing family heirlooms.

Whatever You Decide: Document the Story

Whether you wear grandmother's ring daily, have it reset into something new, sell it, or give it to a cousin, the story can be preserved forever.

Take five minutes now:

Photograph each piece from multiple angles
Record yourself (or a family member) telling what you know about it
Write down any provenance: who owned it, when, why it mattered

This documentation becomes part of your family archive. Future generations can see the piece and hear its story, even if the piece itself has moved on.

For a complete framework on documenting family objects with photos, video, and organized categories, explore our family heirlooms guide.

What to Do with Inherited Jewelry: Keep, Wear, Repurpose, or Let Go