01684 574077
Inheriting jewellery can bring up all sorts of feelings. A ring, a brooch or a necklace that belonged to someone you loved can carry decades of memories. At the same time, it's perfectly normal to be unsure what to do with it. It might not be your style, it might not fit, or it might need a little care before it can be worn again.
Here at Parrys of Malvern, we meet many people who've been left jewellery by a parent, grandparent or other relative. Some want to wear it just as it is, some want to turn it into something new, and some simply want to know what it's worth. There's no right or wrong choice. So let's look at the options, so you can decide what feels right for you.
First things first, there's no rush. Decisions about inherited jewellery are often made during a difficult time, and it's easy to feel pressured to sort everything quickly. If you're not sure what to do yet, it's fine to keep your jewellery safely stored until you're ready.
When you are ready, a good starting point is simply finding out what you have.
It's not always obvious what inherited jewellery is made from or what it might be worth. A ring that looks like costume jewellery could turn out to be gold, and a stone you've always assumed was glass might be something rather special. Equally, a piece you've always thought of as precious might have more sentimental value than financial value.
A jeweller can look at your pieces, check hallmarks, identify metals and stones and give you a clearer idea of what you have. This helps you make informed decisions about what to do next.
Having inherited jewellery professionally valued is a sensible step, whatever you plan to do with it.
If you're keeping the jewellery, an up to date valuation helps make sure it's properly covered by your home insurance. Valuations on older pieces can be surprisingly out of date, and the value of gold and precious stones can change a lot over the years.
A valuation can also be helpful when sharing jewellery fairly between family members, or when sorting out an estate.
At Parrys, we offer professional jewellery valuations in store.
Sometimes the best thing to do with inherited jewellery is simply to wear it. Many people find real comfort in wearing a piece that belonged to someone they loved. It keeps their memory close and gives the jewellery a new chapter.
If the piece is a little tired, a professional clean and polish can make a big difference. It's also worth having it checked over before you start wearing it regularly, particularly if it's old. Claws can wear, clasps can weaken and stones can work loose over time.
Older jewellery often needs some care before it's ready to wear again. Common jobs include:
These repairs can breathe new life into a piece while keeping it true to its original design. Our jewellery repair and restoration services cover a wide range of work.
Inherited rings often don't fit the person who receives them. The good news is that many rings can be resized so they're comfortable to wear every day. It depends on the design, the metal and whether there are stones set around the band, so it's worth bringing the ring in to have it looked at. Our guide on how much it costs to resize a ring explains what affects the price.
If you love what a piece represents but it doesn't suit your style, remodelling can be a wonderful option. This is where a jeweller takes the stones, metal or both from an older piece and turns them into something new that you'll actually want to wear.
A few ideas include:
Remodelling means the jewellery keeps its sentimental meaning, but in a way that fits your life today. At Parrys, we help customers modernise pre-loved jewellery through our bespoke commissions service, working with you to design something truly personal.
Sometimes a collection of jewellery needs to be divided between several family members. This can feel tricky, especially if some pieces are more valuable or more meaningful than others.
Getting pieces valued can help make things fairer. Remodelling can also help. For example, stones from one large piece might be reset into several smaller items so that each family member has something to keep.
Engraving is a lovely way to make inherited jewellery feel even more special. Adding initials, a date or a short message can mark the piece as a family heirloom and remind future generations where it came from. Find out more about our engraving service.
It's completely fine to decide that you don't want to keep some or all of your inherited jewellery. Perhaps it doesn't suit you, or you'd rather put its value towards something meaningful. Many people choose to keep one or two special pieces and sell the rest.
If you're thinking about selling, it helps to go to a jeweller you trust who will explain things clearly and give you time to decide. At Parrys of Malvern, we purchase gold, precious metals and jewellery, and we'll always give you honest advice with no pressure.
If you're keeping jewellery while you decide what to do, a few simple steps will help protect it:
Parrys of Malvern is an independent, family-run jeweller at 115 Church Street, in the heart of Great Malvern. Since 1952, we've helped local families care for, value, restore and reimagine their jewellery.
We understand that inherited jewellery is about far more than metal and stones. Whatever you decide to do, we'll treat your pieces with care and respect, and give you friendly, honest advice every step of the way. You might also like to browse our pre-owned jewellery collection, full of beautiful pieces with stories of their own.
If you've inherited jewellery and you're not sure what to do with it, visit us at Parrys of Malvern, 115 Church Street, Malvern, WR14 2AJ. We're open Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30am to 4.15pm. You can also call us on 01684 574077 or get in touch online.
Bring your pieces in, and we'll help you decide what's right for you and your memories.
