What Should I Do With a Box of Inherited Costume Jewelry? 10 Things to Know

​This free inherited costume jewelry checklist explains how to sort, protect, photograph, and review a collection before making any decisions. It also includes helpful information about maker’s marks, matching sets, cleaning risks, sentimental pieces, and preparing for an appointment with a vintage jewelry buyer. Download the file below for free.

---

inherited_costume_jewelry_checklist.pdf
File Size:	105 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

---

---

What Should I Do With a Box of Inherited Costume Jewelry? 10 Things to Know

Inheriting a box of costume jewelry can bring up many questions. Some pieces may look old, unusual, broken, or difficult to identify. You may recognize a few items from family photographs, while others may be completely unfamiliar. It is also common to wonder whether the jewelry has value, whether it should be cleaned, and what should be done with pieces that no one in the family wants.

Before donating, discarding, cleaning, or separating the collection, take a little time to look through it carefully. Vintage costume jewelry can include collectible designs, signed pieces, matching sets, and jewelry that reflects the fashion of a particular period. Here are 10 important things to know when sorting through a box of inherited costume jewelry.

1. Do Not Throw Anything Away Too Quickly

A piece of jewelry does not need to be made of gold or precious gemstones to be interesting. Older costume jewelry was often made with glass stones, plated metal, enamel, imitation pearls, rhinestones, and other decorative materials. Some pieces were produced by well-known designers or manufacturers and may be collected today.

Even jewelry that looks unfashionable, oversized, or unusual may be worth keeping for a closer review. Styles that seem outdated today may represent a particular decade or designer. It is best to avoid throwing anything away until you have had an opportunity to examine the entire collection.

2. Keep Matching Pieces Together

Look for necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and earrings that share the same stones, colors, shapes, or metalwork. These pieces may have originally been sold as a matching set. A complete set is sometimes called a parure, while a smaller matching group may be called a demi-parure.

Keeping related pieces together makes them easier to identify and prevents parts of a set from becoming lost. Place each possible set in a separate bag or small container. Even if you are not certain the pieces belong together, grouping similar items can make the sorting process easier.

3. Check the Front and Back for Maker’s Marks

Many vintage costume jewelry makers marked their pieces with a company name, logo, symbol, or copyright stamp. Common locations include the back of a brooch, the inside of a bracelet, the clip of an earring, the clasp of a necklace, or a small metal tag near the closure.

You may see names such as Trifari, Weiss, Kramer, Coro, Boucher, Hattie Carnegie, Sarah Coventry, or other manufacturers. However, do not assume an unsigned piece has no value. Some collectible jewelry was never marked, and signatures can also be difficult to find because they are small, worn, or hidden near a clasp.

4. Do Not Clean the Jewelry Aggressively

It can be tempting to polish tarnished metal or soak dusty jewelry before showing it to someone. Unfortunately, improper cleaning can damage older costume jewelry. Water may loosen glued stones, damage foil-backed rhinestones, affect imitation pearls, or cause moisture to become trapped inside a setting.

Strong jewelry cleaners and metal polishes may also remove plating or change the original finish. In most cases, it is safer to leave the jewelry in its current condition. You can gently remove loose dust with a soft, dry cloth, but avoid soaking, scrubbing, or polishing pieces when you are unsure how they were made.

5. Broken Jewelry May Still Be Worth Keeping

Do not automatically discard a brooch with a missing stone, a bracelet with a damaged clasp, or a necklace with a broken chain. Some pieces may be repairable, while others may still be desirable because of their age, maker, design, or rarity.

Loose stones, detached clasps, and other original parts should be kept with the jewelry whenever possible. Place the piece and its loose parts in a small bag so nothing is lost. Even single earrings may be useful for repair, reference, collecting, or repurposing.

6. Separate Sentimental Pieces Before Making Decisions

Financial value and sentimental value are not the same. A simple necklace may have little resale value but still be important because it was worn frequently by a parent, grandparent, or other family member.

Before deciding what to sell, donate, or distribute, allow family members to identify pieces they remember. Consider taking photographs of the collection and asking relatives whether certain items have personal meaning. This can prevent misunderstandings and give everyone an opportunity to preserve meaningful family keepsakes.

7. Avoid Separating or Selling Pieces One at a Time Too Soon

When dealing with a large inherited collection, it is often helpful to keep the box together until it has been reviewed. Selling or donating random pieces may accidentally separate matching sets or remove an item that helps identify the rest of the collection.

A large group of jewelry can also provide clues about where and when the pieces were purchased. For example, several items may come from the same designer, decade, or style period. Reviewing the collection as a whole can create a clearer picture than examining one piece at a time.

8. Take Clear Photographs of the Collection

If you plan to contact a vintage jewelry buyer, clear photographs can help provide an initial overview. Start with one or two pictures showing the entire collection. Then photograph any unusual pieces, matching sets, visible signatures, and items that appear especially old or detailed.

Use natural light when possible and place the jewelry on a plain surface. Include photographs of both the front and back of important pieces. The back often reveals construction details, clasps, maker’s marks, and other useful information that may not be visible from the front.

9. Understand That an Appraisal and a Purchase Offer Are Different

People often use the words appraisal, evaluation, and offer interchangeably, but they can mean different things. An insurance appraisal may estimate what it would cost to replace an item. A purchase offer reflects what a buyer is prepared to pay for the jewelry.

Not every box of inherited costume jewelry requires a formal written appraisal. If your main goal is to sell pieces that the family does not want, an experienced vintage costume jewelry buyer may be able to review the collection and explain which items are of interest. Ask about the process before scheduling an appointment so you understand what type of service is being provided.

10. Choose Someone Who Understands Vintage Costume Jewelry

Vintage costume jewelry is a specialized category. A person who primarily purchases gold based on metal weight may not be focused on designer names, unusual glass stones, vintage construction, matching sets, or collectible styles.

Look for someone who regularly works with vintage and costume jewelry and is willing to review the collection carefully. Before an appointment, ask what types of jewelry are purchased, whether photographs are needed, and whether the buyer handles large inherited collections.

Take Your Time With an Inherited Jewelry Box

There is no need to make an immediate decision simply because the jewelry has been sitting in storage. Begin by protecting the collection, keeping matching pieces together, checking for signatures, and separating sentimental items. Avoid aggressive cleaning and keep broken parts with their original pieces.

Once the collection is organized, you can decide which items the family would like to keep and which pieces may be suitable to sell. A careful review can help you avoid accidentally discarding something interesting and make the entire process feel less overwhelming.

Jewelry Trader of Vintage Costume works with people who have inherited vintage jewelry, costume jewelry, signed pieces, matching sets, and larger family collections. To learn more about the types of jewelry purchased or to request information about an appointment, visit Jewelry Trader of Vintage Costume.