Ready to Sell Your Inherited Silver Items? Here's What to Expect.

In generations past, families considered their “silver” collections to be an important status symbol — as well as a cherished family heirloom. They lovingly polished their silver candlesticks, holloware, tea sets, and flatware and presented them on special occasions, such as holiday gatherings and formal dinners. In between those times, silver items were often proudly displayed in curio cabinets or atop dining room sideboards.

These days, however, all of that has changed. Many families still hang on to their old silver collections, but they rarely get much use anymore. And the younger generations, who have adopted a much more casual approach to entertaining, are rarely even interested in inheriting family silver collections — let alone collecting them.

If you are like many people, you may have sterling silver and silver-plated items that you no longer use (and that your relatives aren’t interested in inheriting). And if you are in the process of downsizing or decluttering, then you know how much space these objects can really take up. The good news? Even though silver has mostly gone out of fashion, you can sell your silver items and, in many cases, earn more than you might think.

How Much are My Silver Items Worth?

Most silver household items, including holloware, flatware, candlesticks, and tea sets, don’t hold much value on the resale market as-is. Instead, they are simply worth their weight in the current price of silver. When sold for their metal value, these silver items are ultimately melted down and recycled into new items.

There are a few exceptions. For example, Tiffany pieces such as candlesticks and jewelry are still considered desirable and can be sold for a premium on the secondary market. The same goes for some silver Native American jewelry and fine silver jewelry from luxury brands like Cartier, David Yurmin, Bvlgari, and Buccellati.

The actual value of your silver items is determined not just by the price of silver and the weight of your items but also by the precise metal composition of your items. The vast majority of silver items are either sterling silver or silver-plated.

As you might guess, the real value is in sterling silver items. That’s because sterling silver is technically 92.5% silver by weight (with copper accounting for the remaining weight). Most people find that they are pleasantly surprised by the value of their unwanted sterling silver items.

Silver-plated items, on the other hand, are a different story. They are made mostly of copper and typically only contain 1% silver by weight. As a result, although silver-plated items are often bulky, they are worth very little. Many thrift stores won’t even accept donations of silver-plated flatware. In fact, JewelRecycle is one of the only businesses in the state of North Carolina that actually purchases silver-plated items. Even a small payout is better than the alternative — a trip to the landfill.

Ready to Sell Your Silver? Take The Following Steps.

If you think you might want to sell your unwanted silver items, the first step is to bring them into any one of JewelRecycle’s four stores located throughout North Carolina. No appointment is necessary, and there’s no need to polish or clean your silver items before you bring them in. Doing so won’t impact the offer you get on your items.

Our knowledgeable associates will assess your silver items right in front of you (nothing ever leaves your sight) using our straightforward and transparent process. To begin, we use our sophisticated, non-destructive X-Ray fluorescence technology to determine the precise composition of your silver items. This will enable us to determine whether your items are sterling silver, silver-plated, or (less commonly) some other purity.

In the case of sterling silver items, we then weigh your items using our state-certified scales and make you an offer based on the current price of silver. There is one exception: knives in flatware sets typically have stainless steel blades and some percentage of plaster or lead in the handles. As a result, we make individual, per-piece offers on knives in flatware sets rather than going by the weight alone.

In the case of silver-plated items, we check to make sure your item contains at least trace elements of silver. If so, we pay around a dollar per pound for silver-plated items.

After we’ve assessed all of your items, we’ll make you a no-pressure offer. If you decide to sell your items, we’ll pay you in cash on the spot. It’s simple and convenient — and the value you get just may surprise you.

When was the last time you went through your jewelry box? Chances are good that you’ve got some old gold jewelry lying around that hasn’t seen the light of day in….who knows how long? From tangled gold chains and broken necklaces to outdated rings and single, “orphaned” earrings, your unwanted and damaged gold jewelry is doing little more than taking up space. So what if we told you that your old gold jewelry — yes, even the broken stuff — may actually be worth a surprising amount of money?

Interested in discovering the value of your unwanted gold jewelry? Here’s what you need to know.

What Makes My Old Gold Jewelry Valuable?

Gold jewelry is valued on the secondary market for one of two reasons. The majority of old gold jewelry is simply worth its weight in the current price of gold. “Melt-grade” gold jewelry includes:

Outdated gold jewelry
Broken gold jewelry
Incomplete gold jewelry sets, such as single earrings
Class rings
“Ex”-Jewelry

These items are ultimately melted down and reused to form something new.

On the other hand, certain gold jewelry items have what is called “intrinsic value.” These items fetch higher prices than “melt-grade” jewelry because they can be sold in their current form. Gold jewelry that has intrinsic value is usually either:

Well-preserved vintage gold jewelry, including Victorian and Art Deco pieces
Unique statement pieces, especially those containing diamonds and other semi-precious gems
Custom-made pieces featuring exceptional craftsmanship
Gold jewelry from an exclusive set of luxury brands, including:
- Tiffany
- David Yurmin
- Cartier
- Van Cleef & Arpels
- Buccellati
- David Webb
- Bvlgari

Why JewelRecycle Pays More For Your Gold Jewelry

Many people are unclear about where to sell gold jewelry. At JewelRecycle, we buy the full range of gold jewelry, from broken gold chains and single gold earrings to diamond engagement rings and fine gold jewelry from luxury brands. (We also buy platinum and palladium jewelry, as well as silver jewelry — paying especially well for Native American jewelry and luxury brands such as those listed above.)

There are many gold buyers out there. But JewelRecycle’s unique, high-tech process enables us to consistently make higher, more accurate offers on your old gold jewelry.

Why is that?

The first reason has to do with our expertise. The entire JewelRecycle staff is highly trained, with many of us coming from a fine jewelry background. We are experts at identifying which jewelry items can be resold and which are “melt grade.”

The second reason we pay more than our competitors is our high-tech process. Unlike most other gold buyers, we use X-Ray fluorescence technology to calculate the exact composition of your items in order to make you a transparent, no-pressure offer. In comparison, the average gold buyer uses a scratch stone and acid — a far less accurate way to determine your gold jewelry’s composition.

So how does this impact the offers you might get when you sell your gold jewelry? Consider this: 14k gold jewelry made before the 1980s is technically supposed to contain 58.3% gold. In reality, though, it may contain anywhere from 53-58.3% gold. The average gold buyer can’t ascertain the exact composition of your items. They may be about 90% accurate in their assessments. In order to buffer for that uncertainty, they assume all pre-1980s 14k gold has an average gold composition, typically around 55%. Which means that if your gold item actually contains 58.3%, you get shorted.

Our nondestructive X-Ray fluorescence technology allows us to be much more accurate, typically between 99% and 100%. Which means that you get paid the full value of your gold jewelry’s worth — every time.

Ready to Sell Your Old Gold Jewelry? Here’s What to Do Next

If you’re ready to sell your old gold jewelry, simply bring it into one of our four storefronts located conveniently throughout North Carolina.

You don’t need to go to the trouble of repairing, untangling, or cleaning your gold jewelry before you bring it in (even if it’s a Tiffany) — you can leave that to us.

Our friendly, knowledgeable staff will assess your items right in front of you and explain what they are doing each step of the way. If your gold jewelry contains diamonds, we’ll assess the value of your diamonds and calculate a separate offer). Whether your item has intrinsic value or melt value, we will make you a real-time, pressure-free offer. If you decide to sell your items to JewelRecycle, we’ll pay you on the spot. Note that we are taking special precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read up on our current process here.

Come find out what so many of our customers already know: your old gold jewelry is likely worth more than you think.

Whether you are decluttering or downsizing, one thing is certain: That gold watch tucked in the back corner of your dresser is doing little more than taking up space. You haven’t worn it for years, and it’s definitely not sparking joy. By now you’re probably wondering whether you can sell it. And that begs the next question: “What’s my watch worth?”

The truth is, the value of pre-owned watches varies widely depending on the brand and precious metal content. As you’ll see, your watch’s true value just might surprise you.

What is My Pre-Owned Watch Worth?

You’ve probably heard a story about someone who bought a Rolex watch for several hundred dollars, wore it for years, and then sold it at an enormous profit twenty years later. That’s certainly the best-case scenario when it comes to selling your pre-owned watch. But it’s not an everyday occurrence. You see, there are many different kinds of watches, but only a select few brands (like Rolex) and watches made of precious metals really have any appreciable resale value.

At JewelRecycle, we divide watches into the following categories.

Fine Watches

Fine watches are watches that are both well-made and well-regarded. The worth of fine watches is derived from the value of the brand rather than the actual materials used in the watches themselves. Many fine watches don’t even contain any precious metals. In fact, they are likely to be made of stainless steel. Nevertheless, the worth of fine watches (including the brands below) often far outstrips that of less prestigious watches that do contain gold and other precious metals.

Only a select set of brands can really be considered fine watches. These include:

Breitling
Breguet
Cartier
International Watch Company (IWC)
Jaeger LeCoultre
OMEGA
Patek Philippe
Rolex
Tag Heuer
Tiffany & Co.
Vacheron Constantin

Watches made by any of the above brands tend to hold their value — and may even go up in value over time.

Within the fine watch category, men’s watches are far more collectible than women’s watches. This is partly because women’s watch fashions change more dramatically over time. In addition, men are more interested in collecting vintage watches, whereas women tend to buy new in the fine watch category. To illustrate the point, let’s say you and your spouse bought matching “his and hers” Rolex Oyster watches a decade ago. If you go to resell them now, you’ll likely find that the “hers” watch is worth only hundred dollars, whereas the “his” watch may be worth several thousand.

What's my watch worth?

Fashion Watches

Fashion watches are watches made by high-end fashion brands such as Michael Kors and Gucci. Because these watches are so expensive in the retail market, many owners expect that they will fetch a relatively high price on the used watch market. The unfortunate reality is that fashion watches hold very little value — so little that not even pawn shops will typically buy them for much.

At JewelRecycle, we only buy fashion watches for their precious metal value (assuming they contain any). For example, brands such as Bulova, Geneve, and Citizen have historically produced fashion watches made of gold and other precious metals. These watches no longer have collectible value, as in the fine watch category. And that means they are simply worth their weight in gold, silver, or platinum.

Ordinary Watches

So-called “ordinary watches” are watches made by more common brands like Timex and Fossil. These watches aren’t particularly expensive when purchased new. As such, they are literally worth their weight in precious metals — nothing more. If they aren’t made with gold or another precious metal, these watches don’t have any appreciable value on the secondary market.

Pocket Watches

We don’t have to tell you that pocket watches are no longer in fashion. There are a select few collectible pocket watch brands that are worth more than their weight in gold. But most pocket watches are simply worth their precious metal value.

However, because pocket watches tend to be larger and heavier than wrist watches, some old pocket watches do have significant resale value thanks to their gold and other precious metal content. If you have an old or inherited pocket watch you no longer want, it’s quite possible that its present-day resale value will pleasantly surprise you. Keep in mind, though, that many pocket watches are gold-filled. As a result, they have little to no precious metal value.

Ready to Sell Your Fine Watch?

If you are interested in discovering the real value of your fine watch, JewelRecycle’s knowledgeable staff is ready to help. Bring in your fine watch as well as any original packaging and paperwork. Our in-house watch experts will inspect your item and make a competitive offer.

If you have a fashion watch, ordinary watch, or pocket watch you want to sell, and you aren’t sure whether it is made of gold or another material, simply bring it to us for inspection. We’ll use our nondestructive X-Ray fluorescence technology to determine the exact purity of your item and give you an estimate of the watch’s value. We will then take the watch apart in front of you and weigh the gold or platinum parts to come up with a final offer.

Want to learn more about JewelRecycle’s process? Give us a call or simply come into one of our four locations — no appointment necessary.

Coin collecting was once a popular pastime. These days, however, even the most robust coin collections are more likely to collect, well, dust than anything else. Whether you are a “retired” coin collector or inherited a relative’s collection, chances are you no longer want or need your untended coin collection. If that’s true, you may be wondering about how to sell your old coins.

Read on to learn more about what makes coins valuable — and what you should do if you want to sell your collection.

What Makes Coins Valuable?

The vast majority of coins are simply worth their weight in gold or (less commonly) silver. However, when a coin is collectible, it has numismatic value, which means that it has worth over and above its precious metal value. The precise value of a collectible coin is determined by the following factors:

Coin type, year, mint mark, and mintage. Some types of coins are more valuable than others. This depends on where they were minted, when they were produced, and their mintage (the total number of a certain kind of coins produced at a particular location during a given year). Certain coins from particular years and mintages are more valuable than others — sometimes by a long shot.
Condition. Coin condition ranges from uncirculated mint state to so worn out that you can’t read the date or mint mark. To be rated as mint state, a coin must be as perfect as if it just came off the press. It should have no flaws in the way it was struck and no post-production blemishes, either. Dents, scratches, blemishes, wear, dullness, and other imperfections all serve to degrade a coin’s condition — and value.
Scarcity. The rarer a coin is, the more it may be valued (though this isn’t always the case, as you’ll see below). For example, the rarest of all collectible pennies, the 1909 SVDB penny, may be worth thousands.
Demand. In order for a coin to have numismatic value, it must be in demand. Not all rare coins are in demand. For example, so-called “large cents” are low mintage, but few people collect them, so they still aren’t worth much. On the other hand, Morgan silver dollars (produced from 1878 to 1921), twenty dollar gold pieces, and pre-1933 US gold coins are generally more valuable than quarters, nickels, and dimes of any vintage.

Should I Sell or Save My Old Coins with Numismatic Value?

Unfortunately, as the “king of hobbies” becomes less and less popular, the value of collectible coins is steadily degrading. That means the value of collectible coins is unlikely to go up anytime soon. From an investment standpoint, it doesn’t make sense to hang onto your collectible coins in the hopes that they will someday fetch a higher price. The truth is that the price your numismatic coins fetch today is probably the best you will get, now or in the future.

You might be surprised to learn that coins without numismatic value are actually more likely to hold or gain value over time. The truth is that precious metal prices are more likely to remain steady — or rise — than even the most in-demand numismatic coins.

How to Sell Your Old Coins

Use the following tips if you’ve decided to sell your coin collection.

Don’t try to calculate your coin’s value online. While you may be able to get a rough idea of a particular coin’s value based on year and mintage, only an in-person inspection can reveal the true value of any individual coin. There are many subtle differences that affect a coin’s grade and condition. These small differences can have a huge impact on a coin’s value.
Touch your coins as little as possible. If your coin collection is stored in a booklet or in individual sleeves, do not remove the coins before bringing them in for evaluation. Touching and handling coins improperly can quickly damage their condition — and degrade their value. You should avoid holding the coins in your hands, rubbing them together, or wiping them with a cloth or paper towel. Whatever you do, don’t attempt to clean your coins. A seasoned coin expert can tell the difference between a properly preserved coin and one that has been cleaned. Attempts to clean your coins will only harm their value. Ironically, if your coins are dirty, they are probably worth more in that condition than they would be cleaned up.
Preserve all notes and packaging that came with your coins. These documents may add to the value of your collection.
Don’t mail your collection to an unknown coin dealer. If you do, you risk falling prey to fraud. Whatever you do, plan to sell your coins in person and locally. Make sure to go to a reputable dealer with a high BBB Rating and excellent online reviews. The more knowledgeable your buyer is about coins, the better.

Which Coins Does JewelRecycle Buy?

At JewelRecycle, we are pleased to buy gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bullion, as well as numismatic coins. For a full list of the coins we purchase, check out the coins page on our website.

Note, however, that we do not buy “loose change” coin collections from international travel, unless those coins are made of gold. Most coins in these collections are made of low-value metals such as copper, nickel, and zinc.

How We Calculate the Value of Your Coins and Make an Offer

When you bring your full or partial coin collection to JewelRecycle, our highly trained staff will start by assessing your coins right in front of you.

Our first step is to screen your coin collection for coins that are still considered collectible and have numismatic value. We then closely evaluate those coins to determine their worth.

Next, we take the coins that are worth their metal value and put them through our usual process. First, we use our non-destructive X-Ray fluorescence technology to determine their exact purity. Second, we weigh the coins to identify their precise weight. Finally, we make you an offer based on the current price of gold, silver, platinum, or palladium.

Ready to find out what your coins are really worth? Come into one of our four JewelRecycle locations and let us make you an offer.

Every day there are people wondering how to sell their unwanted jewelry, diamond engagement rings, fine watches, sterling flatware, and other items. At JewelRecycle, we know from experience that these customers interactions are far from simple transactions. That’s because all of our possessions have a story. And that includes the items we no longer want or need.

We get it: There’s a reason you’re considering selling that diamond ring or sterling teapot. Whether you are grieving the death of a loved one or simply decluttering, the story behind your decision to sell your item matters.

In fact, we’ve found that there are four primary reasons why our customers sell their items. We call them the “Four D’s.”

The Four D’s: Downsizing, Divorce, Death, and Decluttering

Everyone’s story is unique. But when it comes to selling precious metals, jewelry, fine watches, coins, and silver, there are a few common causes. The “Four D’s” — downsizing, divorce, death, and decluttering — account for the majority of our customers when it comes to explaining why they are seeking to sell their items.

Downsizing

When it comes to homes, most people assume that bigger is better. But depending on your preferences and stage of life, you might be more interested in downsizing. It could be that your children have moved out. Or that you’re tired of taking care of a such a large home. Perhaps you’ve simply come to prefer small-house or retirement living.

Regardless, downsizing means it’s time to pare down your possessions. In fact, if you are in the process of downsizing, you may be seriously scaling back your personal belongings for the first time in your adult life. That’s no small task!

The good news is that downsizing gives you the opportunity to reassess which items still matter to you — and which you wouldn’t mind parting with. That old brooch collecting dust in a jewelry box? You haven’t worn it in ten years. Your Aunt Mary’s heirloom sterling flatware and tea set? Beautiful, but you no longer in use, and the kids don’t want it.

In order for your life to run smoothly in your new, smaller accommodations, it’s time to sort, donate, and sell what you can. Downsizing is the perfect time to make some extra money from the fine jewelry, watches, flatware, coins, and other precious metal items you no longer want or need.

Divorce

Divorces represents a major life transition — one that no one expects or hopes to go through. It can be a time of intense disappointment, sadness, and change. If your relationship has recently come to an end, you may be taking stock of the items in your home as well as your life. Many divorcees consider selling their diamond engagement rings, for example.

Our kind and caring staff is ready to help if you are going through a divorce or break-up and would like to sell your ex-jewelry and other “bad juju” items.

Death

The death of a loved one represents a challenging season of loss and grief. And if you’ve recently lost a, parent, grandparent or other close relative, you may be tasked with going through their belongings and figuring out what to do with them. Conversely, you may have inherited certain belongings from a parent, grandparent, or even a more distant relative.

Either way, this means that you must carefully consider which items contain enough sentimental value to keep forever — and which should be donated or sold. While going through a loved one’s personal belongings or inherited items can be difficult, this process can, in the end, be part of the healing journey.

If you are considering selling inherited jewelry, diamonds, silver flatware, coins, or other precious metal items, our staff is ready to help.

Decluttering

With the rise of Marie Kondo’s book (The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up) and Netflix show, more young people than ever are interested in decluttering and tidying. If you’re one of the people taken by Marie Kondo’s advice, you may be making a concerted effort to reduce clutter in your home and embrace minimalism. Your efforts may be driven by the desire to experience the joy and simplicity of owning fewer belongings.

If you are in the process of following the KonMari method or generally decluttering and organizing your home, then it’s time to decide what to do with the items that no longer spark joy or serve you well. That may include fine jewelry that looks outdated, silver flatware that never gets used, or even an old coin collection. Now is the perfect time to realize some value from these items and add to your bank account while you subtract from your personal belongings.

If it no longer sparks joy, JewelRecycle is here to listen and serve you.

October 21, 2020

How JewelRecycle Helps Prevent Theft and Supports Public Safety

Unfortunately, theft is a problem that troubles most every community from time to time. And every gold buyer and pawn shop must occasionally contend with the problem firsthand when thieves attempt to sell stolen items. The sad truth? Many gold buyers and pawn shops earn their poor reputations by ...

July 02, 2020

Ready to Sell Your Inherited Silver Items? Here’s What to Expect.

May 14, 2020

Your Old Gold Jewelry is Worth More Than You Think (Even the Broken Stuff)

April 30, 2020

What’s My Watch Worth? Assessing a Fair Value

April 02, 2020

Ready to Sell Your Coin Collection? Here’s What You Need to Know

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