We Know What You're Going Through
Common Concerns
- "I don't know gold from costume"
- "I don't want to get ripped off"
- "There's too much to sort through"
- "Siblings need a fair split"
- "Some pieces might be sentimental"
What We Offer
- Patient, educational evaluations
- Fine jewelry and signed costume in one visit
- Help sorting valuable from everyday
- Written evaluations if the family needs them
- No pressure to sell everything
- Keep what you want, sell the rest
Inherited coins as well? See our inherited coin collection guide.
Do These Few Things First
You do not need to become an expert. A short list keeps value from walking out the door.
Leave it alone
Do not polish, clean, or repair. Cleaning can erase value on both gold and costume pieces.
Keep it together
One box is easier to evaluate than pieces scattered among relatives.
Photograph it
A few clear photos let us give a preliminary read. Email them or use the contact form.
Skip the pawn shop
Pawn and mall gold buyers pay melt. We look at makers, period, and collector demand too.
What's Typically Valuable
Not every piece is a treasure. Here is what we look for in an inherited jewelry box:
Gold & Platinum
Karat gold, even broken, has a floor. Antique work often sits above scrap.
Diamonds & Stones
Estate diamonds, sapphires, and unset stones — size is not the only factor.
Signed Costume
Trifari, Eisenberg, Haskell, and others can be worth hundreds, not dollars.
Watches
Rolex and other quality names, with or without papers.
Send photos to decatiquestudios@gmail.com or use the contact form. Call (773) 719-0508.
Inherited Jewelry FAQ
Yes. Bring everything — gold, costume, broken pieces, unset stones, watches. We sort it with you and tell you what has value. You do not need to identify anything first.
That is fine. Evaluations are free and there is no obligation. Many families want a clear picture before they decide what to keep, split, or sell.
We can provide a written evaluation by item so the family can divide fairly. We also buy entire boxes if everyone prefers a clean split of proceeds instead of individual pieces.
Yes. Signed vintage costume jewelry — Trifari, Eisenberg, Coro, Miriam Haskell, and others — is often worth more than families expect. We look at the whole box, not just the yellow metal.
Three habits protect you anywhere, including with us: get more than one offer (legitimate buyers welcome it), ask how each offer was calculated, and never sell under pressure. At Decatique, we test and weigh in front of you, explain every offer piece by piece, and there's never an obligation to sell. We've been doing this a long time — Ivan and Diane have 40 years of combined experience and an eBay store rated 99.7% across 11,000+ sales — and we've kept that reputation by dealing straight.
Most written appraisals are insurance appraisals — the cost to replace a piece at retail, not what it sells for today. Resale value depends on condition, demand, and metal and stone prices. Bring the paperwork and we'll explain, line by line, how it relates to the real market. It's the most common surprise we see, and it's not your fault.
Not here. A signed vintage piece or a well-made ring can be worth far more than its metal weight. We buy vintage and costume jewelry, fine jewelry, gold, silver, and coins, and we price pieces for what they are — not just what they weigh. If melt value really is an item's best value, we'll tell you that and show you the math.
That's a personal call, and there's no wrong answer. Many families keep a piece or two with meaning and sell the rest — we help you sort which is which before any numbers. If you're not ready to sell, a valuation-only visit is still free.
No. Our offer is information, not a trap. Take it, leave it, or think it over and come back — we won't pressure you either way.
Inherited Jewelry? We're Here to Help.
Send a few photos or call. Patient, honest service. Education first, sales pressure never.
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