A quiet, in-person valuation
For the jewellery box you weren't expecting to inherit.
Sorting through a parent's or grandparent's jewellery is rarely about money first. We understand that. Bring it in when you're ready — we'll take the time to look at each piece properly, explain what it is, and leave the rest of the decision entirely with you.
Most weeks at our Church Street counter, someone comes in with a small bag, a wooden jewellery box, or a folded handkerchief that's been sitting in a drawer since a parent passed away. They're rarely sure what's in it. They often haven't told anyone they were coming.
That's the work we know best. Inherited collections are almost never tidy — mixed carats, broken clasps, single earrings, costume pieces alongside real gold, the occasional stone that needs a closer look. There's no judgement about the state of any of it. Bring it as it is.
What people bring in
The shape of an inherited collection
No two are the same, but most fall into a handful of familiar patterns.
A whole jewellery box, untouched
Often passed straight from a parent's bedside drawer to a relative's hands. Decades of gradual buying, with sentimental items mixed alongside everyday wear. We sort the lot together, piece by piece.
A single ring or chain that's been worn for fifty years
Usually a wedding band, a christening chain, or a signet ring. Sometimes the family wants to keep it. Sometimes selling it feels like the kinder thing. We'll value it without pushing you in either direction.
A house clearance bag
Tipped onto the counter from an envelope or a freezer bag found at the back of a cupboard. Often a mix of real gold, plated jewellery and costume — we separate it together and explain what's what.
An inherited engagement ring
Sometimes the most difficult piece to think about. Gemstones affect the value separately from the gold, and certain settings carry collector interest. If a specialist would serve you better than a scrap valuation, we'll say so. More on selling an inherited engagement ring is on our engagement rings page.
Pieces no one in the family wants
Outdated styles, broken bracelets, single earrings without their pair. Still real gold, still worth something — and often easier to part with than the sentimental pieces.
How we work
A few things we'd want you to know first
There is no pressure to sell
Many people come in just to understand what they have. That's a valid reason to visit. If you walk back out with everything you came in with, that's fine.
Your jewellery stays with you
Each piece is tested and weighed on the counter in front of you. Nothing is taken into a back room at any point.
We explain how every figure is reached
Carat, weight and the live UK gold price — shown openly, item by item. You see the same numbers we see.
If a piece is worth more than scrap, we'll say so
Antique, signed and certain branded pieces can carry collector value. We'd rather point you to a specialist than melt something that shouldn't be melted.
No appointment is needed
Walk in any day during opening hours. For a larger or more sensitive collection, a quick call ahead lets us set aside a quieter slot.
Take your time
Value the lot, keep what you'd like to keep, sell what you'd like to sell. We're happy to pause while you decide.
Useful to know
What changes the value of inherited jewellery
Mixed purities are normal. An inherited collection often spans 9ct, 14ct, 18ct and sometimes 22ct pieces, with a few unmarked items mixed in. Each carat is valued at a different per-gram rate. You can read more about 9ct gold and 18ct gold.
Hallmarks tell most of the story. A small stamp inside a ring or on the clasp of a chain confirms purity and, often, age. Older pieces sometimes carry hallmarks that have changed format over the decades — we'll read them with you.
Gemstones are valued separately. We pay gold prices for the gold and deduct the weight of any stones. Larger certificated diamonds and certain coloured stones may be worth more individually — see our diamond valuation page for how that's handled.
Damaged pieces still hold value. A snapped chain or a broken brooch is valued on weight and carat exactly like a wearable piece. There's a fuller note on broken gold jewellery if it's helpful.
Antique can outrank scrap. Certain Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco pieces — and signed work from a recognised maker — can be worth more intact than melted. We'll flag those honestly when we see them.
From people who came in unsure
Verified Google reviews
Google reviews for our Church Street shop, Cash Generator St Helens — the same premises that hosts our St Helens Gold buying counter.
Read reviews on GoogleInherited jewellery — common questions
How do I know if inherited jewellery is valuable?+
The honest answer is: you usually don't, until someone who handles gold every day looks at it with you. Hallmarks give clues, weight matters, and certain stones change the picture. We test, weigh and explain each piece individually so you leave knowing what you have — whether or not you choose to sell.
Can I bring inherited jewellery in just for advice?+
Yes, and people do this every week. There's no charge for a valuation and no expectation that you'll sell. Some customers come in purely to understand what was left to them before deciding what to do — that's a perfectly normal reason to visit.
What if I don't know whether the jewellery is real gold?+
Bring it in as it is. We test for free using non-destructive methods first, and tell you straight what's gold, what's gold-plated, and what's costume. Inherited boxes almost always contain a mix — that's expected, not unusual.
Do damaged inherited items still have value?+
Yes. A snapped chain, a bent ring, a brooch with a missing pin — none of that affects the value of the gold itself. Condition only matters for resale, not for the underlying material. Don't try to repair anything before you visit.
Can antique jewellery be worth more than its scrap gold value?+
Sometimes — and we'll be straight with you when it is. Certain Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco or signed pieces can carry collector value beyond their gold weight. If we think a piece is better suited to a specialist auction or antique dealer, we'll say so rather than melt it.
Do I need paperwork, receipts or hallmarks?+
No paperwork is needed. Hallmarks help us confirm carat quickly, but unmarked pieces are tested in front of you. The only thing we need from you is photo ID — a standard requirement for any UK gold buyer.
What if the collection includes pieces I want to keep?+
Take your time. Pieces stay on the counter the whole time, and you can value the lot, then keep some and sell some — or keep everything. There is no obligation either way.
When you're ready
Come in for a quiet look — even if you're not sure you want to sell.
We're inside Cash Generator on Church Street, every day. No appointment needed. Just bring whatever you'd like a second pair of eyes on.