JEWELLERY
Thinking of cashing in unwanted jewellery while gold and silver prices are high? Fay Roach, head of jewellery at Cheffins Fine Art Auctioneers, highlights five items that may be worth more than scrap value TRADING UP
H ave you ever inherited jewellery and not been sure what to do with it? Perhaps it’s out of fashion or not your style, and has been left to gather dust in a jewellery box or on a dressing table. There has been a seismic shift in how people perceive inherited jewellery. Older generations may have considered it unthinkable to sell up family heirlooms, but Millennials and Gen Z are increasingly choosing to turn these pieces into cash and invest in jewellery they will actually wear. However, this shift comes with its risks. Many online platforms promise fast cash for jewellery, often valuing items primarily for their metal content rather than their craftsmanship or heritage. With the recent surge in gold prices, sellers should take care to avoid underselling valuable pieces or being caught out by fluctuating markets. For those who have inherited a pile of jewellery, it’s worth looking carefully before
to their skin tone, leading to the famous tagline from Cartier, ‘Pearls for your Debutante Daughter’. As one of the absolute must-haves from that period, they now form a backbone of inherited jewellery collections. Pearls were two a penny at one point, and lots of people tend to overlook their value. It’s important to remember that some can be natural saltwater, which always makes them more valuable. However, these can only be identified by an expert and can only be truly confirmed with an X-ray. Mid-19th-century gold rings Heavy, intaglio-style rings, while perhaps too clunky for some people’s tastes, often look valuable simply for their weight in gold. Yet, sometimes these rings can be set with wonderful stones or feature fantastic carving and, in terms of craftsmanship, be stunning pieces to behold. Snake imagery Snake and serpent symbolism peaked in the 19th century, representing wisdom, eternal love, protection and transformation. Many people inherit serpent jewellery but don’t necessarily like the look of snakes. Often seen in bangles, rings and necklaces, snake imagery now appears to be having a resurgence in popularity. Brooches Brooches are back (or so we’re told), appearing on the likes of Harry Styles, Cardi B and Lewis Hamilton, and worn on lapels, socks, ties and more. Traditionally the mainstay of Victorian and Edwardian Britain, no typical jewellery collection would have been complete without a couple of gem-set brooches, and therefore the majority of people who inherit a jewellery collection will almost always discover a brooch as part of it. While high fashion might have brought brooches back to front rows on the outfits of celebrities, for general day-to-day wear the trend doesn’t seem to have fully caught on. At auction, however, brooches – particularly those in the form of animals – always tend to pique interest in the market. Heavy silver jewellery Many people will have come across the heavy silver jewellery created by makers
you sell up, as it could be worth far more than you expect… Pearls Pearls were the height of fashion in the early 20th century, with many debutantes even having their pearls perfectly matched
STRIKE GOLD Serpent imagery was popular in the 19th century, representing wisdom and eternal love
78 APRIL 2026 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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