You may have been passed down a piece of jewelry and have tucked it away safely in a jewelry box somewhere, or perhaps you have grown up being told that you will inherit your grandmother’s special ring. In this article, we explain to you what heirloom jewelry is, how the tradition came about and whether or not you should upcycle an old piece to create something more contemporary.
What is Heirloom Jewelry?
Heirloom jewelry is an item of jewelry that you inherit, usually from a family member that you then pass down to future generations. Heirloom jewelry itself can be deemed invaluable in a financial sense but hold a great value that is symbolic of love, family and tradition.
What is considered heirloom jewelry?
Heirloom jewelry can be any type of jewelry, whether it be a ring, pair of earrings, a necklace or bracelet, that is inherited after being passed down through generations of a family.
Why do people pass down jewelry?
Passing down heirloom jewelry is a wonderful tradition often creating a special bond between the owner of the jewelry piece and the person it is being passed down to. When you receive an item of jewelry from a loved one, you will tend to value that piece highly. That piece of jewelry will then remind you of that special person for years to come.
How much it means to you is what also makes you want to give your heirlooms to others- to create memories and moments full of emotion. You hope that future generations will cherish these possessions as much as you do.
This way, heirloom jewelry creates a direct connection to your family history.
What is an heirloom stone?
An heirloom stone is a gemstone that is considered valuable. When people are choosing a piece of fine jewelry they consider it an investment, not only for themselves but for future generations.
How to start building Your Jewelry Collection
How do you create an heirloom?
Choose wisely if you want to create an heirloom piece of jewelry that you will then pass down to future generations. Diamond jewelry, platinum or gold rings, pearl earrings or necklaces, charms and charm bracelets make good options.
Start your daughter’s jewelry collection off with a piece from Molly Brown London’s beautiful Heirloom Collection, featuring pearls and diamonds that will be long-lasting and stylish for years to come.
If you prefer a colored stone for your new heirloom piece lean towards sapphires and rubies for their hardness.
Appraising Your Heirloom Jewelry Pieces
How do I know if my vintage jewelry is valuable?
Taking your vintage jewelry to a professional jeweler to be looked at is a great way to determine its value. If the jewelry is made from real gold, it will have a stamp along with other hallmarking symbols that will tell you more about your piece, like what year it was made.
How to Find a Jewelry Appraiser
You may want to take your piece of jewelry to your local jeweler, gold or diamond exchange, or pawn show where they will provide a free appraisal. Here they will provide you with an estimate of how much your piece would be worth at retail value. Bear in mind that the price your jeweler will pay for the piece, should you decide to sell it, will be a lot lower than the retail price.
What to Expect From a Jewelry Appraisal
If you are looking to insure your piece of heirloom jewelry, you will need an appraisal to get the “replacement value” so that you can make sure you purchase enough insurance. A certified appraiser with extensive training in gemstones and metals will produce a 15-20 page report that details everything from the gem’s size, clarity, color and cut along with information about the metals, market value, name brand and estimated retail value.
How much does it cost to have jewelry appraised?
If you take it to your local jeweler where you are a loyal customer, they may offer it to you for free. However, you can expect to pay £50-150 for most appraisals done by a certified appraiser.
Changing The Style Of Your Heirloom Jewelry
What if your heirloom jewelry isn’t to your taste?
If you have inherited a piece of jewelry, chances are that it has been in the family for quite a time and as a result, the style may be slightly outdated and not to your taste. You will often find that many jewelers can repurpose your old piece into a new design. Together with the jewelry designer you will look at your current piece and decide what are the details you don’t like about it and from that design something that you prefer.
It’s important that you handle your heirloom piece with care whilst in your possession, as even hard diamonds can present a challenge when trying to extract the stone and re-set it into a new personalized piece of jewelry.
Should you change the heirloom stone?
The general rule of thumb is that you should always avoid cutting old stones. You end up wasting a lot of the material trying to re-cut a stone which will lessen its value in the long run. The cut of your stone will also determine how it can be set into new jewelry.
You can design a piece with loose gemstones
Often people will inherit loose heirloom gemstones and you may decide that you would prefer them to be in one piece of jewelry or multiple pieces to then pass on to future generations. This can be done by pairing with an experienced jeweler to create a piece that you adore and will see yourself or someone else wearing for years to come.
