Where to sell on consignment in UK?

Hi, my aunt recently passed away and the family has inherited a large collection of antique jewellery. The pieces belonged to my Aunt, Grandparents, and Great Grand Parents, with many pieces dating back to the 1920’s or even pre 1900.

I’d like to find somewhere that will sell the jewellery on consignment as I’m sure if I took them to local Jewelers many would just pay the scrap value.

Can anyone recommend somewhere that will sell antique jewellery on consignment?

Thanks,
David.

 

Consignment people charge an arm and are rare here, as well as unregulated . You’re better off with a dealer or decent auction house. Whereabouts in the U.K.?

 

Oh right, I always find auction fees extortionate nowadays tbh. With the sellers and buyers premium and other costs the auctioneers take nearly 50% of the total. I’m not totally against the idea of auction’s though if that’s the best option. The thing is I don’t know much about antique jewellery so I need a specialist in antique jewellery to appraise everything and give an idea of what their values are. I’m in Cheshire.

Many of the pieces could do with a clean too so the thought behind going to a jeweller to sell them on consignment was that they could clean them before sale too. I wouldn’t want to risk cleaning them myself.

 

Welcome David.
As the others said, consignment selling is costly and not many sellers do it.
If you post good photos of the pieces here, we can give you an idea on what they are and what is the best way to go forward.

You may even find that cleaning (some of) them isn't difficult, if they need to be cleaned at all. It is usually silver jewellery that needs to be cleaned, and that is very easy.

And although we don't do valuations ourselves, we can also point you in the direction of values.

 

I’d strongly recommend Tooveys for jewellery, or Roseberys. Yes, they’re both down south, but you’ll get better prices. I’ve used both and they’re excellent.

Don’t clean them and the auction house won’t either.

 

Thanks I’ll take some pictures probably at the weekend, would be a good help just to get an idea of what everything is

 

Thank you I’ll have a look at them tonight when I get home

 

If you take decent photos and send them over to Tooveys, they can give you estimates, they know their older jewels. I then sent my stuff Special Delivery with extra insurance.

Oh, and show them here, we're good on this stuff - but we MUST see the backs please.

 

Sorry for your loss.

You say the ' family ' ..... and you're looking to sell off the collection.
So, no one in the family wants any of these heirlooms ..??

 

If the family no longer wants them, here in the USA I would probably recommend the auction route too. I consigned some stuff to a store with a good reputation. The new owner turned out to be a thief who skipped town owing everyone, including me.

 

When I say the family it’s just my mother, my sister and I. We’re just keeping a couple of bits that have sentimental value really, my sister has kept some of my grandmother’s pearls for example as she will wear them.

 

One bit of advice. Don’t sell anything too soon. Sometimes people regret, ages after, selling a particular thing.

and we’d love to see them!

 

Yes you’re right. I’ll give my mother some time to think about everything so she can save anything she wants. We don’t need to sell anything so we’re in no rush, just if we do sell anything I want to know I made the effort to sell it for what it’s worth and not be ripped off.

 

Very sensible. You won’t get retail prices, obviously, as whoever you sell to may well want to make a bit of profit, but you don’t want to undersell.

 

If I buy a coin with a C.O.A. and it turns out to be fake..... then I got ripped off.
If you sell family jewelry that you got for free....... whether you get a high price or a low price....... no one is ripping you off.!

Learn what it is you have , so you can ask a fair price..... that's the best you can do for starters.

Then pick a good time....
The next window would be weeks before Valentines Day...

 

I'd say hold onto it until next October if you decide to sell, to put it in front of Christmas shoppers.

 

I get the point that you’re trying to make, but I’m not sure I agree. If I inherit a car I got it for free, doesn’t mean it’s worth nothing. If I take it to a dealer and they convince me to sell it for a quarter of its market value then I got ripped off. Yes I appreciate if I sell to a dealer they expect to make a profit, maybe double their money which is fair enough. But just because someone inherits something doesn’t mean they got it for free so they should be happy with anything they get for it. In my mind I would be doing my late family a disservice if I flog their possessions for less than they’re worth. I’m not after making a quick buck here, I want to see things go to someone that will appreciate and enjoy them without dishonouring my family.

 

And if you’re an executor, it’s your duty to deal well with the estate.

I chose to give away a few things from my parents house, but that was my choice to do so and knowing they’d have approved of how I did it. I’m quite proud that the only thing which went to landfill was one mattress!

As I said, you won’t get retail but getting a fair price is fair.

 

I had someone locally ask about good places to sell. They have an annual fundraiser tag/jewelry sale but some of it was "too good to put out". Gave her a local name, but it's someone I know..and told her which brands to put in a trash can and save herself some work. That said, if you're selling jewelry remember that a lot of those looking to buy are resellers of one sort or another. They may or may not pay wholesale.