What estate jewelry means when you are the one selling it

Estate jewelry is any piece that has had a previous owner. It does not have to be antique, and it does not have to be valuable to be worth bringing in. Most of what arrives at the counter on East Oakland Park Boulevard comes from a parent's estate, a safe deposit box being closed, or a move from a house into a condominium.

People often arrive apologizing for what they have brought. There is no need. A shoebox of costume pieces frequently holds two or three things worth real money, and the only way to know is to have someone look. Our guide to the best way to sell jewelry covers the options if you would rather read first.

What we buy

Nicholas Estate Buyers purchases estate and antique jewelry outright. There is no consignment wait and no minimum.

• Gold jewelry in any condition, 10K through 24K, including broken and single earrings
• Diamond rings, engagement rings, tennis bracelets and loose stones
• Antique and period jewelry, including Victorian, Art Deco and mid-century pieces
• Signed jewelry from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany, Bvlgari, David Yurman, Roberto Coin and Mikimoto
• Luxury watches, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Omega, Breitling and Cartier
• Sterling silver flatware, tea services and holloware
• Gold and silver coins, bullion and collections
• Colored stones, including sapphire, ruby, emerald and jade
• Platinum and dental gold

Pieces that turn out to hold no resale value are identified as such rather than bundled into an offer. Knowing what is not worth selling is part of the same conversation.

How the offer is made

Everything is tested and weighed in front of you. Nothing goes into a back room.

1. Bring the pieces in. No appointment is needed, though calling ahead helps for a large estate.
2. A GIA Graduate Gemologist examines each item. Gold is tested for karat and weighed on a calibrated scale.
3. Metal is priced against the day's spot market. Stones and signed pieces are valued on condition, cut, origin and current demand.
4. You receive a written offer, itemized, with the reasoning for each number explained.
5. If you accept, payment is immediate by cash, check or wire. If you decline, you leave with the pieces.

The offer is free and carries no obligation. Sellers frequently take the number to another buyer and come back, and that is a reasonable thing to do with an inheritance. If you want to understand valuation before visiting, how much is my jewelry worth explains what actually drives the figure.

Why estates come here

Nicholas Toubia is a GIA Graduate Gemologist and a fifth-generation jeweler. The business holds 4.9 stars across 61 Google reviews and is a member of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Jewelers of America and the Jewelers Board of Trade. There is more on the family and the trade history on our about page.

That matters more with an estate than with a single chain. An estate arrives as a mixed lot, and separating a plated brooch from a period platinum piece is the part most sellers cannot do themselves. A gemologist identifies stones on site instead of sending them away for a report you wait two weeks for.

Several reviews describe multiple visits across weeks while a house was cleared. That pace is normal and there is no pressure to bring everything at once. Selling with confidence covers what to expect on a first visit.

Where sellers come from

The counter sits at 2821 E Oakland Park Blvd, minutes from Coral Ridge and the Galt Ocean Mile condominium towers, where a great deal of jewelry has not been valued in decades. Sellers arrive regularly from Las Olas, Victoria Park, Wilton Manors, Oakland Park and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and from further north in Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point and Deerfield Beach.

The store serves 33306, 33304, 33305, 33308 and 33334 within a short drive, and sees regular visits from Boca Raton, Aventura, Hollywood and Miami Beach. Sellers across the county can also use our Broward gold buying page. For anyone outside South Florida, insured shipping is available and a quote can be given from photographs before anything is sent.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I sell estate jewelry near me in Fort Lauderdale?

Nicholas Estate Buyers buys estate jewelry at 2821 E Oakland Park Blvd in Fort Lauderdale. Pieces are tested and weighed at the counter by a GIA Graduate Gemologist and an itemized offer is given the same visit. There is no appointment requirement and no obligation to sell.

Do I need to know what my jewelry is worth before I come in?

No. Most sellers have no idea what they are holding, and finding out is the reason to visit. Each piece is identified, tested and explained as it is examined, so you leave understanding what you have whether or not you sell.

What should I bring with me?

Bring the jewelry and any paperwork you have, including receipts, appraisals, certificates, and boxes for watches. None of it is required. Photo identification is needed to complete a purchase.

How is the price for estate jewelry decided?

Gold and platinum are priced by weight and purity against the day's spot market. Diamonds and colored stones are valued on cut, clarity, color, carat weight and current demand. Signed pieces from houses such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels carry a premium above their material value.

Do you buy jewelry that is broken or missing stones?

Yes. Broken chains, single earrings, bent settings and mountings with stones missing are all bought. Damage affects the number but rarely removes the value, since the metal is weighed regardless of condition.

Can you look at a whole estate at once?

Yes. Bring the full lot. Sorting mixed estates is routine work here, and it is faster to go through everything in one sitting than to guess at home about what is worth carrying in.

How quickly am I paid?

The same visit. Payment is made by cash, check or wire transfer once the offer is accepted.

Bring the pieces in

Walk in during opening hours, or call (786) 281-1287 to talk through a larger estate first. Photographs can be sent to nicholas.estatebuyers@gmail.com for an initial range before you travel.

Nicholas Estate Buyers
2821 E Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306
(786) 281-1287
Find us on Google Maps

Open Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, and Saturday, 11am to 5pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. See the contact page for directions, or read our frequently asked questions before visiting.