When a family member passes away and you’re left sorting through a lifetime of accumulated belongings, the practical questions arrive quickly. What do we keep? What do we donate? And the question nobody quite knows how to ask: what is actually worth something?
Most families dramatically misjudge the value of inherited items in both directions. They assume everyday objects are valuable when they usually aren’t, while underestimating things that look unremarkable to an untrained eye but represent significant money to the right buyer.
This guide covers what consistently holds value in estate settings, what doesn’t, and how to approach the evaluation without leaving money on the table.
What consistently has real market value
Fine jewelry – especially anything with diamonds, platinum, or a recognized brand
Estate jewelry is one of the most consistently valuable categories. Diamonds retain value regardless of age. Platinum settings are worth more per gram than gold and have held their value through every economic cycle. Branded pieces from Tiffany and Co., Cartier, Van Cleef and Arpels, David Yurman, or Bulgari command a premium simply because of the name.
What to look for: engagement rings and diamond solitaires even from decades ago, genuine pearl necklaces (not costume), Art Deco pieces from the 1920s and 1940s which are actively collected, signed pieces with maker’s marks from recognized jewelers, and platinum settings which are heavier and slightly gray compared to white gold.
One thing that surprises most families: broken jewelry has real value. A broken gold chain, a ring missing its stone, a watch with a damaged case – the metal and any remaining stones still have market value. Bring them in.
Luxury watches
A grandfather’s watch in the back of a drawer can be one of the most valuable items in an estate. Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Cartier, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Vacheron Constantin all hold significant value on the secondary market.
Do not assume an older watch is worth less because it’s old. The opposite is often true. A 1960s Rolex Submariner or an early Omega Speedmaster – the kind of watch that looked like a modest everyday timepiece to its original owner – can be worth many thousands of dollars to collectors today.
Before anything else: find the original box and papers if they exist. Check desk drawers, jewelry boxes, safe deposit boxes. Papers significantly increase the value of any luxury watch. Even the box alone adds something.
Gold, silver, and precious metals
Gold doesn’t lose value. Whether it’s a gold bracelet, a set of gold cufflinks, a gold coin collection, or dental gold – it all has real metal value tied to the current spot price.
Sterling silver flatware sets from established makers like Tiffany, Georg Jensen, Reed and Barton, or Gorham have both metal value and collector value. A complete sterling flatware set for 12 can represent substantial money. Incomplete sets still have metal value.
Important: silver-plated items (marked EPNS, “silver on copper,” or “silver plate”) have minimal value. Sterling silver will be marked “925” or “sterling.” If it says EPNS or silver plated, it’s not silver.
Gold coins (American Eagles, Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leafs, pre-1933 US coins) have both gold bullion value and, in many cases, numismatic value that exceeds the metal weight.
Fine art – but only by listed artists
Oil paintings have real value when they’re by artists who appear in recognized databases like AskArt or Artnet. A painting by a listed artist with documented provenance can be worth tens of thousands of dollars.
The challenge is that most paintings in estate settings are decorative – pleasant prints, reproductions, amateur oils, or works by artists without auction records. These have little market value regardless of how attractive they are.
What to look for: a signature (legible or not), a gallery label on the back, an auction sticker, a stretcher stamp, or any documentation about the work. These are clues that the piece has a history worth investigating.
Antiques – specific categories only
Antiques are one of the most frequently misunderstood estate categories. “Old” does not equal “valuable.” The antique market has shifted dramatically, and many categories that were valuable 20 years ago have collapsed in market demand.
What still has value: bronze sculptures and figurines with foundry marks, fine porcelain from recognized makers (Meissen, Sevres, Dresden, early KPM), art glass by Tiffany Studios, Daum Nancy, and Galle, signed silverwork by Georg Jensen or Gorham Martelé, quality French ormolu mantel clocks, and imperial period Chinese and Japanese ceramics and bronzes.
What rarely has significant market value
Furniture
The residential furniture market has fundamentally shifted. Even Victorian antique furniture commands a fraction of what it did 20 years ago. Most buyers want modern or mid-century modern pieces. Unless you have documented American Federal period furniture, important French pieces, or significant signed works by recognized makers, most estate furniture is worth far less than families expect.
China and crystal
Lenox, Royal Doulton, Wedgwood, and similar china sets – even complete 12-place settings in perfect condition – typically sell for a few hundred dollars at best. The market for formal china has declined sharply as dining habits changed. Crystal sets from Waterford, Baccarat, and Riedel face similar challenges.
Most collectibles
Bradford Exchange plates, Precious Moments figurines, most sports memorabilia without authentication, Beanie Babies, commemorative coins (not gold), and Franklin Mint items were sold as “collectibles” but rarely hold value in secondary markets. There are exceptions – certain vintage sports cards and authenticated signed items from historically significant athletes – but they’re specific and require documentation.
Quick reference: estate value by category
| Item category | Market value | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond jewelry | High | Stone size, cut, brand name (Tiffany, Cartier) |
| Luxury watches | High | Brand, model, original box and papers |
| Gold (any form) | High | Karat marking (10K, 14K, 18K, 24K) |
| Sterling silver flatware | Medium to high | Marked “925” or “sterling”, maker’s name |
| Gold coins / bullion | High | Type, year, condition |
| Fine art by listed artists | Variable | Signature, provenance, gallery labels |
| Bronze sculptures (signed) | Medium to high | Foundry mark, artist signature |
| Fine porcelain (Meissen, KPM) | Medium | Maker’s mark on base |
| Silver-plated items | Low | Marked EPNS or “silver plate” – not sterling |
| China dinner sets | Low | Market has declined significantly |
| Victorian furniture | Low | Market has declined significantly |
| Collectibles (plates, figurines) | Very low | Rarely holds secondary market value |
The practical steps when handling an estate
Don’t discard anything before an evaluation
The most common and costly mistake in estate settlements is discarding items before anyone with expertise has looked at them. A watch goes to donation, a piece of jewelry is divided up casually, a painting is thrown out because it’s dirty. Before anything leaves the house, have someone with expertise walk through it. In-home evaluations take an hour or two and prevent irreversible losses.
Look in the obvious and not-so-obvious places
Valuables are found in jewelry boxes, the back of dresser drawers, coat pockets, safe deposit boxes, wall safes, under beds, in sewing boxes where jewelry was sometimes stored, in desk drawers, and in the pockets of old coats and suits in closets. Documents that authenticate valuable pieces are found in filing cabinets and home office desk drawers.
Don’t clean or restore items before evaluation
Cleaning a painting can remove original varnish and damage the surface. Polishing silver too aggressively removes the patina that collectors value. Servicing a vintage watch before selling can reduce value. Any structural intervention – repairs, resizing, setting changes – should wait until after evaluation.
Document what you know about provenance
If you know where a piece was purchased, when, what was paid for it, or anything about its history – write it down. Provenance documentation, even informal notes, can increase value for certain categories of art and antiques.
How estate evaluations work at Art House Gallery
We handle estate evaluations regularly, both at our gallery in Highland Park and at private residences throughout the North Shore. You bring items in (or we come to you for larger collections), we evaluate everything of potential value, and we give you a clear, honest assessment of what has market value and what doesn’t. There is no charge for the evaluation and no obligation to sell.
When we make an offer, we explain the basis for it – current market data for the specific item, condition factors, and demand. Payment for accepted offers is made the same day, in cash or by check. For estate situations with time-sensitive needs, we can often complete evaluations and payment within 48 to 72 hours of first contact.
Call us at (847) 926-0700 or contact us through the website to schedule an evaluation. We serve Highland Park, the entire North Shore, and the greater Chicago area. For estates with large collections, we travel to the property.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer in-home estate evaluations?
Yes. For larger collections or estates where transportation is not practical, we come to the property. We serve Highland Park, the full North Shore, and the greater Chicago area. Call (847) 926-0700 to schedule.
What happens if I don’t know whether something is real gold or silver?
Bring it in. We test metals on the spot using professional acid testing and a precision scale. We can identify sterling silver, gold by karat, platinum, and silver-plated items within minutes.
Can I sell broken or incomplete jewelry?
Yes. Broken chains, rings missing their stones, incomplete sets, and scrap metal all have real value based on metal content and any remaining stones. Do not throw jewelry away before having it evaluated.
How do I know if a painting is by a listed artist?
Look for a signature on the front or back of the canvas, gallery labels, auction stickers, or any paperwork that came with the piece. Bring the painting in or send clear photographs. We can often identify the artist or advise on whether authentication is worth pursuing.
What if I have a large collection of items across multiple categories?
We handle mixed estate evaluations regularly. Group items by category before we arrive (jewelry, watches, silver, art, decorative objects) and we’ll work through everything systematically. The initial evaluation takes one to two hours for most estates.
Do you buy antique furniture?
We focus on fine jewelry, watches, gold and silver, fine art, and decorative antiques (bronzes, porcelain, art glass). We do not typically purchase furniture, as the residential furniture market has declined significantly.
How quickly can the process move if there’s time pressure?
We can complete an initial evaluation within 48 hours of contact and make payment within days of acceptance. For urgent estate situations, call us directly at (847) 926-0700 and we’ll work around your timeline.