Gold & silver jewelry
Rings, chains, bracelets, brooches, earrings, charms — including broken, single or unwanted pieces. Look for stamps such as 10K, 14K, 18K, 925 or Sterling.
Estate & inherited collections · Vermont and mail-in nationwide
Sorting through a loved one’s belongings? Start with a clear, no-pressure proposal.
Gold and silver jewelry, sterling flatware, coin collections, watches and mixed lots — you describe what you have, and we explain in plain language how it would be valued. Pricing follows the spot price at the time of the offer, and you are never obligated to sell.
Request a scoped proposal See how it works- No obligation to sell
- Scoped on a short call; timeline confirmed in your written proposal
- Valuation based on live spot, weight and purity
- Vermont drop-off or mail-in
What we look at
Not sure if something counts? Include it in your description. Broken, mismatched or tarnished pieces are often still worth a look.
Sterling flatware & tea sets
Forks, spoons, serving pieces, trays, bowls and complete tea or coffee services. Note any maker name and pattern if you can see them.
Coin collections
Albums, rolls, jars and boxes of coins, including U.S. silver coins, gold coins and older foreign coins. Some may carry collector value beyond their metal content.
Watches & mixed lots
Pocket and wrist watches, and drawers or boxes of mixed items where you aren’t sure what’s metal and what’s costume. Tell us what you have and we’ll talk through it with you.
Before you send anything: please don’t clean or polish
- Coins: don’t clean, rub or dip them. Cleaning can permanently reduce collector value.
- Sterling and silver: leave tarnish alone. Polishing is unnecessary for a proposal and can affect antique or maker-marked pieces.
- Jewelry: don’t repair, scrub or take apart pieces, and don’t discard broken items.
- Keep sets together and hold on to any original boxes, albums, receipts or appraisals you find.
- Avoid DIY testing with acid or scratching; it can damage the item.
A simple three-step process
Requesting a proposal is free and at your pace. You decide whether and when to move forward.
Describe and photograph the items
Fill in the form below with what you have and roughly how much. You can attach photos directly to the form, or email them to julien@relaycairn.com if you prefer.
Short scoping call, then a written proposal
We review your details and scope the work on a short call. Your written proposal explains how the items would be valued (spot at the time of the offer, plus weight, purity and condition) and confirms the timeline.
Choose drop-off or mail-in
If you decide to proceed, pick local drop-off in Vermont or a mail-in option. Timing, shipping arrangements and payment method are confirmed with you in writing before anything is sent.
Handling an estate? A few things that help
Settling an estate is stressful enough. These are practical points that often come up.
Documentation
If you’re the executor or administrator, have your paperwork showing your authority to act for the estate available. Keep any inventories, appraisals or receipts together. We’ll tell you in advance what paperwork is needed for a transaction.
Multiple heirs
When several family members share an inheritance, it helps to agree beforehand on who speaks for the group and who gets the proceeds. Requesting a proposal doesn’t commit anyone and can help everyone see what’s there before deciding.
Keep items separate
Photograph items where you find them, then bag or box them by person, room or category and label each. Keeping items that heirs want to keep apart from items being considered for sale prevents mix-ups.
No obligation to sell
Asking for a proposal does not commit you to anything. Take your time, compare, talk it over with family, and consult your estate attorney or tax advisor if you have questions about the estate.
We aren’t a law or tax firm and nothing on this page is legal or tax advice.
Business details
What you should know before you send or bring in anything. We publish only details that have been verified; anything not yet published is marked as such, and we’ll answer in writing on request.
- Business
- Relaycairn
- Contact
- julien@relaycairn.com
- Service area
- Vermont drop-off, or mail-in from anywhere in the U.S.
- Legal business name
- Not yet published. Ask us and we’ll confirm it in writing.
- Street address
- Provided in writing when you schedule a drop-off. Please don’t show up unannounced.
- Hours
- By appointment. Times are confirmed in writing when you schedule.
- Licensing
- Not yet published. Ask us and we’ll answer in writing before you send or bring in anything.
- Insurance
- Not yet published, including coverage for items in transit. Ask us and we’ll answer in writing before you ship anything.
- Payment methods
- Confirmed in your written proposal, before you decide.
- ID requirements
- Where they apply, we’ll tell you what is needed before you drop off or ship anything.
Identification and paperwork
Buying precious metals can involve identification and record-keeping requirements. Where they apply, we’ll tell you what is needed before you drop off or ship anything, so there are no surprises. Estate sellers may also be asked for documents showing authority to act for the estate.
Photos you upload are used only to prepare your proposal. A photo-based assessment is preliminary; final figures depend on in-hand weight, purity and condition and on spot at the time of the offer.
Questions families ask
Straight answers, with no promised numbers or timelines.
How is the value calculated?
For gold, silver and other precious-metal items, value starts with the current spot price of the metal. It is then adjusted for how much metal is in the item (its weight) and how pure it is (for example 14K gold or .925 sterling). Non-metal parts such as stones, weighted bases or knife blades are accounted for separately. We don’t promise any particular percentage of spot; every offer reflects the specific items and the spot price at the time of the offer.
Could my coins be worth more than their metal value?
Possibly. Collectible coins can be worth more than melt value because of date, mint mark, rarity and condition. That’s why we ask you not to clean them. Describe what you have, and we’ll tell you if anything looks like it may deserve a closer look. Common circulated coins are generally valued on their metal content.
Might some jewelry or silver be worth more than the metal?
Sometimes. Signed, antique or well-known maker pieces may have value beyond metal content. If you see a maker’s name or hallmark, mention it. Items that are only plated or costume jewelry usually have little or no precious-metal value.
How long does the process take?
It depends on the size and type of collection and whether you drop off or mail in. We scope it on a short call, and the timeline is confirmed in your written proposal. We don’t quote fixed turnaround times on this page.
Why are offers time-sensitive?
Precious-metal prices move throughout the day. Because offers follow spot at the time of the offer, an offer is only good for a limited window, which will be stated in writing. If the window passes, we can refresh it against the current spot.
Do I have to sell once I get a proposal?
No. A proposal is information, not a commitment. You can say no, ask questions, or take your time.
I’m outside Vermont. Can I still request a proposal?
Yes. Choose “Mail-in” on the form. If you decide to proceed, we’ll confirm shipping steps and arrangements with you in writing before you send anything.
What photos should I attach?
One overview shot of everything, plus close-ups of any stamps, hallmarks or maker marks, and the front and back of coins. Good light and no cleaning needed. Large phone photos are shrunk in your browser before they are sent, so you don’t need to resize them yourself. If the upload gives you trouble, email them to julien@relaycairn.com instead.
Request a scoped proposal
Tell us what you’ve found. A rough description is fine; you don’t need to know weights, purity or values.
- Scoped on a short call; timeline confirmed in your written proposal.
- Valuation follows spot at the time of the offer.
- No obligation to sell.
- Prefer email? Write to julien@relaycairn.com.
Please don’t mail items until you’ve received and agreed to written instructions from us.