Leaving a jewellery inheritance

Here's a tip: if you want your possessions to be handed out to friends, don't try to leave a percentage of your whole estate to charity, or indeed to other beneficiaries. These two things are not compatible. It's best to make it quite clear that your "chattels" are to be dealt with separately, before the rest of the estate is divvied up. You can arrange things in various ways:
1. Leave the chattels to named individuals (but there will still be some unwanted items that have to be sold or auctioned. No one will want all your old bedding or shoes).
2. Give your executors the absolute discretion to dispose of the chattels among friends and family.
3. As above but also write a "letter of wishes" saying what you'd like done with certain possessions. This is not legally binding but your executors can use it to guide them in distributing your possessions. And by cause it has no legal force, you can revise and replace it as required (e.g. if someone dies, or a new child is born to the family, or you fall out with the vicar, etc, or if you dispose of some items during your lifetime.)

Of course if you leave the whole estate to a spouse or (adult) children, they can decide what to with all the stuff, but some informal guidance can still be useful, even just to flag up the valuable items.

I have a letter to my executors which names a few pieces to go to specific people, and to ask all of my friends and relatives to pick something to remember me by - book, scarf, ornament, jewellery (mine are mostly 'craft'pieces - no intrinsic value but not just rubbish either)

Of course you must make some provision that an old neighbour you barely remember doesn't get the valuable pearls, but you can sort that now. And do feel that you can give to friends if appropriate. One of my parents' neighbours gave them her husband's 'Albert' as a thank you for their neighbourliness and friendship. That has now passed to one of my sons, complete with the message that ties of friendship are also to be valued.

4 female friends of mine have died in the last few years, and it has not occurred to the widowers / sons that the offer of a keepsake would be cherished. I have, from other relatives / friends some keepsakes that I value deeply.

Sell them on ebay or put them in an auction or give them to charity.

If only you know which are the valuable pieces, you really need to do something to make sure they are not sold for a pittance. Even a charity shop may just mistake then for costume jewellery. You could write out some kind of document, to be stored with your will (or a copy) explaining, perhaps with photos, which are the valuable pieces, to guide your executors.

Then you can instruct your executors as to how you'd like them to dispose of the items. Depending on who you have chosen, you could give them absolute discretion as to how to share these items among family and friends. (I have recently had to do just this in the capacity of executor). Friends might appreciate a single item to remember you by. Or you could have the best items valued and tell your executor to sell them and return the proceeds to the estate.

Cheaper costume jewellery is best given to a charity shop. If you put it in an auction it will raise next to nothing.

It might be more satisfying for you, and easier for your executors, if you can pass on some of the jewellery in your lifetime, perhaps giving the valuable items to mark a special date or anniversary. If there is stuff of little value that you don't wear, hand it over now to a charity shop of your choice.

My maiden aunt had a triple row of pearls that she kept in the bank. I always thought this was ridiculous; if she liked them, she should have been wearing and enjoying them. In the end, I inherited them and sold them at auction, as I had no used for them. My advice is either to enjoy your possessions or to pass them on to others if you no longer use or need them.

I'd pick out a few special pieces that have history in the family and put them safely [perhaps with your will?] aside for your Grandson to inherit. He may well have a wife, Daughter or Granddaughter someday. As for the rest I'd put it into a specialist jewellery sale and use the proceeds to fund something special - e.g. House deposit for Grandson, or Uni Fees, or a family holiday or get together for all.

We had a couple of pieces from the male side of DH's family and gave them to our son-in-law, on the day he married DD2. He was so emotional about the gift, said it made him feel recognised as a member of the family and has decided that he will pass them on in the same way to his future SIL. He may have a long wait as his only child, our DGD, is only 10 now.

A friend of mine who has no children has left hers to my two DiLs. Do you have a good friend with daughters who you would like to pass it all on to?

Women's refuge?

Sell it now and enjoy the money

Buy a really good quality weather and water proof box. Seal your jewels inside. Go to an isolated spot and dig a deep hole and bury it.

In a few thousand years time it will be dug up and known as the Xshire hoard. This is not an original idea incidentally it has been done before ?

Give it to a charity shop, it will find a home from there