Selling inherited gold in Quebec: a practical guide

An estate often leaves behind a jewellery box, a few coins, the family silverware. Between the emotions and the paperwork, it is hard to know what to do with these items. Here is a practical guide to see clearly — without rushing and without costly mistakes.

First rule: throw nothing away, clean nothing

Before any sorting, assume everything may have value: a broken chain, a single earring, dental work containing gold crowns, tarnished flatware. Condition takes nothing away from metal value.

Above all, do not clean anything with abrasive products: on certain antique or collectible pieces, aggressive polishing can reduce value rather than improve it. Tarnish has never lowered an offer based on weight and purity.

Take inventory, piece by piece

Gather everything in one place and make a simple list, with photos. Look at the hallmarks without forcing anything: 10K, 14K, 18K, 750, 925, "Sterling"... Our article How to tell if gold is real explains how to read them.

Do not separate the "precious" from the "worthless" too quickly: dental gold, settings without stones and silverware are precisely the categories families underestimate most, as covered in our article on dental gold, broken jewellery and silverware.

Watch out for coins and signed jewellery

Two categories deserve careful examination before any decision: coins, some of which carry a collector value above their metal value, and brand-name or signed jewellery, which can be worth more than its weight in gold. A serious evaluation distinguishes these cases instead of treating everything "by weight".

Estate questions come first

Before selling anything, make sure you have the right to: in Quebec, it is generally the estate's liquidator who administers the property, and heirs must agree on the division. If in doubt about your rights or the division, speak with the notary or legal advisor handling the file — a gold buyer evaluates your items, but cannot settle those questions for you.

A detailed item-by-item evaluation can actually make a fair division easier: every heir sees the same list and the same numbers.

Evaluate before deciding

An evaluation commits you to nothing: at On Achète Or, it is free, confidential and by appointment. Every item is weighed and tested in front of you, and you receive a detailed offer — which you are free to accept in whole or in part, now or later. Some families sell everything; others keep the sentimental pieces and sell the rest. It is your decision; our role is to give you clear numbers to make it. Book an appointment when you are ready.