Your Holiday Budget Might Be Hiding in the Jewelry You Don't Wear

The Solist can take it as a trade-in for store credit, or sell it for you and pay you when it finds a buyer.

Your Holiday Budget Might Be Hiding in the Jewelry You Don't Wear

Most collections have a few pieces that haven't left the box in a while. A watch that lost its place to a newer favorite. Earrings that suited a different chapter. A bag that has stayed in its dust bag since the day it arrived.

If you're wondering what to do with jewelry you don't wear, here is a useful answer for this time of year: let it pay for something you will. The Solist can take it as a trade-in for store credit, or sell it for you and pay you when it finds a buyer. Start now, and that credit can be ready when our holiday offers arrive.

The Short Answer

  • Keep anything you wear, love, or plan to pass down.

  • Trade it in if you're ready to part with a piece now. Our concierge team reviews the details and comes back to you with an estimate.

  • Consign it if you would rather wait for the right buyer. When it sells, you choose cash or The Solist Credit with a 10% bonus.

  • Start before Black Friday. A consigned piece sells when the right buyer finds it, so the earlier it's listed, the better its chances of selling before you shop.

The Pieces Worth a Second Look

Set aside twenty minutes with your jewelry box, watch roll and closet. One simple test helps: if you haven't worn a piece in the past year and can't name the next occasion you'd wear it to, it's a candidate.

  • Watches. The automatic you replaced with a newer favorite, or the dress watch that no longer suits how you dress. Designers we accept for consignment include Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, IWC Schaffhausen, Hublot and TAG Heuer.

  • Fine jewelry. Signed pieces from houses such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., Bvlgari, David Yurman, Roberto Coin, Marco Bicego and Messika.

  • Bags and accessories. Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Goyard and Celine are all on the list, and select bag models qualify for an Instant Reward.

The full list runs to more than 250 names. You can check the accepted designers here.

Not everything should go. Heirlooms, pieces tied to a person or a moment, and anything you would miss within a month all belong back in the box. The aim is a collection you actually wear, not a smaller one.

How Far the Credit Goes

The 10% bonus is easiest to see in numbers. Say a consigned piece earns a net payout of $3,000:

  • As cash: $3,000 to your bank account.

  • As The Solist Credit: $3,300 to spend with us.

If you were planning to shop with us this season anyway, the credit gives you $300 more to work with.

The Instant Reward on Select Bags

Consignment normally pays when a piece sells. For select bag models, an Instant Reward pays The Solist Credit as soon as the bag arrives and passes authentication. You will see both options side by side in your pricing proposal and can choose either.

Compared With Selling Privately

Selling a watch or a piece of jewelry yourself can work, but you take on the photography, pricing, buyer questions, shipping and payment. Consigning with us hands all of that to our team, and every piece is authenticated before it's listed.

Why Starting Now Matters

Black Friday falls on November 27 this year, and the holiday shopping season runs through December. A few practical reasons to begin in early November rather than mid-December:

  • Consignment can't be scheduled. A piece sells when the right buyer finds it. More time listed means a better chance the credit is in your account before you shop.

  • Each step takes a little time. Your estimate, pickup, authentication and listing all happen before a sale. Getting through them in November leaves December for choosing.

  • Our pieces come in very limited numbers. Many are one of a kind. Knowing your budget early means you can decide with confidence when the right one appears.

  • Ask how your credit works with seasonal pricing. Our concierge team can tell you how The Solist Credit applies to the offers running when you shop.

You can also sign up for Black Friday early access so you see the offers as soon as they open.

What to Gather Before You Ask for a Valuation

A complete, well-documented piece is easier to authenticate and price, and watch dealers widely value a full set above the watch alone.

  • Box and papers. Warranty cards, certificates of authenticity and, for diamonds, any grading report such as a GIA certificate.

  • Your receipt. It helps confirm provenance, and you will want it for tax records later.

  • Service history. Any servicing records for a watch, including the date and who carried out the work.

  • The extras. Spare links, additional straps, dust bags, pouches and authenticity cards.

  • The reference or serial number. On a watch, this is usually on the caseback or the papers. It's the quickest way for our team to identify the exact model.

  • Clear photos. Front, back, clasp and any hallmarks, taken in daylight.

  • An honest note on condition. Mention any scratches, stretched links or missing stones up front. Pieces in brand-new, excellent or very good condition qualify for consignment.

Finally, if the piece is listed on a jewelry rider or valuables policy, tell your insurer once it has gone. Then add your new piece when it arrives.

Two Ways to Spend It

Something for Yourself

Perhaps there's a piece you have been considering for a while. Your credit could bring it closer.

Gifts for the People You Love

A pair of earrings you stopped wearing could cover much of a gift for someone else. Because the credit pays for part or all of it, you can give more generously without adding to your holiday budget.

Let Our Concierge Team Handle the Details

You don't have to work any of this out alone. Our concierge team can:

  • Look at what you have and suggest whether a trade-in or consignment suits each piece.

  • Explain your estimate and your payout options in plain terms.

  • Help you find what comes next, for yourself or as a gift, including pieces we source to your wish list.

You can book a private consultation at our New York showroom at 551 Fifth Avenue or virtually. You can also reach the team at concierge@thesolist.com or 1-201-399-7339, Monday to Friday. From the pieces you no longer wear to the ones you'll treasure next, we're here to make it seamless.

Unlock the Value of Your Collection

Have a watch, piece of jewelry or designer accessory you no longer wear? Our team will help you explore its value and turn it into something new, in time for holiday shopping.

Start a trade-in · Sell through The Solist

FAQs

How can I sell my jewelry without being underpaid?

Know exactly what you have before anyone values it: the designer, the collection name, the metal and any stone details. Bring every piece of paperwork, ask whether a quoted figure is your net payout or a listing price, and find out what fees apply. Signed designer jewelry is usually worth more as a finished piece than as metal and stones, so a buyer who sells designer jewelry will generally value it differently from one who buys by weight.

What should I do with inherited jewelry?

Start by finding out what it is. A maker's mark, hallmark or original box can identify the designer and period, and a qualified appraiser can confirm the stones. Speak with family before deciding, since a piece one person never wears may matter a great deal to someone else. If you choose to part with it, the documentation you gather at this stage will support its value.

Are old watches worth anything?

Some are worth a great deal, and some very little. Value depends on the brand, the model and reference, the condition, whether it still runs, and whether the box and papers survive. Watches from established Swiss and French houses tend to keep steady demand. Ask for a valuation before you have a watch serviced or polished, because polishing can remove original finishing that collectors prize, and the cost of a service is not always reflected in the price.

Do you pay tax when you sell jewelry?

Possibly. In the US, the IRS taxes net gains on collectibles at a maximum rate of 28%, and jewelry, gems and precious metals generally fall into that category. If you sell for less than you paid, the IRS does not allow you to deduct that loss on personal-use property. Keep your original receipt so you can show what you paid. We are not tax advisors, so check your own situation with an accountant.

Do I need an account to consign with The Solist?

Yes. You need a member account to submit pieces, and your email address must be linked to that account for The Solist Credit to reach you once a piece sells. You can create one with the email address you would like to use.

Can I consign a piece I didn't buy from The Solist?

Yes. You don't need to have bought it from us, as long as the designer is on our accepted list and the piece is in brand-new, excellent or very good condition. For a trade-in, share the details through our trade-in form and our concierge team will confirm.