Can you sell costume jewellery that is damaged?
Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.
The damage buyers look for on costume jewellery
These are the flaws that move costume jewellery down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Missing stones and rhinestones
- Worn plating showing base metal
- Broken clasps and fittings
- Modern mass-produced pieces
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £2 to £11. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £1 to £6. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.
Working out what you actually have
Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:
- Check the reverse for a maker’s signature
- Count the stones and note any missing
- Bundle unsigned pieces rather than listing singly
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- The whole lot laid out together, countable
- Any signed pieces photographed individually, front and back
- A close-up of typical clasps and settings
- Any broken, tarnished or missing-stone pieces, grouped honestly
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged costume jewellery want these confirmed:
- How many pieces and what types
- Any signed or marked pieces, named individually
- Approximate era if you can judge it
- Honest split between wearable pieces and spares or repairs
Quantity, era and any names: “Costume Jewellery Job Lot, 30 Pieces, Some Signed, 1980s”. Quantity is the search for lot buyers. Naming any signed maker lifts the whole listing, so check before you bundle.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Check the reverse of every piece under magnification. A single signed piece can be worth more than the rest of the lot together, and it is easily missed.
Say honestly how much is broken or missing stones. Job lot buyers expect some spares and price accordingly when told.
Look for hallmarks. Silver pieces mixed into a costume lot are common and worth separating out.
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:
- Signed pieces from recognised costume makers
- Mid-century and Art Deco designs
- Complete parures and matching sets
- Bright, untarnished plating
If the work would cost more than the gap between £6 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Steady to lot buyers and crafters year round, with a Christmas lift. Signed pieces sell individually and quickly.
Getting it to the buyer
Light and cheap to post. Bag pieces separately or interleave with tissue so chains do not tangle irretrievably in transit.
WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.
Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full costume jewellery selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell damaged costume jewellery?
Yes. Damaged costume jewellery typically is worth £1 to £6 against £5 to £25 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Missing stones and rhinestones
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is signed pieces from recognised costume makers — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.
How should I describe the damage?
Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. Check the reverse of every piece under magnification. A single signed piece can be worth more than the rest of the lot together, and it is easily missed. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what costume jewellery is worth by condition · how to sell costume jewellery · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.