Selling Broken & Damaged Jewellery & Watches

17 guides to selling jewellery & watches that are broken, damaged or incomplete. Every one covers what it is worth at Fair and For Parts, how to grade and photograph the defect, and what buyers ask before committing.

Jewellery has a floor that almost nothing else has, because precious metal has scrap value regardless of condition. A broken chain, a lost stone or a snapped shank is a jeweller’s routine job, and the scrap price sets the minimum below which you should simply not sell. State the hallmark, the metal and the weight; those three facts let a buyer work out the floor for themselves, which is exactly what makes them bid.

Before you write it off

Get it weighed and check the hallmark before you decide anything. A broken chain, a lost stone or a bent shank is a routine bench job, and precious metal has a scrap value that sets a floor under the whole thing regardless of condition. Tarnish on silver is not damage. Plating wear is, because it cannot be undone without replating.

What a defect actually costs you

WishThrift grades run New with Tags, Like New, Good, Fair and For Parts. Fair is roughly 45% of the working price and covers heavy use or a described fault; For Parts is roughly 25% and covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen. Grades are seller-declared — nobody inspects them for you — so an honest grade plus a clear photograph of the defect is what actually closes the sale. All five grades explained.

Across the 17 guides below, For Parts prices run from about £1 at the low end to £300 at the top, against £5 to £1,200 for the same items in sound condition. Those are guide figures in sterling; WishThrift lists in your local currency and does not convert for you.

Every jewellery & watches guide

Frequently asked questions

Is broken gold or silver still worth something?

Always. Precious metal has a scrap value regardless of condition, and that sets a floor under the piece. State the hallmark, the metal and the weight, and a buyer can work the floor out for themselves — which is what makes them bid.

Should I have a stone replaced before selling?

Rarely. A replacement stone costs you retail and returns you wholesale, and buyers of damaged jewellery usually have their own jeweller. Say what is missing and photograph the empty setting clearly.

Listing is free and there is no commission. Neither side pays a buyer-protection fee either — create a free account to list yours, or browse the full faulty and damaged index.