Estate Jewelry
es·tate jew·el·ry | i-ˈstāt jü-əl-rē
noun
A jewelry piece, often worn for sentimental reasons, which is part of the estate of a deceased person
Estate jewelry is a term used to describe second-hand or used-jewelry that originates in the estate of a deceased individual. It has come to more commonly refer to any second-hand jewelry that is considered antique or vintage as well. Estate jewelry is often highly sought after both for its quality and its provenance. Because estate jewelry is often also heirloom jewelry, it is frequently restored to recapture its original luster. Doing so can maintain sentimentality while improving the durability and restore the former shine of a piece that may not have been worn for many years.