Heirloom jewellery for grandchildren

[ChocolateTruffleAssortment]

MIL has had an insurance payout after a burglary and has £4k to spend on jewellery for 4 girls and 2 boys. Thinking watches for the boys but that’s as far as we’ve got. How would you spend this money?

Fair enough, I have a string of pearls I got for my 21st over 20 years ago that I love and wear at least weekly, but pearls are not to everyone's taste, admittedly!
We haven't been told anything about the family so it's hard to give sensible suggestions (some are suggesting gold chains for the boys - would work for some people but the thought of chain necklaces on a man makes me bristle!)

Can't she put the money into an ISA or national savings for them? Jewellery depreciates immediately, can be hard to size and tastes change.

It is going to be quite tricky I think as the amount isn't sadly that much to buy 6 items of jewellery/watches that are classic and can be handed down.

I wouldn't bother with watches as you aren't getting an 'heirloom' type watch for £500. Maybe for the boys some plain but classic cufflinks and some discreet earrings for the girls - pearl studs maybe? Or a simple bangle/bracelet but depending on the jewellers you are going to struggle with £500 per child.

I guess the older girls may have some ideas of their own though. I would get their input and think of something that they would wear now really.

Most jewellery dates and if you can't go down the antique route - although the jewellers may sell second hand stuff which could be worth looking at.

Insurance payouts for stolen jewellery is often given out in jeweler vouchers- I think some PPs think MIL has cash. We got loads a few years ago and got a few pieces and a few stones that can be set at a later date- that might be an idea.

I wouldn't get St. Christopher's as they might not appreciate the religious aspect later.

Simple diamond/ drop pearl studs/ pendants for the girls would be easy. Watches would be hard in that budget as they wouldn't be worn for a while. I'd get the boys gold bars/ stones that they can use for future partners.

We found a lot of independent jewellers take the vouchers and you get more for your money than the big brands. Try Hatton garden or Birmingham jewelry Quarter. Lots have vintage pieces as well if MIL wants something similar to wat she lost.

I wouldn't bother with watches as you aren't getting an 'heirloom' type watch for £500.

I wouldn't open that Pandora's box (ha!). There was a thread recently where a poster got flamed for saying something about a £500 watch not being "expensive"

Such a depressing thread.

Don't women wear watches?

Do all women have pierced ears?

Is it still 1950?

Oh give over. Someone has been burgled and wants to use the insurance money (which has to be spent on jewellery) to buy something nice for her grandchildren.

I wear watches and actually consider them a better investment but you aren't getting an heirloom type watch for £500.

What would you suggest @toadinthebucket - I think people were just offering very neutral suggestions.

Your poor MIL. How awful.
I understand she wants something to pass down. An heirloom has to start somewhere!

With the ages of the girls, would they like an input?

How about birthstone pendant necklaces for the girls - that would be more personal than a generic necklace (although that would be nice too). My dd asked for a single pearl pendant for her 21st so I wouldn’t write off pearls as too old fashioned. And I would get cufflinks for the boys - jewellery is much harder for boys I think but I can see why your mil wants to be fair.

Sorry but I think this is a bad idea in itself.

Not all 'kids' want jewellery. And what they want at 12-16 won't be the same a 25/ 30/ 40.

It's a very different matter being given an heirloom (which, IME often isn't too taste and lies in a drawer for another 40 years....rinse and repeat!)

Why vouchers? Never heard of this as an insurance payment. It suggests they are for a 'chain' like Ernest Jones or similar.

Why isn't she being reimbursed with cash?

I can get my head round why the gran thinks it's a good idea in theory- heirloom was stolen, so replace with the same items. But in reality it's not a good idea.

As a compromise, maybe you could keep the vouchers till your kids are 21 and then allow them to choose something - but (not being nasty here) the amount per child isn't very much. They would get around £650 each but that's not going to buy a 'classic' watch like a Rolex, Omega, etc. Or a very big diamond. I paid £1500 for a small 0.4carat diamond pendant many years ago.

Is she open to a re think?

@MrsWobble3 Very few men now wear double cuff shirts necessitating cuff links. Only usually if they are in City jobs with suits and formal wear.

This

Tiffany heart necklace

For the girls

If you want something that will only appreciate in value/ investment pieces- go for vintage gold jewellery (9k, 14k, 18k) with good size precious stones- diamonds, rubies, sapphires. Don't go for small diamonds- no resale value. Don't go for pearls unless south sea / mikimoto with 14k/ 18k clasp. Gold men rings for boys.

But it's true. You're talking Patek Philippe as an heirloom for £50K+. or a Rolex/Omega limited edition.

Same happened to us, insurance paid in vouchers, some for jewellery, some for camera. I suspect the insurance companies get a comission back which offsets their settlement a bit.

I know, I was one of the people who agreed with the poster, but there were a lot of angry people on that thread and the comment reminded me of it. I can't remember the thread title or what the OP was even about but it was batshit!

The thing is, when someone uses the word heirloom everyone is thrown back to the single faded edition of Tatler they spied in the dentist’s waiting room when they were 11.

So - ‘pearls for girls, cufflinks for boys’ even though there’s a high possibility those items wouldn’t be worn more than twice by the recipients. Cufflinks for girls and pearls for boys may well be more successful.

It really is a shame about the stolen jewellery.

If it were me I would wait for each grandchild’s 21st and take them shopping for their own choice. Perhaps that might mean buying something investment worthy now (to wear or store myself) that could be sold at the necessary time.

Can the vouchers be spent at any jewellers? If so I'd go for vintage / antique jewellery which is more likely to maintain or increase in value, or an independent jeweller who can do something on commission. Most modern jewellery from high street chains is quite honestly, mass produced of dubious quality shite (unless high end).
To posters saying just give money, I'd guess granny wants something physical to give the grandkids as a nice memory of her, something sentimental, so ideally if granny was to choose it, it might have more meaning. Sometimes sentimentality can outweigh practicality.

It's sad when stating a fact is interpreted as an opinion or a judgement. Or a put-down.

My late MIL had masses of jewellery. We had been led to believe it had some value. My DDs were offered it (in their late teens) but didn't want any as it wasn't to their taste. It was all taken to a jeweller who sold it based on the weight of the gold and we couldn't even sell it to a good jeweller who takes 2nd hand items.

I will inherit my Mum's diamond rings. They aren't to my taste, they don't fit so would need altering, and I know I'll get a pittance for them selling them 2nd hand because the quality of the diamonds isn't there.

This is hard-I don’t know anyone under 70 that wants to wear pearls or watches (other than an Apple Watch).

What about a silver chain?

I would buy modesty priced pieces to be given on 21st birthdays then put the rest into isas for them - even genuinely heirloom pieces are a burden as they often are so dated and rings don't fit. We have pieces in our safe that belong to various family members who haven't collected them since probate was granted, the insurance to be kept in the safe in the house is over £100, goodness knows if they were worn. Another point is the minute you buy these they loose 3/4 of their value so second hand is definitely advisable.

MiL is too old to want to spend it on herself. She’s in her 80s and frankly would feel it’s pointless, she would rather gift to the grandchildren now.

I agree the budget isn’t huge, and that boys can have pierced ears too! But MIL is quite old fashioned.

the girls already have been gifted pearl necklaces & gold chains on christening.