More Than $50 Billion Hiding in Australian Jewellery Boxes?

Industry News

More Than $50 Billion Could Be Hiding in Australian Jewellery Boxes

New analysis prepared for Pawn Expo Australia suggests Australian households could be holding more than $50 billion in intrinsic gold value in jewellery – much of it sitting in jewellery boxes, cupboards, safes and forgotten drawers.

Australians could be sitting on more than $50 billion worth of gold jewellery, much of it tucked away in jewellery boxes, cupboards, safes and forgotten drawers.

The inaugural Australian Jewellery Drawer Index 2026 estimates that the intrinsic gold value contained in jewellery accumulated and retained by Australian households could exceed $50 billion.

And that does not include the potential additional value of diamonds and other gemstones, luxury watches, designer handbags, coins, antiques, art and collectables sitting in Australian homes.

What Could Be Sitting in Australian Homes?

For many Australians, valuable items simply become part of everyday life. A gold chain inherited from a grandparent may sit untouched for years. An old watch might remain in the back of a drawer. Jewellery that is no longer worn can be forgotten in a box, while coins, handbags and collectables may remain stored away without their owners knowing their current value.

Ms Coneybear says many Australians may be surprised by what some of these items are worth today.

How Was the $50 Billion Estimate Calculated?

The Australian Jewellery Drawer Index was inspired by America’s 2026 Jewellery Drawer Index, which estimated US households collectively hold approximately US$750 billion in intrinsic gold value in jewellery.

Rather than simply scaling the American figure to Australia’s population, the Australian analysis uses Australian gold-jewellery demand data published by the World Gold Council, Australian household projections from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, recent Australian gold prices and scenario modelling around the accumulation and retention of jewellery over time.

At recent Australian gold prices, the central scenario would represent an intrinsic gold value of approximately $56 billion.

The Value Goes Far Beyond Gold

The potential value sitting inside Australian homes is not limited to precious-metal weight. A watch, piece of jewellery, gemstone, antique or collectable may have additional value because of its maker, rarity, provenance, condition or desirability.

Australia Is Already a Nation of Collectors

Research by Deloitte Access Economics for eBay Australia estimated that 7.6 million Australians are collectors, collectively owning approximately 380 million collectable items worth $16.8 billion.

The research found the median Australian collector owns more than 50 collectables with a combined estimated value of $2,200.

Combined with jewellery, watches, gemstones and other luxury goods, it suggests billions of dollars of physical wealth may be hiding in plain sight in Australian homes.

Bring Your Treasures to Pawn Expo Australia

Australians will have an opportunity to discover more about what they already own when Pawn Expo Australia 2026 opens its doors to the public on Friday, 18 September 2026 at Southport Sharks on the Gold Coast.

From 1:00pm to 3:00pm, members of the public are invited to Bring Your Treasures for authentication, appraisal and specialist insight.

Authentications and appraisals during the public session are free for attendees.

An Industry Built Around Understanding Value

Pawn Expo Australia will bring together exhibitors, industry leaders and specialists spanning authentication and testing technology, jewellery and gemstones, watches, auctions and resale, security, finance, software, retail technology and business services.

For the public, however, one of the most interesting opportunities may be much closer to home – finding out what is already sitting in a drawer, cupboard, wardrobe or safe.