Broken, unwanted or unneeded jewelry is a conundrum for many people. Whether you need some quick cash or have a bundle of jewelry that no longer fits your style, the best place to take your unwanted, unneeded or broken jewelry is to your local pawnshop.
Local pawn shops offer a faster, more convenient way to sell your jewelry compared to other alternatives. For example, selling your jewelry at a yard sale is time consuming, and you may get much less than you expect. Meanwhile, mail-in services are infamous for offering extremely low rates and poor customer service.
When you sell your jewelry at your local pawnshop, you will be dealing with a pro. Most pawnbrokers, such as Central Mega Pawn, have certified gemologists or jewelers in-house that can quickly and accurately determine the value of your jewelry. This helps you get the most for your items.
Here’s how to get the most value for your jewelry when you sell at your local pawnshop:
Do your homework
A common mistake that pawnbrokers all over the country encounter is customers assuming that all jewelry is in demand and highly valuable. Save yourself some aggravation and research your type of jewelry, and what it is currently selling for. Also, keep in mind that fake jewelry, costume jewelry, and stolen jewelry are never in demand and will not receive an offer.
It will also help if you research the purity and karat of the precious stones in your jewelry, as well as the current market value for precious metals like gold and silver. Finding out this info is not as difficult as many people think! Here’s a quick guide to finding that info and how it will come into play when you bring your jewelry to your local pawnshop:
- Find the karat of your Jewelry – Is the measure of the purity of gold. This factor tells potential buyers and sellers how much of additional materials are contained in the jewelry. Although there are always exceptions, generally speaking, the higher the karat, the greater the value. Usually, there is a stamp somewhere on your jewelry indicating the karat.
- Look up current market value – There are many helpful websites that track the daily changes in the value of gold and silver. Before you bring in your jewelry to your local pawnshop, take a look at the market value so that you have a general idea of what your pawnbroker will be taking into considerations.
- Know popular brands – Jewelry by popular designers, or rare pieces from designers, can often be worth more. This is because many items of jewelry bought by pawnshops winds up being sold as scrap or melted down – fine pieces of designer jewelry, on the other hand, are ready to sell as-is. This translates to faster money for your pawnbroker, and a higher offer for you.
Why your local pawnshop is your best local buyer for you
When you sell to private citizens, jewelry shops, or through a website, you are taking a risk, because there is very little regulation to protect you from fraud. When you sell to a pawnshop, however, you are dealing with experienced professionals who comply with all local and federal regulations. Additionally, because most pawnshops are mainstays in their communities, they are motivated to treat every customer fairly.
Do pawn shops also buy silver or platinum jewelry?
Yes! Most pawn shops also deal with and will be interested in jewelry made of silver and platinum, and that also have other precious items like pearls or authentic gems.
What about selling jewelry broken?
Pawnshops can also make offers on your broken jewelry. However, keep in mind that the valuation of broken jewelry will be based more on the purity of the metals than on any other factor. This is because, when an item of jewelry cannot be repaired, it will be melted down.
How do precious stones, such as diamonds and rubies, affect my offer?
Precious stones or gemstones are often valued separately. Gems like diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and the like are appraised on factors like:
- Carat – As is with gold, gemstones are valued based on their weight and purity. Central Mega Pawn proudly uses a jewelry scale on site, which helps us quickly determine an exact weight.
- Color – Every gemstone is unique in color, so the color of your gemstone is an important factor in determining the value. Demand may vary depending on the type of stone’s color. For example, diamonds with a yellow-ish tint are not as in demand as pristine diamonds.
- Shape & size – A gemstone of considerable size can fetch high offers. Similarly, unusually shaped gems tend to be appraised higher, because they tend to be rare specimens and highly desirable for collectors and jewelers alike.
- Cut & polish – Particularly in the case of diamonds, a gemstone’s cut determines how much light it reflects and how much sparkle it will have. The more intricate the cut, the higher the workmanship on display, which influences the value of the stone.
However, despite all of these factors that we have just described, every pawnshop will have their own way of determining value. So, before you bring your jewelry in to your local pawnshop, give them a call or send them an email requesting information on how they appraise jewelry before they buy, as well as what is in demand in their store. Getting the highest possible offer may take some effort on your part, but it will be well worth it when you get your cash in hand.
As you can see, your local pawnbroker is likely the best option when you want to get the most money for your jewelry. Your local pawnbroker is knowledgeable, safe, and eager to help the members of their community. If you are looking to sell your jewelry in or around Ontario, Pomona, Upland or the surrounding communities in the Inland Empire, give the professionals at Central Mega Pawn a call today!
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