| There are many reasons for deciding to sell your | | | | companies, find out which carrier they use and if |
| unwanted diamonds and fine jewelry. You may be | | | | the item will be fully insured. The US Postal |
| seeking emotional release from a broken | | | | Service is probably your best choice as they are |
| relationship, needing emergency cash, purchasing | | | | self insured and your jewelry is not insured by a |
| or remodeling your home, or updating your | | | | third party. |
| jewelry for something more fashionable. | | | | Usually sellers choose an online jewelry buying |
| What Is It Worth? | | | | company for convenience. It means you don't |
| After you decide to sell your fine jewelry, the | | | | have to go anywhere. But often customers are |
| first question is: What is it worth? Quite simply, | | | | disappointed when they hear how little money |
| your jewelry is worth what someone else is willing | | | | they will receive. By then they have already sent |
| to pay for it. But there is a difference between | | | | the item, and may figure it is not worth the |
| appraised value and market value. Most appraisals | | | | trouble to pay to have it returned to them. |
| are not a valid indicator of the worth of your | | | | Questions to ask on line buyerso How long have |
| jewelry or diamonds. You may only get between | | | | you been in business?o Do you have a showroom |
| 10% and 20% of the appraised value. An appraisal | | | | or office that i can bring my items to?o Are you |
| can be issued for different reasons. Sometimes, a | | | | Better Business complaint free?o Are you |
| high appraisal is used as a marketing tool by a | | | | licensed?o Are you in compliance with state and |
| retailer who wants his customer to believe he got | | | | federal laws and guidelines? |
| a great deal. Insurance companies also don't mind | | | | On Line Auctions |
| inflated appraisals, because the premiums | | | | In addition to online gold and jewelry buying |
| customers pay are based on the submitted value. | | | | companies, there are also the Internet auction |
| If you want an accurate assessment of your | | | | sites, such as eBay and craigslist.org. On these |
| diamond or jewelry's value, have it appraised by | | | | sites, you can post the jewelry items you have |
| an independent appraiser who has no interest in it. | | | | for sale, and potential buyers will respond with |
| When it comes to diamonds, often appraisals are | | | | offers. On Internet auction sites you will |
| not accurate as to the color and clarity. There are | | | | encounter a lot of people looking for a bargain, |
| no industry guidelines, standards or government | | | | and possibly even scammers and criminals. |
| regulations as to the accuracy required for | | | | Because you are dealing with individual buyers, not |
| describing jewelry or its value. | | | | a reputable company, you are at risk for loss. If |
| Diamond Grading Certificates | | | | you do decide to sell through one of these sites, |
| If your diamond came with a certificate from the | | | | make sure to protect yourself as much as |
| GIA, the Gemological Institute of America, you will | | | | possible by meeting your buyer in a safe public |
| be able to get a valid offer over the phone or | | | | such as your bank or Starbucks. |
| emailed to you. There are other diamond grading | | | | Auction Houses |
| labs, but GIA is consistently the most accurate. If | | | | In addition to online auction sites, there are a |
| you are selling a diamond that is probably worth | | | | number of highly reputable, well-established auction |
| more than $5000 and you have two weeks time, | | | | houses that have auctions for fine jewelry, such |
| you might consider having your diamond certified | | | | as Bonhams & Butterfields, Christie's, and |
| by the GIA. | | | | Sotheby's. Generally these auction houses are only |
| Sell Jewelry Quickly | | | | interested in high value items. Bonham & |
| So where do you go if you want to sell your | | | | Butterfields will also give you a good idea of your |
| jewelry or diamonds quickly? | | | | item's value, before you decide where to sell it. |
| Friends | | | | There are not auctions everyday, so you will |
| You might first talk to your friends or relatives, | | | | have to wait awhile for your proceeds. In addition, |
| and see if anyone is interested in purchasing your | | | | as the seller you are responsible for the costs |
| jewelry. However, it is not likely you will find a | | | | associated with selling your jewelry, such as |
| buyer this way, and you may create tension in | | | | marketing photographs and a commission, and |
| your friendship by disputing the jewelry's value. | | | | these will reduce your profit. Bonhams & |
| Ad in the Local Paper | | | | Butterfields will take lower value items to list in |
| You might also think of placing an advertisement | | | | their auction catalogues. This does entail a |
| in your local newspaper. Because of the limited | | | | considerable delay in selling your jewelry, |
| number of potential buyers, it may be difficult to | | | | however, because they only publish catalogues a |
| find a qualified purchaser willing to give you full | | | | few times a year. The advantage to being willing |
| market value. | | | | to wait to sell is that you may receive more |
| Pawnshops | | | | money. |
| The absolute worst place to sell jewelry is a | | | | Your Best Option |
| pawnshop. They are in the money loaning | | | | There are advantages to selling your jewelry |
| business, and they buy all kinds of junk. You will | | | | quickly: cash in your pocket immediately and |
| be offered ten cents on the dollar if you are | | | | removing emotional attachments rapidly. But how |
| lucky. Pawnshops are usually located in less than | | | | do you ensure confidentiality, no scam artists, and |
| desirable neighborhoods, so you may need to be | | | | no security risks? Your best option may be a |
| concerned for your safety. | | | | reputable diamond and jewelry buyers with an |
| Retail Jewelry Stores | | | | established place of business, such as The San |
| In most areas companies that purchase or take | | | | Francisco Diamond Exchange. When you deal with |
| jewelry on consignment from the public are | | | | us, you may rest assured that you are dealing |
| required to be licensed and regulated by the state | | | | with a fully licensed diamond and jewelry |
| and often local law enforcement agencies. | | | | professional. This provides you with the ultimate |
| However, retail jewelry stores have diamonds | | | | security. When choosing a diamond purchaser, you |
| given to them on consignment from large | | | | may want to find out if you can walk in with your |
| diamond dealers. If they purchase your diamond, | | | | jewelry, or if your have to send it by mail. |
| they will have to lay out their own cash, so they | | | | Obviously, it is more secure if you do not have to |
| will offer considerably less to purchase it out right. | | | | use a delivery service. |
| On Line Diamond and Fine Jewelry Buyers | | | | You may also wish to inquire how long the |
| If you look on the Internet, you will find a number | | | | business has been operating and check with the |
| of companies offering to buy your gold, fine | | | | Better Business Bureau to make sure they are no |
| jewelry, quality watches, and diamonds online. You | | | | complaints against the business. At The San |
| can contact these companies by telephone or | | | | Francisco Diamond Exchange, we buy and sell |
| email. They can provide you with a tentative | | | | loose diamonds, platinum and gold engagement |
| offer based on the information you provide. Once | | | | rings, platinum and gold tennis necklaces and |
| the company receives and evaluates your jewelry | | | | bracelets, diamond earrings and pendants. We |
| you are contacted with a firm offer. WARNING | | | | have been in business for over thirty years |
| some of these firms will offer you a unrealistic | | | | complaint-free with the Better Business Bureau. |
| high price to get you to send them your jewelry | | | | We are fully licensed by the State of California |
| and they contact you with a significantly lower | | | | and the San Francisco Police Department. When |
| price. | | | | you sell your jewelry in person to a reputable |
| There is always a potential for loss when sending | | | | dealer, you don't risk loss, theft, identity theft or |
| expensive items. If you choose one of these | | | | a below market value offers. |