our Archive for Diamonds Category
Sell Diamonds: Facts from San Diego Buyers
As San Diego’s #1 diamond buyer, we here at San Diego Jewelry Buyers love all things diamonds. Those who own diamond jewelry or want to sell diamonds to a local buyer might find the following facts about diamonds interesting.
1) In 2007, a flawless 6.04 carat blue diamond fetched a price of $7.98 million, making it the most expensive gemstone per carat in the world.
2) The largest diamond ever found weighs 3,106 carats. It is commonly called the Star of Africa, and adorns the scepter of King Edward VII of England.
3) The diamond engagement ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand, because the ancient Egyptians believed that the vein in that finger led directly to the heart.
4) Diamond derives its name from the Greek word adamas, which means unable to be conquered.
5) Only about 20% of the world’s diamonds are suitable for jewelry.
6) Diamond certification does not appraise the monetary value of a diamond. It describes the quality of the diamond without putting a price tag on it.
7) Diamonds are composed of just one chemical element: carbon. When crushed to dust they turn black.
8) CZs weigh 55% more than diamonds. So, the easiest way to spot the difference between two same size stones is to weigh them.
9) The first recorded diamond engagement ring was given by Archduke Maximillian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy in 1477.
10) The world’s smallest diamond was cut by Pauline Willemse. It is 50 times smaller than the head of a ballpoint pen.
For information on how you can sell diamonds for cash today, contact San Diego Jewelry Buyers for a free, no hassle, appraisal.
We are your trusted A+ BBB rated San Diego diamond buyer and luxury pawn shop.
How to Sell Diamonds to San Diego Buyers
1) Background check the potential San Diego diamond buyer with the Better Business Bureau online, and by browsing customer reviews on independent web sites. If you see a bunch of reviews for a particular business posted on the same day, be wary of the legitimacy of these reviews. Look for reviews that provide concrete details about a customer’s experience, vary in style and content, and are spaced out over a period of time.
2) If you sell diamonds that are 1 carat (or more), these diamonds will bring a significantly higher buying offer than a diamond that is just under 1 carat (.98 carats for example). This is because stones of 1+ carat are more rare. Two 1/2-carat diamonds will thus also be less valuable than a single 1 carat diamond.
3) You are likely to receive a higher offer on your loose diamond if it has a branded cut which is highly sought after, such as Hearts on Fire.
4) Loose diamonds of high quality that have a pinkish or bluish hue will command a higher buying offer than most clear diamonds. If you have such a diamond, be sure to go to a buyer, like San Diego Jewelry Buyers, who specializes in rare diamonds.
5) If you bought your diamond from a fine jeweler, you are likely to receive a cash offer that is 60-80% less than the retail price. This is because the retail price of a diamond covers much more than just the value of a diamond but the overhead costs of running a fine jewelry store.
6) Keep in mind that Clarity and Color are equally important when valuing a diamond. The ratings for both qualities must be high for you to receive a significant offer from a San Diego diamond buyer.
7) If your loose diamond comes with a certificate from a respected lab like GIA, this will make it much easier to value and sell. Please click on the following link to learn how to read a diamond grading report.
8) If you are getting diamonds independently appraised, make sure that the appraiser is not closely affiliated with the jewelry buyer to whom you want to sell diamonds.
9) As a knowledge building exercise, price a GIA certified 1.00 Carat F color, VVS1, Ideal Cut diamond at Blue Nile and two other online retailers. Compare prices and then take the lowest one. A diamond buyer will likely pay you around 40% of that lowest retail price.
10) You are more likely to get a better buying offer from a local diamond buyer than a large, nationally run, diamond buying outfit. Do solicit offers from more than one San Diego diamond buyer before selling your loose diamond.
“Disclaimer: Percentages given for estimated diamond prices are based on December 2008 market conditions. These percentages, like real estate and commodity prices, can fluctuate greatly according to the current condition of the market.”
For information on how to sell diamonds for cash today, contact San Diego Jewelry Buyers for a free, no hassle, appraisal.
We are San Diego’s trusted A+ BBB rated loose diamond buyer and estate jewelry buyer.
Understanding a Diamond Grading Report
Sometimes called a diamond certificate, a diamond grading report is one of the most valuable tools you have when selling your diamond to a qualified San Diego diamond buyer. This grading report is conducted by a gemological laboratory, and is an independent evaluation of the diamond you want to sell. Today, the report is often included with the purchase of a diamond or diamond jewelry
A grading report is not an “endorsement” of your diamond but a detailed description of the diamond’s characteristics. This makes it easier for the diamond buyer to assign a proper value to the diamond or diamond engagement ring that you wish to sell. There are many different diamond and gemstone labs producing diamond grading reports, but all basically contain the same information.
The report that you present to a San Diego diamond buyer, along with your diamond, should contain the following elements:
Name: The name of the gemological lab that produced the report is perhaps the most important detail on the certificate. The most trusted lab for large, high quality, diamonds is GIA. Other labs which diamond buyers will usually trust are IGI, AGS, AGSL, EGL, and HRD.
Number: This is the diamond grading report (certificate) number which uniquely identifies your diamond. The lab keeps a copy of this and all the details of your diamond.
Shape & Cutting Style: Shape refers to your diamond’s outline when viewed face up. This could be round, marquise, heart, or some other shape. The cutting style refers to your diamond’s facets and how they have been arranged. This could be brilliant, princess, emerald, or some other cutting style. The cushion cut diamond is often found in antique diamond jewelry.
Measurements: If you have a round diamond the measurement numbers will reflect: minimum diameter – maximum diameter x depth. If you have a fancy shaped diamond the measurement will be: length x width x depth. Measurements are taken to the 100th of a millimeter.
Weight: The weight of your diamond is measured in carats. On the grading report this weight is measured to the 100th of a carat. The price that you receive when selling a diamond will be significantly more if the diamond is at least 1 carat.
Color: The color of your diamond is graded from D (the best) down to Z. Beyond the Z grading are fancy color grades. San Diego diamond buyers are especially looking for diamonds with a grade of F or better.
Clarity: The clarity of your diamond is graded on a scale from F (the best and extremely rare) down through IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, and I3. You are more likely to sell your diamond for a good price if it is VSI or better, especially if the color is a high grade, too.
Cut Grade: Many laboratories are now including “cut grades” in their diamond grading reports. This grade is generally based on overall proportion, symmetry, and polish, which together contribute to the fire and brilliance of your diamond. The cut grade that a diamond buyer will be looking for is Ideal or Excellent.
Finish (Polish & Symmetry): Your diamond’s polish refers to the quality of the polish on the facets, while the symmetry refers to how evenly the facets are arranged. Diamond buyers are looking for a polish and symmetry grade of very good or better.
Fluorescence: This is an optical effect that occurs when your diamond is exposed to ultra-violet light, making the diamond appear slightly blue. While some people in San Diego like this blue effect and purchase diamonds specifically because they have a strong fluorescence, high quality diamonds in general have little to no fluorescence.
Plot: Your fingerprint is unique. And so is a diamond. Your diamond’s uniqueness is graphically represented in the diamond grading report with the plot. The internal and external characteristics are plotted in different colors.
Proportions (Depth & Table): The depth of your diamond is a percent figure, which shows the percent of the depth (table to culet) relative to the width of the stone. The table of your diamond refers to its largest facet, which you see when the diamond is face-up. The table percent signifies the table size as a percentage of the diamond’s average width.
Girdle: This part of your diamond grading report describes the dividing line between the crown (top part of the stone) and the pavilion (bottom part of the stone). A faceted girdle can sometimes improve the value of your diamond.
Culet: Not all diamonds have a culet, which is the facet on the pointy bottom part of a diamond. A large cutlet can detract from a diamond’s brilliance, especially if your diamond is round or brilliant. In general, if there is a culet, you want it to be very small.
For information on how to sell diamonds for cash today, contact San Diego Jewelry Buyers for a free, no hassle, appraisal.
We are San Diego’s trusted A+ BBB rated diamond buyer and estate jewelry buyer.
Where & How to Sell a Diamond for Cash
Do you want to sell a diamond in San Diego? Before selling a large diamond or expensive diamond jewelry, you should know the quality of your diamond(s). In this article from San Diego Jewelry Buyers (SDJB), we will first explain how to sell a diamond by covering the basics regarding the quality valuation of diamonds. Then we will explain where to sell a diamond by showing why SDJB has become the diamond buyer of choice for thousands of fine jewelry sellers in California and across the country.
You may have heard that the quality of a diamond is based on the 4 Cs. When you sell a diamond in San Diego, your California diamond buyer will first evaluate these four diamond characteristics. So, what are they? Let’s learn them:
Sell a Diamond: How to Evaluate My Diamond Color
Diamonds can occur in virtually any color, including white, blue, yellow, orange, red, green, pink, purple, brown, steel gray, and black. Fancy colored diamonds are those that exhibit an intense shade of color. Diamonds that are considered highest quality by the jewelry industry are ordinarily colorless or have a very faint bluish hue.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades diamonds using the following scale, with a D color rating being the highest and a Z color grade the lowest:
D, E, F: Colorless Diamonds
G, H, I, J: Near Colorless Diamonds
K, L, M: Faint Yellow Diamonds
H, O, P, Q, R: Very Light Yellow Diamonds
S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z: Light Yellow Diamonds
Fancy colored diamonds have a color intensity that is greater than the Z color grade. They are graded using a different grading scale, one that is similar to the scale used when grading colored gemstones. Certain rare fancy diamonds can be worth just as much or than a D color diamond. The diamond buyers at San Diego Jewelry Buyers are always looking to buy large diamonds in the D-J color grades and rare fancy colored diamonds, but we also will consider purchasing diamonds with lower color ratings.
Sell a Diamond: How to Evaluate My Diamond Clarity
The clarity of a diamond refers to the appearance of internal diamond characteristics called inclusions and surface defects called blemishes. If you want to sell a diamond in San Diego for the most cash, it should have both a high color rating and a high clarity rating. A high color grade when selling your diamond won’t matter much if the clarity grade is poor. Here is the scale that GIA uses when grading diamond clarity:
1) FL = A Flawless grade diamond that has no inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification.
2) IF Diamond = An Internally Flawless grade diamond that has no inclusions visible under 10x magnification. Only small blemishes can be seen on the diamond surface.
3) VVS Diamond = A Very, Very Slightly Included grade diamond that has tiny inclusions that are difficult for a trained grader to see under 10x magnification. The VVS category is divided into two grades: VVS1 and VVS2, the former being the better.
4) VS Diamond = A Very Slightly Included grade diamond that has minor inclusions that are difficult to somewhat easy for a trained grader to see when viewed under 10x magnification. The VS category is also divided into two grades: VS1 and VS2.
5) SI Diamond = A Slightly Included grade diamond that has noticeable inclusions that are easy to very easy for a trained grader to see when viewed under 10x magnification.
6) I Diamond = An Included grade diamond has obvious inclusions that are clearly visible to a trained grader under 10x magnification. Included grade diamonds also have inclusions that usually are visible without magnification which threaten the durability of the stone.
San Diego Jewelry Buyers specializes in purchasing diamonds with a VS clarity grade or better. Our diamond buyers consistently make best cash offers on high quality loose diamonds and fine jewelry set with high clarity diamonds.
Sell a Diamond: How to Evaluate My Diamond Cut
A diamond cut refers to the way in which your diamond was cut for polishing and is related to the symmetry and proportion of your diamond’s facets (flat sides). A diamond cut does not refer to the shape of your diamond (i.e. round, heart, pear, marquise, etc.) The better your diamond has been cut, the more luminosity it will have-and likewise it will be worth more.
On a GIA grading report the cut ratings are: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. This rating system was established in 2006. So earlier diamond grading reports will not show this ranking. At San Diego Jewelry Buyers, our diamond buyers purchase both antique cut diamonds and modern cut diamonds from famous luxury brands, such as Tiffany, Cartier, and Harry Winston. Hearts On Fire is a newer, lesser-known diamond brand that produces ideal cut diamonds of the highest cut grade, making it one of the most sought after diamonds on the market today, and a diamond brand that San Diego Jewelry Buyers purchases for a premium cash price.
Sell a Diamond: How to Evaluate My Diamond Carat Size
Carat size is the easiest diamond characteristic for consumers to evaluate. One carat equals 200 milligrams. For diamonds less than 1 carat, the measurement is often stated in points-one point being equal to one one-hundredth of a carat. Everything else being equal, the price per carat increases with carat weight because larger diamonds are more rare and desirable for use in fine jewelry.
What to keep in mind about carat weight when trying to sell a diamond for cash is that there are sharp jumps in price/value at certain carat weights. For example, a 0.99 carat diamond could bring a significantly lower cash offer from a diamond buyer than a comparable 1.01 carat diamond. This is because there is greater demand for diamonds that are one carat or more.
Sell My Diamond: How to Evaluate the Hidden Price Factor
Although the 4 Cs are important when evaluating the worth of a diamond, there is a hidden factor to consider when you want to sell a diamond or sell diamond jewelry for cash. We’ve mentioned it already in our discussion: Demand. When you go to sell a diamond to a San Diego diamond buyer, they will evaluate the demand for your diamond and at what price they can resell it. Therefore, when choosing a diamond buyer, you need to consider how that diamond buyer is evaluating demand and resale prices.
If your San Diego diamond buyer is a fine jewelry store, they likely are basing demand simply on what the demand is within their jewelry store. If you sell diamond jewelry online, the price will be based on the demand by visitors to the website. A big reason why San Diego Jewelry Buyers is rated as the #1 diamond buyer in Southern California is because we have multiple channels through which we evaluate the demand and resale price of your diamonds and jewelry.
SDJB resells diamond jewelry through an exclusive worldwide resell network that we’ve developed over decades, AND we resell fine jewelry in our showroom, AND we resell diamonds online through our e-commerce relationships. This gives our San Diego diamond buyers a much more accurate sense of the true resale value of your diamond jewelry, and allows us to pay you more of the cash you deserve.
Sell My Diamond: SDJB’s Owners Make the Biggest Difference
SDJB’s head diamond buyer Izhak Abu began his career as a professional diamond cutter in 1988 and is a recognized diamond expert with over twenty years of worldwide industry experience. Upon looking at your diamond, Izhak will know exactly its worth on the global market. If your diamond is a poor cut, he often will still buy it so that he can re-cut it to make it more valuable. Thanks to Izhak’s knowledge of the global diamond marketplace and his ability to recut diamonds, he is able to make cash offers on diamonds that are higher and more accurate than other Southern California diamond buyers, who lack his background as a diamond cutter and his international diamond experience.
“How to sell my diamond and jewelry now?” Selling diamond jewelry to SDJB is fast, secure, and easy. Simply call us at 800-557-9413 to arrange a free diamond appraisal, with absolutely no obligations.
How to Sell My Antique Diamond
In today’s knowledge article, SDJB’s diamond buyers will provide information on antique diamond cuts and answer the question “How can I sell my antique diamond?”. The first step in selling an antique diamond for cash is to make sure that your diamond is really an antique diamond. Is a 65 year old diamond an antique? No, if you are looking to sell a 65 year old loose diamond, this diamond would be considered a vintage diamond.
For a diamond to be an antique, it should be at least 100 years old-which is the age listed in government guidelines for determining antique jewelry. Now that we know how old an antique diamond must be, we can move on to classifying the most popular diamond cuts:
Antique Pointed Diamond: Found frequently in jewelry produced before and during the Georgian period (1714-1837), a pointed cut diamond is also known as a writing cut diamond. This simple antique diamond cut has eight facets (flat sides). If your antique diamond looks like two opposing pyramids, you’ve got a pointed cut diamond.
Antique Table Cut Diamond: Like a pointed cut diamond, the table cut diamond was relatively easy to produce. All the diamond cutter had to do was cut a little less than one half of a point from a pointed cut diamond to produce a flat table on the diamond. This flat diamond table is what was then displayed in the antique jewelry. The table cut diamond was very popular before and during the Georgian period
Antique Rose Cut Diamond: Things started to get a little more complicated with the introduction of the antique rose cut diamond in the 18th century. This more fashionable diamond cut came in two varieties: the single rose cut and the double rose cut. Both types of rose cut diamonds have a flat bottom, but a double rose cut diamond has two horizontal layers of triangular facets arranged symmetrically.
Antique Old Mine Cut Diamond: The complexity of diamond cutting increased with the introduction of antique brilliant cut diamonds like the old mine cut. Popular in 18th century Georgian jewelry and early to mid 19th century Victorian jewelry, an old mine cut diamond has all the facets of the present round brilliant cut diamond. But it does not have the same fire and precision because diamond cutting during this period was done by hand with less advanced tools. An old mine cut diamond usually has a square or cushion shape, rather than a round one, and a high table (flat surface at the top of the diamond). It is also sometimes referred to as a Peruzzi cut diamond, an antique cushion-cut diamond, or a triple-cut diamond.
Antique Old European Cut Diamond: Diamond cutting took another leap forward with the introduction of the Old European Cut diamond in the late 19th century-which was when the Victorian period was about to end and the Art Nouveau and Edwardian eras were getting ready to begin. A true forerunner to the modern brilliant cut diamond, the Old European Cut diamond has 58 facets and a round shape.
While simple antique diamond cuts like pointed cut diamonds and table cut diamonds can often be identified by non-professionals, it probably will be difficult for the average person to identify what type of diamond cut they have or what historical period their diamond is from. Since several antique diamond cuts were produced regularly over hundreds of years, it can be hard even for a professional jeweler to identify the exact age of many antique diamonds.
Before selling an antique diamond, it is a good idea to show your diamond to an estate buyer with proven expertise in antique diamonds and fine jewelry. Evaluating the worth of an antique diamond is much more difficult than appraising the value of a modern brilliant cut diamond or a branded diamond like Hearts on Fire. Your diamond buyer must be able to:
1) Assess how rare your antique diamond is.
2) Assess how well the diamond has been cut in comparison to other antique diamonds which were cut during the same historical period.
3) Assess how unique the antique diamond is in relationship to other diamonds produced during the same period.
4) Assess how much demand there is for your antique diamond (and antique jewelry if applicable) in the worldwide estate jewelry marketplace.
Where to Sell My Antique Diamond
Deciding where to sell an antique diamond therefore isn’t something to be done without investigating the potential buyer’s credentials and reputation. Customers across the United States often choose San Diego Jewelry Buyers (SDJB) as the best place to sell diamonds because we are an established diamond buyer with an A+ rating at the Better Business Bureau. And we have a reputation for purchasing extraordinary diamonds valued into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Head diamond buyer Izhak Abu brings with him an intense knowledge of diamond cutting, having begun his career as a professional diamond cutter. As an international diamond expert and diamond cutter, Izhak can appraise the quality and rarity of antique diamond cuts to a degree that other estate diamond buyers (who lack his training and experience) cannot.
Because of Izhak’s expertise as an international diamond trader and diamond cutter, it becomes evident why so many people sell antique diamonds to SDJB versus selling an antique diamond at an auction house like Christie’s or Sotheby’s.
Selling an antique diamond via an auction house involves uncertainty and months of waiting. However, selling an antique diamond to San Diego Jewelry Buyers means an immediate fair cash offer based on an honest and accurate appraisal of your antique diamond’s value on the estate diamond and jewelry market worldwide.
Want more answers to questions about “How to sell my antique diamond?” Call San Diego Jewelry Buyers toll free at (800) 557-9413 to schedule a free consultation and diamond appraisal.
Want to sell an antique diamond ring? Click the following link for answers to “How to sell my antique diamond ring?“
How to Sell an Engagement Ring
The diamond buyers at San Diego Jewelry Buyers, San Diego County’s most prominent buyer of pre-owned diamonds, have put together the following list of tips and facts for women and men who want to sell engagement rings. Before you sell a diamond engagement ring, please take some time to consider whether the relationship is over. Feelings can change. Don’t make a rash decision to “sell my engagement ring” only to regret it later.
1) Unless your engagement ring is from a highly sought after brand such as Tiffany or Harry Winston, it is the diamond that holds most of the worth. The band itself will likely be melted down at scrap metal prices by the diamond buyer.
2) The retail price that was paid for your diamond engagement ring (even if it was advertised at “wholesale” prices) was likely at least triple the manufacturing cost.
3) It is often difficult to sell diamond engagement rings to those couples who are considering marriage, as the couple often considers the ring to hold bad karma.
4) If the ring was appraised in the past for insurance purposes, keep in mind that this was the estimated retail value, and will not be close to what you can expect from a San Diego diamond buyer. If you decide to get your engagement ring appraised before you resell it, be sure to tell the appraiser that you would like a re-sell (or wholesale) price estimate.
5) Be sure to include any diamond certification papers when selling your engagement ring. The most respected is the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Diamond Grading Report, which makes it much easier for the buyer to evaluate your ring’s proper value.
6) You often can get a better price for your engagement ring if you can pair it with other bridal jewelry, such as a matching wedding band and bridal earrings.
7) Women who are now in the process of getting a divorce, wait until the divorce is complete before they sell engagement rings and other bridal related jewelry. Feelings among married couples often change at the last minute. And you don’t want to be in the position of losing your engagement ring and wedding band forever should you and your husband reconcile. If you are in need of money, consider using less sentimental jewelry as collateral for a cash loan instead.
8) If you are getting a divorce, but have a daughter (and are not in a difficult financial position), you may want to consider holding on to your diamond engagement ring and passing it down to your daughter–not as an engagement ring, but as a symbol of the love that you and your husband shared, which produced the most valuable treasure in your life: her.
9) Go online and learn about the 4Cs (Cut, Carat, Clarity, and Color), which determines the value of the diamond in your engagement ring. The rule of thumb is that your diamond will attract a higher price if it has a popular cut (such as brilliant); a clarity of VSI (very small inclusions) or finer; a color of G or better; and it is 1 carat or more.
For more info on how to sell diamond engagement rings, contact San Diego Jewelry Buyers for a free, no hassle, appraisal.
For more information on selling diamond jewelry for the most cash, go to our article: How to Sell Diamond Jewelry.
We are San Diego’s trusted A+ BBB rated diamond buyer and gold jewelry buyer.
How To Sell Diamond Jewelry
There are a lot of reasons why families might be in a difficult financial position. Unemployment rates are high. Companies are downsizing. Banks have tightened lending. Home prices are far below their pre-recession levels. The situation is especially difficult for single parent families struggling to make ends meet. In response, many people have turned to jewelry boxes and diamond buyers as sources of quick cash to pay bills and attain financial peace of mind.
San Diego Jewelry Buyers (SDJB) is one of the country’s most recognized diamond buyers. SDJB purchases all types of diamond assets—including extraordinary jewels ordinarily sold at auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s. SDJB says that now is a good time to sell used diamonds and jewelry. Increased demand for diamond jewelry in Asia has pushed diamond prices higher this past year. That means customers can now receive more cash when selling diamond jewelry assets.
If you want to sell diamond jewelry, use some caution and common sense. It’s easier to be taken advantage of when selling diamonds versus selling gold. The value of your gold can be estimated by looking at the day’s spot price on the gold market. The value of diamond jewelry is more subjective. The best cash prices for pre-owned diamond jewelry are paid by dedicated diamond buyers like San Diego Jewelry Buyers, who have multiple resale channels locally, nationally, and worldwide. These channels help diamond buyers like SDJB give higher appraisals for used diamond jewelry. Higher diamond appraisals mean more cash for the seller.
San Diego Jewelry Buyers regularly offers tips to jewelry sellers. Here are answers to 4 common questions regarding how to sell diamond jewelry:
1) Should I get my diamond jewelry appraised?
Getting a formal written appraisal can be expensive. The price makes it not worth it for diamond jewelry valued at less than $2000—because remember the appraisal fee is reducing the cash you’ll have in hand when you sell your diamond jewelry. If you do seek a written appraisal, remember to ask the diamond appraiser to appraise the item’s resale or pre-owned market value.
The best route in most situations is to obtain a free diamond appraisal from a few different jewelry buyers or pawn shops. These verbal appraisals should give you a good idea of your item’s worth on the resale market. However, be aware that market appraisals from traditional jewelry stores may be inflated. This occurs because the jewelry store does not want you to know how high they mark up new diamond jewelry. Lastly, you always want a professional opinion on what a family heirloom might be worth. The item may be worth a lot more, or a lot less, than everyone in the family thinks.
2) What kind of cash offer can I expect for my diamond jewelry?
The retail price paid for diamonds or diamond jewelry is usually at least 3X the manufacturing cost—this applies even to those diamonds bought online or reportedly sold at “wholesale” prices. Therefore, do not expect to receive a cash offer that comes close to your jewelry’s original sales price or an appraisal value that was obtained for insurance purposes.
When researching prices on eBay, be sure to look at similar used items from the same brand/manufacturer. Also make sure to look at “Completed Listings” (under “Advanced Search”) to see what items actually sold for. Most the items you see listed on eBay as “Buy It Now” don’t actually end up selling at those prices. Either the pieces sit unsold for an indefinite period, or the seller ends up accepting a lower offer.
The “Completed Listings” prices for used diamond jewelry may be somewhat higher on eBay than those offered by a local diamond buyer. However, in some cases, a diamond buyer like San Diego Jewelry Buyers may pay you more because they already have individual buyers waiting. In either case, remember that a dedicated diamond buyer needs to make a profit in order to stay in business and provide their services.
3) Where can I sell my diamond jewelry?
When selling diamond jewelry, you have two options. You can sell your diamond to a business that purchases pre-owned diamonds (e.g. a jewelry buyer or pawn shop) or you can sell your diamond jewelry direct to the public. The benefit of selling direct to the public via an online auction site or classified ad is that you can often (but not always) get more cash for your item. The benefit of selling used diamonds to a trusted diamond buyer like SDJB is that it is more secure, easier, and faster.
When choosing a diamond buyer, the most important thing is trust. Look up the diamond buyer’s rating with the Better Business Bureau. Check out reliable reviews at online review sites like Yelp. To evaluate the honesty of the customer reviews, look for reviews that are spaced out over months and years. Be wary of positive reviews that go out of their way to name and criticize another business—as genuine reviewers rarely ever do this.
You can also sell diamond jewelry on consignment. This method of selling a diamond often results in more cash. However, consigning jewelry is only a practical solution if you have time to spare. The seller receives cash only after the item has been sold—which could take a number of weeks or months. San Diego Jewelry Buyers is one popular place where customers can sell diamonds, diamond jewelry, and other luxury merchandise on consignment. SDJB’s online consignment service allows diamond sellers to get more cash for their diamonds while never having to leave the comfort of their homes.
4) Is selling my diamond jewelry the right move?
There are few items more sentimental than diamond jewelry. A diamond ring, bracelet, or necklace usually carries with it enduring feelings of passion, love, and tenderness. Selling diamond jewelry is especially difficult if it came from someone who has now departed. Be sure to explore your feelings toward the diamond jewelry you are selling. Is your attachment greater than the cash you are going to receive? How deeply will you regret the sale in a year or two? Are there any other less sentimental assets that you might be able to sell if you need cash?
At the same time, remember that while “a diamond is forever,” it is just a material object. If you must sell diamond jewelry due to a hard financial situation, don’t kick yourself about it. It is only a symbol of affection and those symbols can be replaced. If the loved one who gave the diamond jewelry is gone, they would surely prefer that you use it to obtain some peace of mind than hold onto it for sentimental reasons.
San Diego Jewelry Buyers is an A+ BBB estate buyer and luxury pawnbroker. We are located on the ground floor of the Beaumanor Building in the historic Gaslamp Quarter of Downtown San Diego—on the NE corner of 6th Ave and E street. Our estate store and offices are just blocks from Horton Plaza Mall and Petco Park. For more info call (619) 236-9603.
How to Sell an Antique Diamond Ring
In this SDJB knowledge article, you will find information on antique diamond rings and how to sell an antique diamond ring for a fair cash price. The first thing to establish when selling an antique diamond ring is whether or not the diamond ring is actually an antique. Is a 50 year old diamond ring an antique? No, if you were to sell a 50 year old diamond ring, this ring would be considered vintage jewelry.
Most professional jewelers classify antique diamond rings as being those diamond rings which are at least 100 years old–this is also the age cited in government guidelines for the classification of antique jewelry. Now that we know the minimum age of an antique diamond ring, we can break things down even further. The jewelry making periods for antique diamond rings are as follows:
Georgian Jewelry (1714-1837) – Antique diamond rings from the Georgian period include pointed cut diamond rings, table cut diamond rings, antique rose cut diamond rings, old mine cut diamond rings, Mazarin cut diamond rings, and Peruzzi cut diamond rings (the last three diamond cuts being also referred to as old brilliant cut).
Victorian Jewelry (1837-1900) – Antique diamond rings from the Victorian period could include all those types of diamond rings cited under Georgian jewelry, as well as single cut diamond rings and old European cut diamond rings.
Art Nouveau Jewelry (1895-1915) – Antique diamond rings from the Art Nouveau period could include all of those mentioned above, as well as those diamond ring cuts we mention next for the coinciding Edwardian period.
Edwardian Jewelry (1901-1915) – Antique diamond rings from this period could include the previously mentioned diamond ring cuts, but more prominently we find during the Edwardian period the introduction of emerald-cut diamond rings, marquise cut diamond rings, baguette cut diamond rings, cushion cut diamond rings, and old European cut diamond rings.
Unless an antique diamond ring is a family heirloom, it is usually hard for the average person to identify what historical period their ring is from because antique diamond rings from different periods often share similarities in motifs and styling. It can be hard even for a professional jeweler to sometimes identify the exact age of an antique diamond ring.
That is why when selling an antique diamond ring it is important to consult with an estate jewelry buyer who has many years of experience buying and selling estate jewelry. Evaluating the worth of an antique diamond ring is much trickier than appraising the worth of a contemporary diamond ring. Your diamond ring buyer must be able to:
- Assess the rarity of your antique diamond ring.
- Assess the craftsmanship of your antique diamond ring in comparison to other diamond rings from the same jewelry making period.
- Asses the quality and uniqueness of the old diamond cut in relationship to antique diamond cuts from the same jewelry making era.
- Assess the demand for your antique diamond ring on the global antique jewelry and estate jewelry marketplace.
When choosing where to sell an antique diamond ring, you need to keep the four above skills in mind and evaluate whether or not your estate jewelry buyer has the required experience and qualifications.
Customers across the United States choose San Diego Jewelry Buyers (SDJB) as the best place to sell an antique diamond ring because it is an A+ BBB company that clearly has the expertise to accurately appraise the value of antique diamond rings. SDJB also has the financial resources to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for rare and highly valuable antique jewelry.
SDJB partner Izhak Abu is a diamond cutter and international diamond expert. As a professional diamond cutter, Izhak can assess the quality of cut in antique diamonds to a degree that other estate jewelry buyers (who lack his training and experience) cannot.
With Izhak’s 20+ years of experience as a diamond cutter and international diamond trader, it is easy to see why San Diego Jewelry Buyers has become a popular alternative to selling antique diamond rings at auction houses like Sotheby’s or Christie’s.
If you sell an antique diamond ring at auction, the process involves significant waits and uncertainty. However, when you sell antique diamond rings to San Diego Jewelry Buyers, you receive an immediate fair cash payment based on a highly accurate appraisal of your diamond ring’s estate value.
To schedule a free market appraisal of your antique diamond ring, call San Diego Jewelry Buyers toll free at: (800) 557-9413.
What is SDJB Paying Cash Today for a 1 Carat Round Diamond, G, VS1 Quality?
The cash price San Diego Jewelry Buyers is paying today for a 1 carat G,VS1 round diamond will depend on various factors related to the features of the particular diamond. But assuming that the diamond is GIA certified, is not damaged (no cracks or chips), is not treated (such as laser injected), has no flourescence, and has an excellent cut grade, polish and symmetry, the cash price we are paying is $6200 based on the September, 2011 Rapaport Diamond Report. This price will fluctuate according the current Rapaport Report, which is published monthly.
