our Archive for Jewelry Category
What does the pawnbroker’s symbol mean?
The pawnbroker’s symbol is three spheres suspended from a bar. The three sphere symbol has its origin to the Italian province of Lombardy, where pawn shop banking originated under the name of Lombard banking. The three golden spheres were originally the symbol which medieval Lombard merchants hung in front of their houses. Historians think that the golden spheres were originally three flat gold coins but later were converted into spheres to better attract attention.
Finding the Right Place to Sell Your Jewelry: Credentials & Reputation Matter Most
SAN DIEGO, CA, July 22, 2010
San Diego Jewelry Buyers & Loans (SDJBL), the A+ BBB estate jewelry buyer in San Diego County, has issued a public statement regarding the exceptional qualifications, credentials, and experience of its diamond appraisers and antique jewelry buyers. “Our company is well known for its outstanding buying offers and customer service,” says an SDJB spokesperson, “and we felt that it’s time that we explained more thoroughly why our staff has the special reputation that it does among our customers.”
According to SDJB, all of its estate diamond buyers must be Graduate Gemologists from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which is the foremost gemological accreditation school in the world. Furthermore, some of his antique jewelry buyers and diamond jewelry appraisers have additional certification as bench jewelers or jewelry designers.
In addition to their formal training, all estate buyers and jewelry appraisers at SDJB undergo a thorough on-the-job training program that involves how to assess the real worth of heirloom jewelry, important jewels, high grade Swiss watches, and large rare diamonds.
An important figure in the SDJB training program is partner and co-owner Peter Harvey. Harvey’s 30-year track record as a watch collector, diamond buyer, and elite pawnbroker has earned him hall of fame status in the trade. His many years as one of the country’s most prominent jewelry buyers and estate liquidators is chock full of stories involving million-dollar fancy colored diamonds, collectible watches auctioned for six and seven figures, and rare discoveries of extraordinary jewels. As an active partner in the business, Harvey fills the role of senior buyer, as well as mentor to the entire staff.
San Diego Jewelry Buyers’ rigorous apprentice system is what enables its impressive buying offers for large diamonds and fine jewelry from the Art Deco, Edwardian, and Victorian periods, from classic brands such as Cartier and Tiffany, and from today’s most popular jewelry designers. However, the company’s reputation does not rest only on its large cash payments. Customer service is an important part of SDJB’s success.
“Everything hinges on customer service,” says SDJB. “Just because we deal mostly in large-ticket items, doesn’t mean we have to act like prima donnas. We try to instill in the staff every day the same principles I work by: treat every customer like they are royalty. Treat them like they’ve just arrived for their presidential suite at the Ritz-Carlton. Whether they have a dollar in their pocket, or ten million dollars in their bank account, we roll out the red carpet for every customer who walks in our store. Respect is something we do not put a price tag on.”
In return for this emphasis on attentive customer service and deep professional knowledge, customers have rewarded San Diego Jewelry Buyers’ with dozens of five star reviews and an expanding word of mouth campaign that has made the company not only the leading buyer of estate jewelry, collectible watches, and large diamonds in San Diego County, but one of the top buyers of luxury assets in the country. In addition, as one of the most trusted and respected gold buyers in California, SDJB was featured by KUSI TV in its investigative report on how to sell gold jewelry safely.
To learn more about San Diego Jewelry Buyers’ asset liquidation and collateral loan services, call them toll-free at 800-557-9413, or visit the company’s website at:
A Primer from San Diego Platinum Buyers
As San Diego’s most prominent platinum buyer, we here at San Diego Jewelry Buyers love all things platinum. Those who own platinum rings and jewelry or want to sell platinum to a local buyer should find the following article about platinum very interesting.
Platinum’s current march to the forefront of the jewelry industry has been a steady and in many ways remarkable one. In the last dozen years platinum jewelry demand has more than doubled world-wide. Consumption in the United States has increased by a startling 1500% percent since 1992—while bullish China recently propelled itself past Japan to the pole position of platinum buyers. Many leading designers have worked in the precious metal for years, their creations highly sought after by Hollywood personalities. Not surprisingly, many smaller designers and manufacturers (realizing that platinum is not a fad) are beginning to take a look at the metal for the first time. This article is for them. What follows is a short primer about platinum’s rich and mysterious history, its characteristics, and its popularity in fine jewelry.
The story of platinum is both noble and mysterious. Found in the sarcophagi of ancient Egypt and the ruins of Pre-Incan civilizations, the metal disappeared from the archeological record until the Spanish conquistadors of the 16th century stumbled across it in South America. Underestimating the metal’s value, they gave it the name “platina”, meaning “little silver”, and tossed it back into the rivers to age. Platinum first debuted in Europe during the alchemy craze of the 1700s and picked up added steam when King Louis XVI declared it the only metal fit for kings. But it wasn’t until the 19th century that methods were discovered and perfected to make the tough metal malleable, thereby permitting the timeless creations of royal designers such as Fabergé and Cartier.
In the United States, platinum jewelry reached its peak of popularity prior to World War II, at which time platinum was classified as a strategic metal and its use in jewelry forbidden. Just like today, the platinum boom in America was driven by Hollywood, with celluloid stars such as Mae West and Marlena Dietrich adorning themselves in the white metal, while Jean Harlowe added an artful precis to the trend with her performance as the title character in Frank Capra’s 1930s film Platinum Blonde. More recently, celebrity couples like Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas have pledged their love with platinum rings.
So does platinum live up to all the hype? Is it deserving of its reputation as the noblest of all metals? In a word, yes. And the reasons can be traced to its uncommon physical attributes—the first of which we’ll say is its purity. Platinum’s purity is a frequent selling point to consumers. The platinum used in fine jewelry-making is most commonly alloyed with only 5% or 10% other metals, usually Palladium, Ruthenium, Cobalt, or Iridium. This purity not only appeals to a jewelry buyer’s desire to purchase a gift for a loved one which symbolizes their heart-felt emotion but also makes the platinum piece hypoallergenic and suitable for those with sensitive skin. Additionally, because the metal is naturally white, it does not require plating to maintain its white luster.
The international standards for marking the purity of platinum jewelry can be nutshelled like this: Only jewelry containing 950 parts or more per thousand can be marked with the word “Platinum”, while jewelry containing 850 to 900 parts may be marked with the parts percentage plus the abbreviation PT or PLAT (for example 850 PLAT or PT 900). Jewelry containing less than 500 parts platinum cannot be stamped with the word “Platinum” or any of its abbreviations.
The second of platinum’s singular characteristics is its strength. Platinum is the strongest of all the precious metals, with a density 1.7 times that of 24k gold. Because of its strength many of the world’s most famous diamonds such as the Star of Africa and the Koh-I-Noor have been set in platinum. Like the metal itself, a platinum prong setting is considered “dead”, meaning that it has little or no memory. The setting is therefore not prone to sagging and can be expected to protect a precious stone for generations. Its weight also adds substance to even the most delicate ladies rings, while resisting the damage of daily wear, which is one reason it is a favorite for bridal jewelry.
Platinum’s appearance, its cool moon-glow like luster, is incomparable and another precious attribute. Its subtle beauty, which enhances the brilliance of precious gemstones like no other metal, has appealed to designers both past and present because of its versatility. Capable of being combined dramatically with 18 karat gold, or used as a stand alone setting, platinum offers designers avenues of invention not offered by other metals. Recently platinum mixed with pink gold and pink colored gemstones has become a hot ticket item among many platinum jewelry buyers. Other designers have taken advantage of the discreet luxury that platinum exudes to market the sentimental looks of days gone by and developed vintage-inspired collections from the Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco periods.
Lastly, platinum is truly a rare metal. Its scarcity far exceeds that of its nearest competitors on the precious metals market—a popular analogy having been made that if all the platinum in the world were to be poured into an Olympic size swimming pool the depth wouldn’t rise above your ankles. This rarity appeals to consumers seeking special one-of-a kind jewelry. But the metal also brings with it price concerns for both consumers and manufacturers.
The majority of the supply on the platinum market comes from only two places on the globe, South Africa and Russia, and platinum prices have been ballooning in recent years. In 2008, platinum prices spiked at $2,252 per ounce, causing a slowing of demand in many markets. Currently, prices are fluctuating around $1,400. Although South African producers such as Lonmin Platinum have been expanding production levels, the demand from platinum buyers is also increasing, thus many forecasters believe that the days when platinum was priced below $1,000 are gone forever.
For information on how you can sell platinum for cash today, contact San Diego Jewelry Buyers for a free, no hassle, appraisal.
We are San Diego’s trusted A+ BBB rated platinum buyer and estate jewelry buyer.
Sell Silver: Facts from San Diego Silver Buyers
As San Diego’s #1 silver buyer, we here at San Diego Jewelry Buyers love all things silver. Those who own silver or want to sell silver to a local buyer might find the following facts about silver interesting.
1) A hoard of English silver acquired by Imelda and Ferdinand E. Marcos when he was President of the Philippines was auctioned in 1991 at Christie’s for $4.9 million, a record for a sale of silver.
2) By 269 B.C. Rome had adopted silver as part of its standard coinage, and the precious metal became the trading medium for merchants throughout the civilized world.
3) Since the 14th century, Sterling Silver (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper) has been the standard for authentic silverware in many countries.
4) From 1500 through 1800, Bolivia, Peru and Mexico were responsible for over 85 percent of the world’s production and trade in silver.
5) Today, Mexico is the only country currently using silver in its circulating coinage.
6) Modern demand for silver centers around three main pillars: industrial and decorative uses, photography, and jewelry & silverware.
7) Silver can achieve a more brilliant polish than gold because of its greater reflectivity.
8) Silver is the best electrical conductor of all metals.
9) Invisible silver is a transparent coating of silver on double pane thermal windows that helps us save energy.
10) The use of silver in high-performance bearings provides the wide margin of safety demanded by luxury automobile manufacturers like Rolls Royce and the producers of jet engines that power modern aircraft.
For information on how you can sell silver for cash today, contact San Diego Jewelry Buyers for a free, no hassle, appraisal.
We are San Diego’s trusted A+ BBB rated silver buyer and luxury pawn shop.
Where to Sell Sapphires – Sell Sapphire Jewelry
Note: While this article focuses on where to sell sapphire jewelry in San Diego, the advice applies to selling sapphire jewelry anywhere in the United States.
If you are looking to sell sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces, or even loose sapphires in San Diego, you have several choices: 1) You can try to sell sapphire jewelry online at a website like eBay; 2) You can try to sell sapphire jewelry to a San Diego jewelry store or pawn shop; or 3) You can sell sapphire rings and other sapphire jewelry to a dedicated San Diego jewelry buyer or consignment store.
When selling sapphires in San Diego the two primary concerns that sellers have are: Where can I sell my sapphire jewelry for the most cash? and Where can I sell sapphire jewelry in the quickest amount of time? You want to keep both of these questions in mind when choosing where to sell your sapphire rings, sapphire earrings, and other valuable sapphire jewelry.
Selling Sapphire Jewelry on eBay
Some sellers in San Diego do get good cash offers for their sapphire jewelry on eBay. But other sellers end up never being able to sell their sapphire pendants, rings, or necklaces-or they receive very low offers. The reason so many people fail to sell sapphire jewelry for a good price on eBay is because potential buyers are worried about buying imitation sapphire jewelry or jewelry set with very low quality stones.
There is a lot of imitation and poor quality sapphire jewelry in circulation, and much of that jewelry can land on eBay, despite the steps that eBay takes to protect buyers. The San Diegans who successfully sell sapphire jewelry on eBay are those sellers with an established eBay account and a long track record of positive buyer reviews.
The most successful sellers of used sapphire jewelry on eBay are those who are professional jewelers with bricks and mortar stores-as potential buyers trust these sellers the most. These business sellers also have the ability to take excellent photos of the sapphire jewelry they have for sale, and have eBay stores that are frequented by thousands of buyers looking for great deals on sapphire jewelry.
Lastly, there is the time issue. If you want extra cash right away, then selling sapphire jewelry on eBay is not your best option, as it could take weeks, or even months, to get a good cash offer and there is no guarantee that an acceptable cash offer will even materialize.
Selling Sapphire Jewelry to a San Diego Jewelry Store or Pawn Shop
When people are thinking about where to sell sapphire rings and other fine jewelry, the first place that often comes to mind is their local fine jeweler. In the past, most San Diego jewelry stores did not buy pre-owned jewelry back from the public unless they were an estate jeweler. However, with the huge surge in gold prices in recent years, many more California jewelry stores are buying previously-owned gold jewelry set with sapphires back from the public.
Unlike when selling used sapphire jewelry on eBay, you will get paid immediately when you sell sapphire necklaces, earrings, and other fine jewelry to a San Diego jewelry store. However, in many cases the amount of money you receive will not be as much cash as you deserve. The reason for this is that the average California jewelry store is in the business of selling NEW sapphire jewelry to customers. Their primary business is not buying USED sapphire jewelry back from the public. That means that the average San Diego jewelry store is not an expert on appraising the market value of pre-owned sapphire jewelry, nor do they have an expansive network of resale channels in which to sell your sapphire jewelry.
The situation is similar when selling sapphire jewelry to a San Diego pawn shop. While you will get paid immediately in cash, the typical California pawn shop is in the business of providing collateral loans on everything from guns to electronics to gold jewelry. Like the average California jewelry store, the ordinary San Diego pawn shop lacks expertise in estate jewelry appraising and resells sapphire jewelry only through its own showcases, not through an international resale network.
If you do sell sapphire jewelry to a San Diego jewelry store or pawn shop, make sure that they have many years of experience dealing with estate jewelry and ask them specifically how they are appraising the market value of your sapphire jewelry and arriving at their cash offer.
Selling Sapphire Jewelry to a Dedicated Jewelry Buyer or San Diego Consignment Store
When you sell your sapphire jewelry to a dedicated San Diego jewelry buyer, you get paid immediately in cash. So waiting for your payment is not an issue, as it is when selling sapphire jewelry on eBay. A California jewelry buyer’s primary business is the buying and selling of pre-owned sapphire jewelry and all types of estate jewelry set with diamond and precious gemstones. They are experts in appraising the value of estate jewelry (i.e. pre-owned jewelry) and they have developed an extensive network of buyers in which to resell your sapphire jewelry.
Because of their experience and expertise, you will likely get a better cash offer from a dedicated San Diego jewelry buyer than you will at an ordinary fine jewelry store or pawn shop. In addition, dedicated California jewelry buyers often are valuable resources of information if you are selling antique sapphire jewelry or vintage sapphire jewelry-sharing with you all they know about your sapphire ring, earrings, or other item.
If you don’t need a cash payment immediately, then selling your sapphire jewelry through a San Diego consignment shop is likely the best way to get the most cash for your jewelry. But you shouldn’t choose just any California consignment store to sell your sapphire jewelry. You want to deal with a San Diego consignment shop that specializes in the sale of used luxury items like fine jewelry.
Californians looking to sell sapphire jewelry often choose San Diego Jewelry Buyers because we are a well-known dedicated jewelry buyer who also offers luxury consignment services via our sister company Authentic Luxury Goods. So, whether you need cash right away, or are willing to wait a while, SDJB can get you the most cash for sapphire jewelry in San Diego.
Appraisals & San Diego Jewelry Appraisers
There is a lot of confusion surrounding jewelry appraising these days, especially among customers who are seeking to sell or get a cash loan on their pre-owned fine jewelry. At San Diego Jewelry Buyers we often get questions regarding jewelry appraisals. Sometimes these questions involve the price listed on an existing appraisal certificate; other times it is whether or not a customer should get their jewelry appraised–and if so, how to locate a reliable jewelry appraiser.
The following Q & A should eliminate much of that confusion and help you feel more confident when selling jewelry in San Diego.
1) When should I get my jewelry appraised? Jewelry appraising is a good idea if you want to cover your jewelry’s full value under an insurance policy. It is also wise if you have some vintage or antique jewelry which you are unsure of the value. But if you are looking to sell mass market fine jewelry that costs under $1500 retail, then appraisals are often a waste of money. Why? Because you usually can expect only 10%-30% of that jewelry’s retail value when you sell it. Therefore, the $50 (or more) that you spent on the appraisal is taking a big cut from the $100-$300 you are likely to receive in the end.
2) Why am I being offered so much less than the price on my appraisal certificate? Because the amount on the appraisal certificate is the potential retail value of your jewelry item. This price can be up to 1000% more than the manufacturer’s cost. An informal ‘resale’ appraisal conducted by a local jeweler is also often inflated because: a) the jeweler does not wish to reveal their markup percentages; and b) the jeweler works primarily with new jewelry and has little experience in the second-hand fine jewelry market.
3) What kind of vintage/antique jewelry should I get appraised? It is a good idea to get an appraisal on any antique jewelry that is signed and you are unsure of the value. Certain rare costume jewelry can sometimes be worth more than vintage gold jewelry. If you know the name of the jewelry manufacturer or designer, you can often save yourself some time and money by first looking them up online, and checking what their items are being sold for on auction sites like e-bay. If you live in an area with an auction house, check whether that house offers free appraisals. Many do.
4) How do I pick the right jewelry appraiser? Your appraiser should be a graduate gemologist from a recognized institution like GIA or someone with formal appraisal training who has been certified by an organization such as the American Society of Appraisers. In general, a good appraiser will have solid experience in all aspects of the jewelry business. Check their references.
5) How much should I pay a jewelry appraiser? The fee you pay should be on an hourly rate or a per piece rate. These rates vary but you can expect to pay at least $50 for valuation. Do not take your jewelry to an appraiser whose fee is a percentage of the value at which they appraise your item.
A Brief History of Pawn Shops & Pawnbrokers
To begin, what exactly is a pawn shop? The word “pawn” comes from the Latin word “pignus,” which means to pledge. When someone has an item of worth on which they would like to receive a monetary loan, they take that item to a broker who receives it as a pledge (aka collateral or pawn) in exchange for money. A pawn shop serves as that kind of broker.
Pawn shops have existed since ancient times, and are arguably humankind’s oldest financial institution. In China, the history of pawn-broking can be traced back some 3000 years, where it was regulated by Imperial authorities. In India the practice originated with the Marwari Jain community and today is conducted by agents called “saudagar”.
In the West, our current laws on the practice are derived from rules that were established during the Roman Empire. Although prohibited by the early Roman Catholic Church, Franciscan monks worked as pawnbrokers to aid the poor. The Orden de Menores Observantes de San Francisco, established in Italy in 1450, requested that borrowers make donations to the Church instead of paying interest.
In England pawn shops were introduced following the conquest of William the Conquerer, after which the “House of Lombard” was established as a large medieval banking family and pawnbroker in England. The Lombards helped Edward III finance his kingdom’s war with France by accepting the King’s jewels and jewelry as collateral on substantial loans. The Lombard name itself is derived from the Italian province of Lombardy where pawn-broking services were called “Lombard” banking.
The ancient pawnbroker’s symbol of 3 suspended spheres can be traced to the practice of Lombard (aka pawn-broking) by Italy’s Medici family. Another famous pawn-broking story involves Queen Isabella of Spain who pawned royal jewelry in order to finance Christopher Columbus’s trip to Western India, which turned out to be the discovery of the “New World.”
Today pawn shops can be found worldwide. And the interest rates vary widely. In Asia, some practices exist which are unique to the East. For example, in India pawnbrokers are allowed to go to people’s homes and solicit offers. While in China the counter of the shop is built high off the ground so that the customer has to reach up and offer their belongings (so as to protect the security of the pawnbroker). In Hong Kong the symbol of a pawn shop is a winged bat (signifying fortune) holding a coin (signifying benefits).
For information on SDJB’s elite pawn shop service, contact San Diego Jewelry Buyers for a free, no hassle, appraisal.
We are San Diego’s trusted A+ BBB rated luxury pawn shop and estate jewelry buyer.
Where to Sell Emeralds – Sell Emerald Jewelry
This SDJB knowledge article focuses on where to sell emerald jewelry in San Diego. However, the advice applies to selling emerald jewelry anywhere in the United States.
If you are looking to sell emerald rings, emerald necklaces, or even loose emeralds in San Diego, you have several choices: 1) You can try to sell emerald jewelry online at a website like eBay; 2) You can try to sell emerald jewelry to a California jewelry store or pawn shop; or 3) You can sell emerald rings and other emerald jewelry to a dedicated San Diego jewelry buyer or consignment shop.
When selling emeralds in San Diego the two main concerns that sellers have are: Where can I sell emerald jewelry in the quickest amount of time? and Where can I sell my emerald jewelry for the most money? You want to keep both of these questions in mind when choosing where to sell your emerald rings, emerald earrings, and other valuable emerald jewelry.
Selling Emerald Jewelry on eBay
Some Californians do get good cash offers for their emerald jewelry on eBay. But other sellers fail at selling their emerald rings, necklaces, and pendants-or they receive very low offers. The reason so many people are unable to sell emerald jewelry for a fair price on eBay is because potential buyers are worried about buying fake emerald jewelry or jewelry set with low quality emeralds.
There is a lot of poor quality and fake emerald jewelry in circulation, and much of that jewelry can appear on eBay, despite the measures that eBay takes to protect buyers. Californians who successfully sell emerald jewelry on eBay are those sellers who have been selling luxury items on eBay for a long time and have dozens of positive buyer reviews.
The sellers of previously-owned emerald jewelry who get the most cash on eBay are professional jewelers with a real world address-as potential buyers trust them the most. These business sellers also have the ability to take high-quality photos of the emerald jewelry they are selling, and have eBay stores that are visited by thousands of online buyers looking for deals on emerald jewelry.
Lastly, there is the issue of time. Selling emerald jewelry on eBay is not your best option for people who need cash quickly, as it could take any number of weeks to receive a fair cash offer and there is no guarantee that a good cash offer will even be made.
Selling Emerald Jewelry to a California Jewelry Store or Pawn Shop
When people wonder where to sell emerald rings and other fine jewelry, they often consider approaching a jewelry store. In the past, most California jewelry stores did not buy used jewelry unless they were an estate jeweler. But with gold prices surging in recent years, many more San Diego jewelry stores are buying back pre-owned gold jewelry set with emeralds and diamonds.
Unlike on eBay (where it could take months to get paid), you will get paid immediately when selling emerald earrings, necklaces, and other fine jewelry to a California jewelry store. However, the amount of cash that you receive may not be as much as you deserve. This is because the primary business of the average San Diego jewelry store is selling new fine jewelry to buyers, not purchasing pre-owned emerald jewelry from the public. The typical California jewelry store has little expertise in appraising the market value of used emerald jewelry and has nowhere to resell your jewelry except from its own showcases.
The same shortcomings generally apply when selling emerald jewelry to a California pawn shop. While you will receive an immediate cash payment, the average San Diego pawn shop is set up to provide collateral loans on everything from electronics and guns to musical instruments and gold jewelry. Like the average San Diego jewelry store, the ordinary California pawn shop is not an expert in the purchase of pre-owned emerald jewelry and resells the fine jewelry it buys only from its showcases instead of a global resale network of estate jewelry buyers.
If you do sell emerald jewelry to a California jewelry store or San Diego pawn shop, check whether they have substantial experience in estate jewelry and ask them to explain how they are appraising the market value of your emerald jewelry and arriving at their cash offer.
Selling Emerald Jewelry to a Dedicated Jewelry Buyer or California Consignment Shop
When you sell emerald jewelry to a dedicated California jewelry buyer, you get paid immediately in cash. Waiting for your payment therefore is not a problem, as it is when selling emerald jewelry on eBay. A San Diego jewelry buyer’s primary business is the buying and selling of pre-owned emerald jewelry and all types of valuable estate jewelry. They are experts in appraising the value of pre-owned jewelry (i.e. estate jewelry) and they have an established network of buyers in which to resell your emerald jewelry.
Because of their expertise and experience, you likely will receive a better cash offer from a dedicated California jewelry buyer than you will at a typical pawn shop or fine jewelry store. San Diego jewelry buyers are also valuable resources of information if you are selling antique emerald jewelry or vintage emerald jewelry-sharing with you important information about your emerald ring, necklace, or other item.
If you don’t need cash right away, then selling emerald jewelry through a California consignment store is likely the best way to get the most cash for your emerald jewelry. But don’t just choose any consignment shop. You should sell your items with a San Diego consignment store that specializes in the sale of pre-owned luxury items like emerald jewelry.
People who want to sell emerald jewelry often choose San Diego Jewelry Buyers because we are a dedicated jewelry buyer with an A+ BBB rating who also offers luxury consignment services through our sister company Authentic Luxury Goods. Whether you need cash now or can wait a few weeks, SDJB will help you get more cash for emerald jewelry.
San Diego Guide: Sell & Pawn Jewelry
**The United States has over 12,000 businesses that buy and sell estate jewelry, watches, and diamonds. Not all are the same. When deciding on whom to entrust with your fine jewelry transaction, be selective, do research, and choose only those businesses that specialize and understand the current jewelry market.
**The best prices for fine diamond jewelry, fine gemstone jewelry, and designer gold jewelry are based on more than simple gold or gemstone weight. If you are going to sell jewelry in San Diego ask questions of the business you are considering doing business with. Make sure they demonstrate a clear understanding of jewelry materials, jewelry brands, and jewelry craftsmanship.
**Many who pawn jewelry find this an excellent way to maintain anonymity and protect their credit rating. San Diego Pawn Shops don’t do credit checks. If the customer can’t pay back the loan it doesn’t hurt their record. The loan operator simply keeps the collateral.
**If you sell jewelry, remember that there are several people who are involved in the transaction, all of whom need to make a profit margin to survive and continue offering their services. These include the San Diego gold refiners if the jewelry is being melted down; the re-sellers if your jewelry is being sold again; and of course the primary business who you are dealing with.
**It is not only gold jewelry which can be pawned or sold to provide customers with extra cash for their needs. Platinum and palladium jewelry can also be used. The prices for all precious metals are at very high levels, making now one of the best times to get a good return on the jewelry that is no longer worn.
**Not all jewelry can be resold or used as collateral. Very few San Diego businesses will accept costume jewelry, unless it a very rare item. And silver jewelry is worth only a fraction of what gold jewelry is worth, although some kinds of designer and/or antique silver jewelry can be valuable.
**Remember that 24K jewelry is pure gold, 18K is 75%, 14K is 58%, and 10K is 41.7%. For simple gold jewelry, you should be getting well above 50% of gold’s current trading price, otherwise known as the “spot price”. For name brand fine jewelry and designer pieces (such as Tiffany, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels) you can expect to get significantly more, depending on the condition of the piece, as well as the maker, and overall desirability.
**When you sell jewelry in San Diego, this is a “green” act, a method of recycling that diminishes the need for increased mining of gold and gemstones. In addition, when platinum is melted down it often finds its way into new car engines, where it serves as a catalyst in devices that remove automotive pollutants.
**Beware of sending your fine gemstone jewelry through the mail to gold buyers and so-called “gold refineries”. There is always an unnecessary risk involved by allowing your fine jewelry to leave your sight.
**When dealing with an unknown business it is always a good idea to search for complaints filed against a company with the Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org/ and other online consumer sites.
**It is estimated that 25% of customers walk away from a loan based on product collateral. Be aware of this and do not risk using an important family heirloom for a loan. If your jewelry is melted down it is lost forever.
**To ensure the best price for gold jewelry, deal only with those buyers who set their scales in grams. Some San Diego gold buyers set their scales in penny weight (1.55 grams), which likely means less money for you.
**Avoid those businesses which charge an unreasonably high interest rate on their loans. In states like Texas the legal rate for short term loans can go as high as 240%! Do not allow a troubling financial situation force you into such a loan arrangement. There are always businesses to be found that will charge you a reasonable interest rate. And if you need help, seek guidance from a free consumer credit management service, such as: http://www.debt-mgt.org/ or http://www.familycredit.org/.
For information on SDJB’s elite pawn shop service, contact San Diego Jewelry Buyers for a free, no hassle, appraisal.
We are San Diego’s trusted A+ BBB rated luxury pawnbroker and estate jewelry buyer.
Sell Estate Jewelry: Facts from Jewelry Buyers
As San Diego’s #1 estate jewelry buyer, we here at San Diego Jewelry Buyers love all things about fine jewelry. Jewelry lovers or those who want to sell jewelry to a local buyer might find the following facts about jewelry interesting.
1) In 2007, Christie’s auction house had jewelry sales totaling almost $400 million, an increase of 11% over 2006 totals and 27% over 2005.
2) The word jewelry is derived from the word jewel, which is the anglicized version of the Old French “jouel”.
3) During early times jewelry was created for practical uses such as wealth, storage, and pinning clothes together.
4) The longest continuous legacy of jewelry making in the world belongs to India, and stretches back 5000 years.
5) In ancient Rome, only certain ranks of people could wear rings.
6) Wedding rings for men first became a popular American tradition during the early 20th century.
7) Islam considers the wearing of gold by men to be a social taboo.
8) A popular symbol used in Jewish jewelry is the Hamsa (or “Hamesh hand”), which often features three fingers raised.
9) The modern jewelry movement began after World War II, and was fueled by the works of designers like Fulco Di Verdura and David Webb.
10) According to recent studies, the largest jewelry market is the United States with a market share of 30.8%, followed by Japan, India and China and the Middle East each with 8 – 9%, and Italy with 5%.
For information on how you can sell jewelry for cash today, contact San Diego Jewelry Buyers for a free, no hassle, appraisal.
We are San Diego’s trusted A+ BBB rated fine jewelry buyer and luxury pawn shop.
