our Archive for Jewelry Category
Where to Sell Rubies – Sell Ruby Rings & Jewelry
Although this consumer article focuses on where to sell ruby jewelry in San Diego, the tips apply to selling ruby jewelry anywhere in the country.
If you want to sell ruby rings, ruby necklaces, or even loose rubies, you have several choices in San Diego: 1) You can sell ruby jewelry to a San Diego pawn shop or jewelry store; 2) You can sell ruby jewelry at an online auction website like eBay; or 3) You can sell ruby rings and other ruby jewelry to a dedicated California jewelry buyer or consignment store.
The two big questions on the mind of most people selling rubies in San Diego are: Where can I sell my ruby jewelry for the most money? And Where can I sell ruby jewelry quickly and easily? Remember both of these questions when choosing the best place to sell ruby necklaces, earrings, and ruby gemstones.
Selling Ruby Jewelry to a California Jewelry Store or Pawn Shop
A jewelry store or pawn shop is often the first place people think might be good places to sell a ruby ring and other fine jewelry. Most San Diego jewelry stores did not buy used jewelry in the past unless they were an estate jeweler. However, with today’s high gold prices, many San Diego jewelry stores are now buying gold jewelry set with rubies from the public.
You receive cash immediately when selling ruby earrings, pendants, and other fine jewelry to a San Diego jewelry store. But this cash payment may not be as much as you deserve. The typical San Diego jewelry store is in the business of selling NEW fine jewelry to buyers. Buying used ruby jewelry from the public is a secondary business practice. Most San Diego jewelry stores aren’t knowledgeable in the appraisal of previously-owned ruby jewelry and will appraise the item based on how much they think they can resell the item in their store.
The same goes for selling ruby jewelry to a San Diego pawn shop. The average San Diego pawn shop is in the business of providing collateral loans on used merchandise like musical instruments and electronic devices. Most San Diego pawn shops estimate the value of you pre-owned ruby jewelry by how much they think they can resell it within their pawn shop instead of appraising your item’s value on the global estate jewelry market.
Before you sell ruby jewelry to a California jewelry store or pawn shop, find out how much knowledge they have in estate jewelry and ask them to explain how they are estimating the value of your ruby jewelry and coming up with a cash offer. Make sure they answer your questions to your full satisfaction.
Selling Ruby Jewelry on eBay
Some people sell ruby jewelry on eBay and other online auction sites successfully and are happy with how much cash they have received. Others are not so lucky when selling ruby rings, necklaces, and brooches. Many sellers are unable to sell ruby jewelry for a fair price online because potential buyers are concerned that they will be buying fake ruby jewelry or jewelry set with low quality rubies.
The world market is full of poor quality and fake rubies that can find their way to eBay and other online auction sites. Sellers who are successful when selling ruby jewelry online tend to be those people who have sold dozens of other items at that particular website previously.
Professional jewelers usual get the best prices when selling used ruby jewelry online because buyers find them trustworthy. Professional estate jewelry sellers usually take excellent photographs of the ruby jewelry they are selling, and have online storefronts that are visited by thousands of online buyers looking to buy pre-owned fine jewelry.
The amount of time it takes to sell ruby jewelry online is another important consideration. Selling ruby jewelry on an auction website like eBay is not an option for people who need cash now because it could take over a month to receive a fair cash offer, and you might not end up with a good cash offer at all.
Selling Your Ruby Jewelry to an Estate Jewelry Buyer or San Diego Consignment Shop
When you sell ruby jewelry to a dedicated estate jewelry buyer, you receive cash today. In addition to that, an estate jeweler is in the business of buying and selling ruby jewelry from the public. They are experts in appraising the resale value of all types of precious gemstone jewelry and base their appraisal on an extensive network of individual collectors and retailers.
Because of their estate jewelry expertise, you likely will receive a better cash offer from a dedicated jewelry buyer in San Diego than you will at your neighborhood pawn shop or fine jewelers. San Diego estate jewelers also provide sellers with valuable information if you are selling antique ruby jewelry or vintage ruby jewelry-sharing with you their knowledge about ruby rings and ruby gemstones.
Selling ruby jewelry via a San Diego consignment store is likely the best way to get the most cash for your ruby jewelry if you are willing to wait. The best San Diego consignment shops for selling ruby jewelry ate those that specialize in the sale of pre-owned luxury items like diamond jewelry and designer handbags.
That is why so many people sell ruby jewelry to San Diego Jewelry Buyers. We are an A+ BBB dedicated jewelry buyer that also provides luxury consignment services through our sister company Authentic Luxury Goods. Whether you want to sell a ruby ring direct to us or sell ruby jewelry on consignment, San Diego Jewelry Buyers will help you get more cash for ruby jewelry.
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 Jewelry to Estate Buyers
1. Before talking about how to sell jewelry, let’s define what estate jewelry is–since there is some confusion over this term. Estate jewelry is any used jewelry (i.e. previously owned). Antique jewelry, on the other hand, usually refers to any jewelry that is at least 70 years old.
2. As with any kind of used product, the value of your estate jewelry will be based largely on what kind of demand there is for it (along with the intrinsic value of the gemstones and precious metals used). To help gauge the demand for your estate jewelry, try looking it up on e-bay and note the number of similar items for sale, and what the auction prices are.
3. Identifying your estate jewelry might not be easy if it is antique, since many old jewelry makers did not use hallmarks: those marks that identify the maker. If you are having trouble identifying your estate jewelry, you likely will want to have it appraised if you think it is worth over $1000. Before doing so, please read our article on jewelry appraising and appraisers in San Diego.
4. Inspect your estate jewelry closely (under a magnifying glass if possible), and look for any solder marks. Any signs of solder marks in your estate jewelry will lower its value. Also look for any tiny cracks in the gemstones, which will also lower the piece’s value. Use a penlight also to help you spot hairline cracks.
5. Take note that a lot of Art Deco period jewelry contains synthetic stones, while much “Orient” jewelry from the ‘60s are reproductions of more valuable estate jewelry, with white gold sometimes being used instead of platinum. Natural gemstones are valued at prices many times higher than synthetic stones.
6. It is often more difficult to sell your estate bridal jewelry (especially used wedding bands) due to superstitious reasons, and the fear that they might carry bad luck.
7. If your estate jewelry is signed from a leading jewelry maker or brand, such as Cartier, George Jensen, Tiffany, Van Cleef & Arpels, Lalique, or Boucheron, this jewelry will likely be worth at least double that of a similar unsigned piece of estate jewelry.
8. While damaged or broken estate jewelry is usually not worth the restoration costs, (because the jewelry will just be melted down anyway), if your estate jewelry is from a leading, highly sought-after, brand, then restoration might be considered. Consult with a local San Diego jeweler who offers repair services.
9. If you are trying to sell estate jewelry via an online auction site or some other retail outlet, be sure to have it properly cleaned. If you are unsure at all about how to properly clean your estate jewelry, have a professional do it. It won’t cost much, and many San Diego jewelers offer cleaning as a free service to their established customers.
10. If your estate jewelry is rare and of very high value, you might consider selling it to a leading auction house, such as Christie’s or Sotheby’s. One drawback though is that you will often have to wait a few months before your estate jewelry gets put up for auction, which doesn’t help if you need cash now for your estate jewelry.
11. Finding another consumer in San Diego to buy your estate jewelry is usually the most profitable avenue to sell jewelry; but this often can be a time-consuming process. Before taking this avenue, you should put a price on what your time and energy is worth. Then evaluate if it makes sense to spend 10-20 hours or more, over several weeks, trying to find a buyer for your estate jewelry, just to make a little extra money over what a good jewelry buyer would offer you.
12. Protect yourself! If you sell jewelry to a stranger, never meet the potential jewelry buyer in your house. Meet the buyer in a public place, like a shopping mall or restaurant. Even better, meet at the potential buyer’s bank. That way, if the buyer is interested in your fine jewelry, they can get the cash right away, and you can complete the transaction in a safe, secure, environment.
14. If you need cash quick and go to sell jewelry at a San Diego pawn shop, keep in mind that the price you will be offered will likely be based only on the scrap metal price and the intrinsic value of the gemstone. For designer pieces, whose value is enhanced by style, brand, and craftsmanship, it is best to consult with a buyer, like San Diego Jewelry Buyers, which specializes in fine branded jewelry.
For more info on how to 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 jewelry buyer and estate buyer.
What is the Difference Between Estate Jewelry, Vintage Jewelry & Antique Jewelry?
Estate jewelry refers to any second-hand or pre-owned jewelry. Antique jewelry, on the other hand, usually refers to any jewelry that is at least 70 years old. This jewelry might also be described as “vintage,” although many estate jewelers reserve the term “vintage” to describe jewelry that was manufactured from 1920 thru the 1930s. You can buy and sell estate, antique, and vintage jewelry with San Diego Jewelry Buyers with total confidence. We’ve been in the estate jewelry business for decades and have resale contacts nationwide.
