Hidden Gems: Finding Jewelry in a Pawn Shop

A jewelry pawn shop a great place to go; not only are there pieces from every era and style, but you can slash the cost up to half of what you’d pay somewhere else. Here’s how to find the best place to buy and sell diamond jewelry at the best deals.

Get Smart

Before you do anything else, you’ll want to school yourself about the ins and outs of jewelry. Cuts, carats, settings, and the weight of different karats of gold, not just on paper, but in your actual hand, are all useful things to know.

Go to the Right Places

Knowing where the right places are starts with a little research. Do some recon by taking a look at who’s in your area. Check their websites to see what they specialize in and read their reviews. Those shops that specialize in jewelry should be at the top of your list.

Hone Your Haggling Skills

Before you even walk into a diamond pawn shop, you should definitely try your hand at haggling. Pawn shops have no qualms about negotiating a price. You can also bring one or more pieces of your unwanted jewelry to trade, which might get you even more off the price.

Know What You’re Getting

You probably don’t have the certification or know-how to put a value on jewelry, but your pawn shop should. They should also offer free jewelry appraisals. You’ll also want to examine the jewelry yourself, noting any flaws.

Then, ask if they will fix the jewelry for you and how much it’ll cost. If the jewelry has an inscription, ask if they can remove it. They may also be able to lengthen chains and bracelets, but you won’t know unless you ask.

No matter what kind of jewelry you want to buy, it should always have certification papers with it that tell you how much it was appraised at and how it was made. You should also be able to bring the piece back if you get a second opinion that doesn’t match the paper.

Keep an Open Mind

diamond jewelry on black backboard

The thing with jewelry at pawn shops is, something may not seem pretty to you but it might be a high-quality piece that your jeweler can take apart and make into a modern piece. Also, what you’re looking for might be in a totally different form. Say you need to buy gold for a pendant. You might find that gold in a ring or bracelet at a bargain price.

Get Your Jewelry from a Shop with 70 Years in the Business

GEM Pawnbrokers offers free appraisals at all our 24 NYC area locations. Because our staff members are GIA and JA certified, you can always trust what we tell you. Here’s the bottom line: There’s a reason why people come to us when they need to buy or sell their jewelry and other items. It’s because they’re always treated fairly by staff people who are great at what they do. Check us out: (718) 596-5626.

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