Whether you’re an avid gemstone collector or you came across loose gemstones by accident (like if they fell out of your pieces of jewelry), you may be asking where is the best place to sell your stones for the best price and minimal hassle. For the best possible experience, you’ll want to ditch the retail stores and online buyers and go straight to your local Westminster pawn shop.
The Problem With Other Gemstone Buyers
You may think that visiting a retail jewelry store or throwing up an online listing is the best way to go. However, there are some major issues that could arise with some of those problems being irreversible. But what could possibly go wrong?
Gems Can Get Lost In the Mail
Diamonds and other gemstones are commonly lost in transit due to their small, light packaging. This is what makes mail-in offers incredibly risky and often not worth taking a chance on. You could be cashing in on a diamond priced at thousands of dollars only to be lost and never seen again. This is why you should limit your options to places where you can conduct your business transactions in person to ensure that the buyer receives the item.
Online Buyers May Make False Claims
Many online buyers will use the reason listed above as an excuse to not pay for their gemstones or anything else that they “bought”. They’ll claim that they had never received the item even if they did and either ask for a refund or refuse to pay. Mailing in general is full of uncertainties from both ends. Since most gemstones are one-of-a-kind, it’s not like you can easily replenish your stock and try again. What’s done is done, and all you’re left with is an empty wallet.
You Won’t Get the Best Price
Since the online marketplace is full of ordinary people who are just looking for the lowest prices, you’ll likely have to lowball the value of your gemstones just to get them sold at all. Even if you take your stones to a jewelry store, jewelers typically prioritize items that they can immediately resell which means they may not be interested in your loose stones enough to buy them from you. If a jeweler does decide to buy your stones, you shouldn’t expect to get a very fair price.
Why Selling Gemstones at a Pawn Shop Is Better
Selling your loose diamonds and gemstones at a Westminster pawn shop is a guaranteed way to get a much fairer price and better service. Rather than basing their pricing system on factors and situations that only benefit themselves, pawn shops will buy your stones at face value and are more likely to honor the current market price for your gemstones (although it still wouldn’t hurt to know how to negotiate). If you’re a bit wary about a pawnbroker not understanding the true value of your gems, there are pawn shops in Westminster that are trained and qualified to accurately and fairly appraise your gemstone collection as well as any other jewelry-related item.
The best part about selling to a pawn shop is that you don’t even need to wait for any multi-day procedures. You are able to walk in and sell your gems in a matter of minutes so you can get your money faster. If you do decide to visit your Westminster pawn shop, pay mind to these useful tips:
- Learn more about the item you wish to sell
- Read a quick guide on how to negotiate
- Let the pawnbroker name a price first
- Don’t settle, learn when to walk away
Identifying Your Gemstone
Even if you don’t know much about gemstones, there are certain qualities that you’ll be able to see in your collection once you know what to look for. First off, if you own a diamond, ruby, emerald, or sapphire, then you’re in luck! Those four types are considered precious stones and are automatically worth more than any other kind of stone in the lower semi-precious category. Moving on, there are certain characteristics that determine the final value of every gem.
Cut
This includes the shape and the way it was chiseled. There can be different styles of cut for the crown and the pavilion that lies underneath, with a few of the most common cuts being the princess, round, radiant, and brilliant styles.
Color
The color of the gem goes far beyond “rubies are red” and “emeralds are green”. Diamonds are typically judged on their color because the shade can be anywhere from pure white to murky yellow. We don’t need to tell you that the whiter the diamond, the more valuable it is.
Clarity
The clarity of a gemstone is determined at the same moment the gem is formed. If there were any impurities present at the time of formation, it will affect the clarity rating of the gem later on. This is why diamonds and other stones with high clarity are considered extremely rare since there’s not much you can do to enhance this trait after the fact.
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Carat
A gemstone’s carat is relative to its overall weight. The heavier the diamond or gemstone, the more it’s likely to be worth. Pawn shops that are licensed to appraise jewelry have the necessary scales to weigh gemstones, although this is also something that can be done at home with the right tools.
Where to Sell Loose Diamonds and Gemstones In Westminster
At Westminster Mega Pawn, you can sell all of your loose diamonds and gemstones for the best prices in town. All transactions are swift and professional for your convenience and with friendly service that will have you feeling comfortable and confident with every visit. Call 714-893-0555 for more information.