We all have forsaken bangles and baubles lying about the bottoms of our jewelry boxes or dresser drawers, perhaps in need of repair, from a bygone romance or just hopelessly out of style.
If those pieces contain precious or semiprecious stones, you could turn your jewelry “clutter” into cash, but there are steps you should take to ensure that you’re dealing with a reputable jewelry buying company and getting a fair price.
1. Don’t be in a hurry. As a rule of thumb, it’s never a good idea to sell anything in a hurry,
especially jewelry. Not only will your chances of dealing with a less-than-ethical buyer increase if you hurry, but you won’t have enough time to do your homework.
2. Do your homework. Although there are only four stones in the world classified as “precious” (diamond, emerald, ruby and sapphire), there are anywhere from 130-200 semiprecious stones, depending on who you ask.
Technology has made it easier than ever to identify stones and learn a bit about them, but remember never to base any price expectations solely on what you learn online. Often, information you find there can be outdated and only an expert can determine the quality of your gemstone.
3. Find a certified, reputable appraiser. Next you’ll want to have your stone appraised by a reputable, certified expert, either by itself or as part of its setting. Once again, the internet is a great place to vet jewelry and gemstone buyers in your area.
Read reviews, ask your friends, check Better Business Bureau ratings and make sure, above all, that the appraiser has a received a gemological degree from a full-time certification program, ideally from a respected, recognized school like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Many reliable appraisers offer free estimates and it’s a good idea to get more than one, which can be easier said than done, depending on where you live. Remember, the appraisal price is meant to give you a “ballpark” idea of a gem’s current market value, but has no reflection on the amount you might be offered by a buyer.
4. Find a certified, reputable jewelry or gemstone buyer. Vetting a buyer is virtually the same as vetting an appraiser, since you’ll be once again asking friends, reading reviews, checking the BBB and looking for certification. Make sure to bring identification with you anytime you intend to sell or trade jewelry. Often, the person who buys your gemstone will be one of the same people who appraised it and there is nothing wrong with that, as long as they’ve met all your criteria and, using what you’ve learned, you believe they’ve offered you a fair price.
If you live in Arizona or surrounding areas and are looking for a jewelry buyer that not only has an A+ BBB rating, sterling customer testimonials, and a 5-Star Yelp! rating, but also offers free estimates from GIA-certified gemologists, look no farther than Scottsdale’s own award-winning Southwest Jewelry Buyers.
In fact, all Southwest Jewelry Buyer’s gemstone specialists hold a GIA gemology degree and are known for being among the most knowledgeable, honest, discrete and personable experts in their field. But don’t take our word for it – our reviews speak for themselves. Click here for questions or to schedule an appointment today.