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Whether you are selling diamonds, gold, an engagement ring or other fine jewelry, or vintage or costume jewelry, you may choose to sell locally for immediate cash, and hopefully the highest price.

You may have normal fears of getting ripped off, or otherwise finding a legitimate buyer who will give you a fair price.

In this post I focus on sell how to sell fine jewelry, including gold and diamonds.

However, if you have unwanted costume or fashion jewelry, these posts are for you:

How to find reputable local jewelry buyers

3 places where you could “sell jewelry near me”

  1. Search for “pawnshop near me”
  2. Search for “jewelry buyer near me”

Where you could sell online (including CashforGoldUSA, Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace)

What you should do before you sell

How to decide whether to sell your jewelry (vs. keeping it)

A list of reasons you SHOULD NOT sell your jewelry 

Donate to a thrift store

For immediate cash for fine jewelry with gold, silver and diamonds, find a reputable pawnshop, jeweler or gold and diamond buyer.

While you might not have considered an online jewelry buyer, today there are several reputable companies that allow you to sell your fine gold, silver and diamond jewelry without leaving home, and get paid within 24 hours.

We detail the leading businesses below, and our top recommendation is CashforGoldUSA and their sister site Diamonds USA, with their A+ BBB rating, 24 hour payment and that they accept all gold, silver and diamonds.

How to find reputable jewelry buyers nearby

The logical place to start is with a Google search for “best place to sell jewelry near me,” if you want to start locally to sell your jewelry. We've made your search easy by including an embedded Google search tool below.

Instead of searching for jewelry buyers near me, jewelry sellers near me, jewelry purchasers near me, enter your ZIP code, and Google will do the rest. If you need cash now, you can use Google to find businesses that are open now:

google-maps-usa-image

The benefits of going to a nearby jewelry buyer are you can get cash immediately, support a local business, and work face-to-face with someone you trust.

The cons of selling locally is that you have to physically go into the store, which can be time-consuming and embarrassing.

To find a reputable local jewelry buyer in your community take these steps:

  • Ask local friends, family, neighbors for recommendations for a reputable gold, diamond buyer or jeweler in your community
  • Search the company's Yelp, Better Business Bureau and Google reviews
  • Visit in person, and get a quote
  • Visit multiple local businesses
  • You can also reach out to an online buyer, get a quote and see if they can beat local offers. Companies like CashforGold and Worthy will return your time for free, 100% insured, if you choose not to sell with them.

Here are a few local business you could start with:

CashforGoldUSA display ad

3 places where you could “sell jewelry near me”

1. Search for “pawnshop near me”

Pawn shops are prevalent in most communities, and while pawn brokers have a shady reputation overall, there are some quality businesses that will give you a fair price for your fine jewelry. However, that fair price is typically around 50% of the retail price of your diamond, and 50% to 80% of spot price, or melt price, of any gold.

2. Search for “jewelry buyer near me”

A jeweler near you will likely offer a free jewelry appraisal that can help you understand the quality and value of your item — whether or not you choose to sell to them.

Jewelry buyers might include a jeweler, cash-for-gold outfit, coin dealer, or metals exchange. They all work more or less the same: Offer you a payout based on the weight and karat of the gold or silver of your item, times that day's spot price. Diamonds are valued separately.

A trusted local jewelry store can be a very good place to sell your item — they will be knowledgeable about your necklace, ring or bracelet, offer a fair price and often a premium in store credit if you choose. Many jewelers pride themselves in building long-term relationships with customers, as do pawnbrokers and coin dealers.

We hired a writer to conduct a secret-shopper exercise to sell a 10k gold chain bracelet in her hometown of Raleigh, N.C. Here are the results:

Gold buyerBBB ratingBusiness typeFinal offer% of spot gold price*
CashforGoldUSAA+ (accredited since 2020Online gold buyer$41.4967%
Alloy MarketA- (accredited since 2023)Online gold buyer$41.4966%
Raleigh Gold JewelryA+ (accredited since 2008)Jewelry store$4064%
National PawnA+ (not accredited)Pawn shop$5079.5%
JewelRecycleA+ (accredited since 2009)Local gold buyer$5180%

Learn more about CashforGoldUSA in our review.

Where you could sell online

1. Search for “sell jewelry online” to find an online jewelry buyer

Selling jewelry online might make you nervous your piece will be lost, stolen, or you will get ripped off. 

However, online jewelry buying is a very competitive space, and therefore it encourages buyers to maintain good reputations online with users and reviews, as well as with their trade organizations, the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot and Reddit.

We outline top online fine jewelry buyers and jewelry auctions, which include:

These are all reputable jewelry buyers and marketpalces, but most take a couple of weeks to compete the process, and have minimum values of $1,000 or more.

For those and other reasons, our No. 1 recommendation for selling fine jewelry is CashforGoldUSA with its A+ BBB rating, 24-hour payment and more than 20 years in the business. They buy 100% of all real gold, silver and diamonds.

The experience works like this:

  1. Go to CashforGoldUSA and provide your address.
  2. You receive a free FedEx or USPS mailer, with a tracking number. 
  3. Receive an offer for your jewelry by phone or email. Accept or reject it.
  4. Get paid within 24 hours by direct deposit, paypal, Virtual Visa credit card, print-at-home check, check mailed overnight FedEx, check sent via USPS First Class mail
  5. 10% bonus if you send in your jewelry within 7 days.
  6. If you choose not to sell, return your item via insured, trackable FedEX for free.

Should you sell jewelry on The RealReal?

The RealReal is an online marketplace for luxury resale items, including fine jewelry. The site prices your consigned jewelry based on current market trends, and you get paid a commission up to 70% depending on the list price of your items.

The RealReal commission chart for the best place to sell jewelry near me.

The RealReal is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, but it has only 1.06 out of 5 stars, with numerous customers complaining about long wait times to process consigned items, items not being returned in the same condition they were sent, unapproved markdowns, and difficulty resolving issues with customer service. Trustpilot reviews are more positive, with the site boasting 4 out of 5 stars based on 35K+ reviews.

There is no guarantee that your item will sell on The RealReal, and successful jewelry sales there are by professional jewelers or others who have the ability to professionally photograph, display and market jewelry on the site. To consign with The RealReal, you’ll first have to schedule an appointment to meet with a representative and be accepted. 

The process of selling on eBay is similar: a lot of work to photograph, post, manage and ship items, while competing with professional jewelry sellers.

CashforGoldUSA display ad

Is it worth selling jewelry on Facebook marketplace?

The good thing about selling jewelry on Facebook marketplace is that you get to set your own price and don’t have to pay a commission. However, there are some cons/potential risks to be aware of: 

  • You may be selling your jewelry without understanding its actual value (unless you get a professional appraisal and lab report first), so you might be leaving money on the table listing below the item’s actual value — or over-pricing it, in which case it is unlikely to sell. 
  • You likely won’t reach as many quality buyers, which means you won’t get the highest possible price for your items. When you work with a professional gold or diamond buyer, they know how to photograph, market, price and sell fine jewelry to get the highest return.
  • Listings on Facebook marketplace are not anonymous, and potential buyers can see any public information showing on your profile. If you are posting valuable jewelry, you might become a potential target for thieves. Before you list anything, make sure no identifying information is accessible on your profile. However, this can set off red flags to any potential buyer.   
  • You’ll be handling transactions on your own, which means you need to be careful if you meet up with buyers. Pick a safe public place to deliver your items, and make sure no one tries to follow you home. If you plan to mail items to a buyer, consider investing in a PO Box to list as your return address.

Is it safe to sell items under a “Craigslist jewelry for sale by owner” listing? What about Poshmark

Jewelry sales are best left to professional buyers like CashforGoldUSA who will know how to prepare, photograph, and market your jewelry. You are unlikely to find as many (or any) high-quality buyers on Craigslist.

The safety risks of selling on Craigslist are even higher than on Facebook marketplace because you can’t see anything about the person who wants to buy your items.  

23 sites like Craigslist to buy or sell stuff

Poshmark is an online consignment platform where individuals post their items to sell directly to the public. Again, unless you are investing in launching an online store on the platform, it makes more sense to sell a few jewelry items directly to a local or online jewelry buyer — typically for scrap.

Is it worth selling jewelry through a consignment shop?

Selling on consignment can be worthwhile for those with professional experience and multiple pieces of branded or otherwise very valuable jewelry. Most gold, diamond and gemstone jewelry will be sold for scrap value, which we recommend you take to any of the options mentioned above: pawnbrokers, jewelers, cash-for-gold outfits, or an online gold buyer.

Can you resell jewelry back to jewelry stores?

You may want to return your engagement ring or other jewelry back to the store where you bought it — or participate in a resell program from Tiffany, Cartier, Kay Jewelers, and Zales.

While jewelers will not typically buy back jewelry they sold you after a 30-day window, some retailers do have trade-up programs that allow you to cash in the value of your current diamond and apply that to a more expensive piece of jewelry, or larger center diamond.

What about diamond upgrades and trade-ins?

Local jewelers, as well as some national jewelry stores, offer diamond upgrade and trade-in services, in which they will evaluate your jewelry, offer you a sum that you can then apply to another, more expensive piece of jewelry:

  • Kay Jewelers diamond upgrade and trade-in services
  • Jared diamond upgrade and trade-in services
  • Tiffany diamond upgrade policy
  • Nordstrom diamond upgrade policy

This list is, in general, legitimate jewelry retailers. But if you are looking to sell a ring, watch or other jewelry for the most cash, upgrade and trade-in services are not typically the best route. Why?

  • A local jewelry store — including a national chain — will not provide a certified lab report on your jewelry, so unless you obtain one on your own, you have to take the jeweler’s valuation of your current diamond at face value. In other words, Kay Jewelers, Jared, Nordstrom or Zales will extend an estimated resale value of what your diamond is worth — but you have no way of knowing what you could get for it on the open market.
  • If you really want cash for your unused or unwanted jewelry, don’t let a sales person talk you into getting a BIGGER, MORE EXPENSIVE piece of jewelry, when what you really want is cash. Keep in mind that the retail (and resale) value of diamonds has declined more than 25% in the last year.
CashforGoldUSA display ad

What you should do before you sell

Often, the first place someone goes when they are thinking about selling unwanted jewelry is their local jeweler.

This is a solid first step, but it should not be your last.

It is important to educate yourself about the kind of jewelry you have.

It is also important to educate yourself about how to sell jewelry:

  1. Assess whether your fine jewelry is branded, such as Tiffany, Cartier, Harry Winston and Bulgari, or whether it will likely be disassembled and sold for scrap.
  2. Consider a jewelry appraisal
  3. Gold and silver: Start with this complete guide to symbols stamped on jewelry to understand the karat of gold or silver. You can learn more about the value of gold in this post, and the value of silver in this post.
  4. Diamonds: Understand the 4Cs of a diamond, and consider a diamond appraisal and possibly also a diamond certification.
  5. Get several quotes from local jewelers and online jewelry and diamond buyers. 
  6. Understand that you will likely get 30% or less than what you paid for your jewelry. So if you bought your piece for $1,000, you’re looking at a selling price of $300. The price of diamonds has declined in recent years, and any gold is contingent on today’s price of gold. 

Be sure to shop around, and feel free to negotiate with any offer — including with online buyers. Why?

  1. Fair price. Even if your jeweler is 100% honest and reputable (as many are!), he or she offers just one offer, and one opinion about what your piece of jewelry is worth. Setting a price for any piece of jewelry is highly subject to opinion and mistakes. The grade of a gemstone or diamond, the market value of various styles is subject to interpretation. Look for jewelry buyers that post highest-offer guarnatees.
  2. Fraud is rampant. For many reasons, the jewelry industry has historically been rife with fraud and dishonesty. If you are relying on a quote from just one local jeweler, you are more likely to get ripped off. Thankfully, organizations like the Better Business Bureau, as well as online review sites and blogs mean that the entire world can hold accountable businesses with hundreds or even thousands of reviews and reports — especially online businesses, including gold, diamond and jewelry buyers.

White vs yellow gold — what is the difference?

Why sell your jewelry?

Many relationships involve precious jewelry — investments that represented care, love, tradition.

When the relationship ends, those engagement rings, watches, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets can linger in velvet-lined jewelry boxes for years — or even the remainder of the new owner’s life!

Here’s the thing: Even if that jewelry is worth tens of thousands of dollars, it is still clutter to you.

It all holds energy, good or bad.

Cleanse out the bad energy, welcome the good.

All that negative energy can translate into a positive experience, money to pay bills, or investments in the future.

Even if you are unsure whether the value of the gold or diamonds may go up soon, money in your pocket today is 100% guaranteed, vs the unknown of future prices. Plus, you can pay off debt which saves money in interest, or put money into a 401k or 529, which saves money on taxes — guaranteed.

Reasons to sell your jewelry include:

  1. Money in a bank account is always better than jewelry sitting in a box somewhere.
  2. If the jewelry has sentimental value — an heirloom, estate or antique jewelry, a gift, engagement gift, etc. — you can honor the person and story behind the ring, bracelet or earrings by spending the proceeds on something positive that does enhance your life. This might include investing in your future, buying a home, a vacation, education for your kids — or another piece of jewelry that you DO wear and that brings you joy!
  3. If you don’t wear the item, you likely feel bad about it in some way: Either negative feelings about where or whom it came from (complicated relationship with the giver, divorce, guilt for buying yourself something you don’t use). Get rid of the jewelry, and get rid of the negativity!
  4. Say no to clutter!!
  5. No, your kids don’t want it. Your daughter does not want an engagement ring from a relationship that ended in divorce. And your future daughter-in-law sure as shit does not want that! Let it go!
CashforGoldUSA display ad

A list of reasons you SHOULD NOT sell your jewelry — online, or anywhere else:

  1. You wear it regularly and feel good about wearing it.

That’s it. That is the only reason you should NOT sell your ring. 

Not your story? SELL YOUR JEWELRY!

Get an immediate quote from CashforGoldUSA now >>

Can you resell jewelry back to jewelry stores?

While jewelers will not typically buy back jewelry they sold you after a 30-day window, some retailers do have trade-up programs that allow you to cash in the value of your current diamond and apply that to a more expensive piece of jewelry, or larger center diamond.

Is it safe to sell your jewelry online?

Some are excellent, while others are, frankly, shady. Before you send your ring to a buyer you found online, check the company’s status with the Better Business Bureau, TrustPilot, and Yelp.

Should you sell jewelry on The RealReal or Poshmark?

The RealReal and Poshmark are online marketplaces for apparel and accessories, including fine jewelry.There is no guarantee that your item will sell, and successful jewelry sales there are by professional jewelers or others who have the ability to professionally photograph, display and market jewelry on the site.

Is it worth selling jewelry on Facebook marketplace?

The good thing about selling jewelry on Facebook marketplace is that you get to set your own price and don’t have to pay a commission. However, there are some cons/potential risks to be aware of.

Is it worth selling jewelry through a consignment shop?

Selling on consignment can be worthwhile for those with professional experience and multiple pieces of branded or otherwise very valuable jewelry. Most gold, diamond and gemstone jewelry will be sold for scrap value at a pawn shop or local or online buyer.

According to a Pew Research Center study, 3 out of every 10 U.S. adults have used an online dating site or app.

While 57% of those people claimed to have had an overall positive experience, others — especially women ages 18 to 34 — have reported troublesome interactions. The 2022 Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler has inspired countless stories of questionable if not dangerous behavior on these platforms. According to the research: 

  • 6 in 10 women in that age group had someone continue to contact them after they said they were not interested
  • 57% were sent an unsolicited sexually explicit message or image
  • 19% had someone threaten to physically harm them

That said, the majority of relationships today start online, with tens of millions of happy couples finding love, marriage, friends with benefits, fun dates and any other kind of partnership with a swipe right —including on platonic friendship apps.

Read below to learn more:

How can I date safely online?

FAQs about online dating safety

How can I date safely online?

The woman is smiling and looking at her cellphone in a post about dating safely online.

While there are certainly risks to online dating, fortunately, there are steps you can take to date online safely, including choosing the right dating platform. 

eharmony is our No. 1 choice for safe online dating because of its state-of-the-art ID verification and video dating software that allows you to virtually vet your potential matches before you meet up in person.

Online dating safety tip #1: Choose the right dating platform

Collette Gee, a Los Angeles relationship specialist and author, says the best dating apps are ones that protect users and provide the best experience based on what the user is looking for. 

“In my opinion, eharmony is one of the best dating apps for anyone looking to find real love and to do so safely,” Gee says. “eharmony provides a safe user experience, while some dating apps and sites aim to protect the company more so than the user.”

She advises people not to choose a dating app based on its popularity but rather based on your relationship goals and expectations in a potential match. For example, if you're looking for someone who shares your Catholic or spiritual beliefs, consider a dating site that caters to those users. Here is our list of the best dating sites and apps for single parents.

Chicago-based dating coach Kevin Darne echoes that sentiment. He recommends putting yourself in your ideal partner’s shoes and figuring out which online dating app that person would use.

“In order to meet the kind of people you want to meet, you have to run in their same circles,” says Darne, who wrote a book about safe and successful online dating. “Is a doctor likely to be on a free dating app? Probably not.”

Here’s a list of some of the top dating apps and their current safety features: 

eharmony– Extensive questionnaire deters most people from creating fake accounts
– SMS Verified designation given to profiles that confirm their phone numbers
– Closes accounts if they find out the member is married or provided false information
– Video dating feature allows you to meet potential dates virtually before you decide to meet in person
– Prohibits registered sex offenders from joining or anyone who has been convicted or pleaded no contest to a felony, violent, or sexual crime
Match– Verified status given to profiles connected to social media accounts
– Prohibits registered sex offenders from joining or anyone who has been convicted or pleaded no contest to a felony, violent, or sexual crime
Elite Singles– SSL-encrypted; each member is verified by a human
Zoosk– Profiles created from social media accounts, so it’s harder to create a fake profile
– Profile verification with identity via a photo, phone number, or with your personal Twitter account
Tinder– Panic button to use on dates
– Photo verification
– Offensive messages feature
Bumble– Women initiate conversations
– Option to verify profile

Online dating safety tip #2: Understand the risks

The man is looking at his cellphone. One thing to do when you've decided to try online dating is to understand the risk.

To understand how to date online safely, you have to know the potential risks. Here are some of the top safety concerns today’s online daters should keep in mind:

  • Fake accounts and catfishing – Some users will gain your trust/affection with no intention of ever meeting you, only to ask for financial assistance or explicit photos. 
  • Scammers and cyber attacks – Other users try to gain access to your personal information to potentially steal your identity or blackmail you with any private information or photos you share. 
  • Sexual and violent offenders – While there are no official stats on the number of online dates that led to stalking or sexual or violent crimes, this risk does exist, so it’s important to do your homework about anyone you’re planning to meet. 

The following online dating safety tips will help you protect yourself from these and other potential risks:

Online dating safety tip #3: Keep your information private

Gee says never to tell someone you met through a dating app where you live until you’ve gone on several dates and built trust. Your phone number can also be used to find out where you live.

“At one time, it was proper to allow a suitor to pick you up and drop you off at your home, but it is no longer safe,” she says. 

Liam Barnett, a dating and relationship coach in Alaska and founder of the site Dating Zest, says people tend to allow themselves to be more vulnerable online, which makes them susceptible to being scammed. 

“That person is not standing in front of you, and that’s what boosts your energy and confidence to share,” he says. 

Instead of giving out your phone number, communicate on your chosen dating platform or use a third-party service that disguises your real phone number. Some good options are: 

  • Google Voice
  • Burner
  • Hushed
  • Sideline
  • Flyp
  • 2ndLine

Karolina Bartnik, a dating and relationship expert based in London, says you shouldn’t trust anyone who pressures you to give out your phone number, social media handles or other personal information.

“If a guy is serious about you, he will wait and be willing to work to win your trust,” she says.

Finding people online: 9 sites to use and 4 experts’ tips

Online dating safety tip #4: Do your homework

Most dating apps do not conduct formal background checks, though several top apps like eharmony are testing their inclusion in the future.

So what can you do now to date online safely?

There are several ways to learn information about someone before you meet in person (especially if you’re meeting for a hookup).

1. Conduct a Google search. 

If you know someone’s last name, you might be able to find their social media profiles and look through any information they’ve made public. 

“Social media provides a lot of information about a person,” Bartnik says. “Seeing who they follow, who their friends are, etc., can give you a good insight into who this person really is.”

Google search results can also turn up information about criminal convictions or other potential red flags. 

If you suspect the person you’re talking to is using a fake photo, you can download and run it through Google’s reverse image search. This will show if the image was pulled from a website or another person’s social media account. 

2. Video or voice call first.

You can also use third-party video calling services like Zoom or Skype to get to know your dates. Just make sure the phone number listed on your account is one you’ve disguised. 

Bartnik says it’s much harder to pretend to be someone else in a video than it is over text. 

“Having this kind of contact before meeting in person will let you avoid some major disappointments or even potential danger,” she says.

3. Conduct a background check. 

If you really want to be thorough before you meet someone in person, you can run a background check through TruthFinder.

Online dating safety tip #5: Pick a safe date location

Choosing a safe public location for your date and letting someone know where you’ll be can protect you from a dangerous situation. 

Gee adds that you shouldn’t go somewhere too close to home or somewhere you regularly visit. 

Tell a close friend or family member where you’ll be and who you’ll be with, and plan to check in with them by a certain time to let them know you’re safe. If you don’t call or text by that time, have them call you. 

Also, end the date at the venue and do not allow your date to follow you to your car.

Darne says daytime dates are typically safer, plus they allow people to dress casually and be more relaxed.

“Daytime dating activities tend to be less alcohol fueled and generally conclude long before bedtime, which eliminates the pressure of hooking up,” he says.   

Online dating safety tip #6: Look out for red flags

If you want to date safely online, keep an eye out for these and other red flags that should pique your concern that the person you are talking to is a scammer:  

1. Scammers aren’t interested in meeting in person.

“Real users will want to take things further and meet you in real life or at least a video call,” Bartnik says.

Otherwise, the person is really only looking to take advantage of you in some way — or is just emotionally unavailable.

2. They ask you for explicit photos or personal information.

“Don’t be overwhelmed and act without thinking if your date showers you with tons of compliments during the first conversation,” Barnett says. “If he or she is overly romantic and uses too many compliments when you have spoken just a few times, there is another reason behind those compliments.”

3. Their pictures look too good to be true.

“If you match with someone who looks like a model but doesn’t share much personal info in their profile, watch out. Fake accounts often use photos of professional models as profile pictures,” Bartnik says.

4. They know things about you that you haven’t shared.

“Notice if the person is asking you about things you have posted on your social media,” Barnett says.

5. They develop feelings too quickly.

“Love bombing is when someone tells you they love you and want to marry you before they even know you,” says Michelle Baxo, a women's love and mindset coach and founder of Power Love Project.

The risks of dating a love bomber range from being involved with someone who will break your heart, to being a cheater, to someone who is looking to manipulate you into dangerous situations.

6. They start asking you for favors. 

“Asking you for favors before you've met or very early on — this is a strategy to test your willingness to give them things,” Baxo says.

This can include asking you to leave reviews for their business online, access to your financial information or other financial favors.

7. They tell you what you want to hear.

If someone agrees with everything you say or appears to have an overwhelming amount in common with you, consider taking a step back. 

“This is a strategy to make you feel connected and understood,” Baxo says. “While it is possible this person is just what you need, be aware of the potential for psychological trickery.”

Baxo says that since the online dating process leaves a lot to the imagination at first, the human brain often jumps in to fill in the gaps, which can leave you making very dangerous assumptions about the person's character.  

Baxo's theory was proven in two studies published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships studied partners in long distance vs. geographically close relationships. Despite limited interaction, the long-distance partners showed evidence of greater stability, in part because of romantic idealization. However, the long-distance partners were more likely to break up upon moving to the same location. 

Online dating safety tip #7: Trust your instincts

After she was personally stalked by a sexual predator, Baxo urges women to err on the side of caution when it comes to safely dating online and to follow their instincts.

“The detectives on the case enlightened me that often women who are attacked had a gut feeling that they were unsafe but didn't listen,” she says. 

Her advice?  

“Block someone as soon as you feel unsafe  — physically or emotionally.” 

FAQs about online dating safety

What is the safest dating app?

The experts I talked to overwhelmingly listed eharmony as their top choice for the safest online dating app. 

This is why eharmony is our top choice for dating safely online: 

  • Free basic account
  • Lengthy quiz to weed out daters who aren’t serious about meeting someone
  • All profiles are verified as real — and not cheaters or married 
  • Algorithmic matching with the goal of long-term, meaningful partnership and marriage
  • Video dating feature
  • A- Better Business Bureau rating

How do you stay safe online dating?

There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself online, including:

  • Choose a reputable online dating platformKeep your personal information private
  • Conduct a background check or internet search before you meet up
  • Choose a safe date location — somewhere public that you don’t visit frequently
  • Tell a trusted friend where you’ll be on your dates
  • Pay attention to red flags
  • Follow your instincts (if it seems too good to be true, it probably is)

What are the risks of online dating?

The main risks in online dating stem from the fact that you’re interacting with complete strangers — and personal information can be shared digitally, quickly. If you don’t take the proper precautions, this can leave you vulnerable to a number of frustrating or even dangerous situations, like: 

  • Catfishing
  • Financial scams
  • Identity theft
  • Stalking
  • Sexual assault
  • Violence 

“Our intuition is often our best protection when it comes to scams and exploitation,” Bartnik says. “When something feels off, don’t ignore it.”


How can you tell a scammer when online dating?

Scammers are to interested in meeting in real life, will ask for suspicious personal details like your address or bank info, ask for favors and are way, way too good-looking in their profile pic to be the real deal.

How can you tell if an online romance is real?

If someone you meet online is truly interested in you romantically, they will take their time getting to know you, want to meet in-person shortly after connecting yet not pressure you beyond your boundaries. A truly interested date will not ask for favors — financial or otherwise — or otherwise make you feel weird. Also, an online romance is real if you, are interested!

How can you tell a scammer when online dating?

Scammers are to interested in meeting in real life, will ask for suspicious personal details like your address or bank info, ask for favors and are way, way too good-looking in their profile pic to be the real deal.

How can you tell if an online romance is real?

If someone you meet online is truly interested in you romantically, they will take their time getting to know you, want to meet in-person shortly after connecting yet not pressure you beyond your boundaries. A truly interested date will not ask for favors — financial or otherwise — or otherwise make you feel weird. Also, an online romance is real if you, are interested!

Last year, my cousin Samm lost her fiancé Aaron, 27, in an unthinkable work accident. A stay-at-home mom of two young boys, she suddenly found herself thrust into the world of single motherhood without her primary support system.

Aaron's accident rattled our family to the core, and we all felt a huge responsibility to be there for Samm and her boys.

As someone who was supposed to be a bridesmaid in her upcoming wedding, I wanted more than anything to be someone she could come to when she didn't feel like keeping it all together.

Even though we live several hours apart, Samm and I have always been able to confide in each other without judgment. We've both told each other things that no one else knows. But for the first time since we became close, I found myself at a complete loss for what I could do or say to comfort her.

If you’ve ever had to support a friend or family member through a difficult time, you know it’s impossible to make everything OK (no matter how much you wish you could). 

But there are things you can do and say to comfort someone going through any number of difficult situations: 

  • Death of person or pet
  • Illness
  • Breakup or divorce
  • Job loss
  • Financial crisis
  • Mental health crisis

Tiffany Lovell, a licensed behavioral therapist and mental health professional based in North Dakota, says it’s never easy to initiate a conversation with someone who is struggling because we’re afraid of saying the “wrong thing.” 

“On the flip side, when someone is struggling, the feelings of isolation are often overwhelming,” Lovell says. “Mentally, those struggling feel alone, and the cycle of friends and family worried to say the ‘wrong thing’ only perpetuates that loneliness, since many people hesitate to reach out.”

I talked to several mental health professionals to find out the “right” things to say and how to comfort someone going through a hard time. Also, know that it is OK to feel unsure of how to proceed during tough times.

If you or someone you know is struggling, there is no shame in getting help — this is 2023 after all.

What should I say or do to comfort someone?

How do you comfort someone over text?

What not to do or say when you’re trying to comfort someone

What should I say or do to comfort someone?

In a survey published by the Public Library of Science, a total of 372 grieving adults (mostly women) were asked which types of social support were most impactful. 

Of the respondents, 64% felt most satisfied by receiving emotional support, which they generally defined as having people with whom they felt safe to grieve, who checked in on them, listened to them, and who didn’t try to hurry their grieving process. 

Here are a few things you can do or say to comfort someone:  

Tip #1: Address their practical needs.

Samm says that when Aaron first passed away, there was nothing anyone could say to make her feel better.  

“No one could tell me he was coming back, and that’s really the only thing that could have made anything better,” she says. 

To allow Samm time to process her grief and make things just a little bit easier, her sister started a GoFundMe and meal train. It can also help to help out with other battles when it comes to legal concerns by getting in touch with a trusted personal law team like Rue & Ziffra.

“Because of everyone coming together, I was able to pay my rent for the year and have a roof over our heads, fill up my fuel tanks so we’d have heat, and so on,” she says. “It was all the acts of kindness that really helped me. Without them, I would be struggling.”

Here are a few ways you can ensure someone’s practical needs are being met: 

  • Offer money or gift cards
  • Volunteer to watch their children or pay for a nanny
  • Prepare and drop off pre-cooked meals 
  • Organize a meal train or food delivery service
  • Offer to clean their home 
  • If they're struggling with job loss, offer to make introductions or otherwise help them find a job
  • Pay to have their laundry sent out
  • Buy them a massage or spa treatment

Things to say if you want to offer practical support: 

  • “What can I do for you today to make your day easier?”  
  • “What are your biggest money fears right now?”
  • “Why don’t you let me watch your kids today so you can go to the gym?”

Tip #2: Acknowledge their struggle. 

Voicing your concern to someone who seems to be struggling shows that you are paying attention and care about their wellbeing. 

Heidi McBain, a licensed therapist in Texas who specializes in family and marriage therapy, says that kind of acknowledgement lets someone know they don’t need to go through their hard time alone. 

“This isn’t a one-and-done contact — it needs to be ongoing,” she says. “Often, especially with grief, family and friends reach out once and that’s it, which can leave the person grieving feeling like they are alone, not important, and not supported.”

Things to say to acknowledge someone’s struggle: 

  • “I know you might feel alone right now, but I’m here and will help you get through this however I can.”
  • “How you are feeling is valid. It is OK to not feel OK.”
  • “I can see you are having a rough time. How about I grab us something to eat and come over so we can watch a movie together?” 

Tip #3: Be a good listener. 

Natalie Hardie, a holistic mental health practitioner and Director of NH Neuro Training in London, says that simply starting a conversation to ask how a person is doing and offering to listen without judgment can go a long way. 

Even if the person isn’t ready to talk just yet, reassure them that you’ll be there if and when that time comes. 

“If you do not know what to say, be honest and let them know that you are there for them,” she says. 

Things to say to be a good listener: 

  • “I can’t imagine what you are going through and how it is making you feel, but know that I am always here for you and will not give up on you.”
  • ​​“If you need to vent to someone without judgment, I’m here to listen.”
  • “If you need to talk, scream, cry, blast some music, or anything else, count me in.”

Tip #4: Let them know you care. 

Hardie says positive affirmations let someone know they are loved and appreciated. 

“Someone who is emotionally struggling may benefit from knowing that they are cared for and valued,” she says. “There are simple ways to do so, just by using our words.”

She suggests writing some of the person’s positive qualities on sticky notes and putting them in random places in their home to find (like the cutlery drawer or inside a shoe).

“When they unexpectedly find the note, it will be a pleasant surprise, which may lift their mood.”

But that doesn’t mean you should downplay someone’s grief by telling them to just be happy. 

“What you say does not have to be profound,” she says. “It just needs to come from a place of compassion, with intention to support without judgment.”

Things to say to let someone know you care: 

  • “I love and care for you. Anything you need, I’ll be there.”
  • “I want to support you in any way you need. You are not alone.”
  • “You may not feel like it right now, but you are amazing.” 

One of the ways my family showed love for Samm was with a fun video we put together for her first Mother's Day after Aaron's passing. She's a huge “Friends” fan, so we danced to the theme song and tried to make her smile on a day we knew would be especially tough. You can check it out here:

How do you comfort someone over text?

In a survey of 500 people between the ages of 18 and 34, cloud communication platform Infobip found that 75% of respondents would prefer an SMS-only phone to a voice-only phone. 

One of their reasons? Because texts are less disruptive than voice calls.

Texting allows people to respond on their own terms if and when they’re ready. But how you comfort someone should come down to how well you know the person and how you usually connect with one another.

“If you have a texting relationship, then text; if you usually call, then call,” says Dr. Anandhi Narasimhan, a Los Angeles child and adult psychiatrist. “Also, if you are worried about them, you might want to try a couple different ways to make contact with them.”

So how do you comfort someone over text? Here are some ideas.

Text tip #1: Let them know you’re available. 

Just telling someone you’re thinking about them can help them feel supported. Even if you usually text with your grieving loved one, a phone call can be welcome — as well as a physical visit. 

“Being present with someone can be very powerful,” Dr. Narasimhan says. “A hug, holding their hand, listening to music, or doing something enjoyable to help distract that person can help.”

She also suggests going for a walk, offering to run errands, or just asking how you can be helpful. 

Lovell says you don't have to say as much as you think, and no one ever expects you to “solve” their problems.

“People need space to understand and lean into the feelings they are feeling,” she says.

Text message scripts to use: 

  • “I’m here. Let me know if you want to talk.”
  • “What are you up to? I’m free today if you want to hang out.”
  • “Need someone to sit with you today? I saw there was a new movie on Netflix you might like.”

Apps like Breeze-wellbeing can be helpful in understanding your past experiences and current emotions, with its tests for personality type, love language, emotional assessment, childhood trauma and ADHD. Recommending such a service can help your loved one.

Text tip #2: Give them something to do.

Samm says having friends and family around when she’s having a hard day has made all the difference in her grieving process.

“When they notice my struggle, they come and hang out more and ask me what I need, offer to babysit so I can have time by myself,” she says. 

Lovell says this shows the recipient you genuinely and deeply want to support them in the way they need to be supported.

Text message scripts to use:

  • “Want to go get pedicures today?” 
  • “Do you need to get out of the house? I’m down for whatever you want to do.”
  • “Have you tried the new restaurant down the street? I’d love to go if you are free.”

Text Tip #3: Give them permission to be a hot mess.

People who are struggling often try to put on a brave face to mask how they’re feeling. Samm says she’s been surprised how many people are critical of her grieving process. 

“I feel guilty enough when I smile,” Samm says. “I don’t need someone coming up to me and saying, ‘You’re handling this way better than I would be.’ I might be smiling now, but as soon as I get home, I’m crying myself to sleep.”

Telling someone it’s OK to feel what they’re feeling can give them a break from keeping up appearances and validate their struggle. 

Text message scripts to use:

  • “I don’t know if anyone has told you this, but it’s OK to be a hot mess right now.”
  • “You have full permission to not be OK right now. No one who loves you will judge you.”  
  • “You don’t need to hold it together in front of me. I’ll come over and you can scream, cry, yell…whatever you need to do.” 

Text Tip #4: Let them know they’re not alone. 

People who are grieving don’t often think about their “wins.” But Hardie says even just getting through a tough day is worth celebrating.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you should tell someone they’re doing great and leave them to fend for themselves. Offer encouraging or uplifting words but reassure the person you’ll be there in the moments they don’t feel strong. 

Text message scripts to use:

  • “So far your success rate for surviving days like these is actually 100%. You’ve got this, and I’m right behind you.”
  • “You probably don’t see it, but you are doing awesome just putting one foot in front of the other. And I’m here to hold your hand for as long as you need.” 
  • “Do you want to go out tonight to celebrate getting through this week?”

Text Tip #5: Give them motivation to keep going. 

Samm says having people around to motivate her on her hardest days has helped her get through them.

“They pull me out of bed and remind me of who I used to be and remind me that I’m strong,” she says. 

Text message scripts to use:

  • “Remember how much fun we had at karaoke? Do you want to go again this weekend?”
  • “Do you want to come to yoga class with me on Tuesday? I can pay for a babysitter.”
  • “You deserve to get away. Let’s plan a girls weekend or short trip with the kids — on me.” 

If their state is serious and you believe they are a threat to their own safety or that of others, seek out a psychiatrist appointment.

What not to do or say when you’re trying to comfort someone

When someone you know is going through a hard time, it might be tempting to shower them with attention and try to jump in and be as helpful as possible. But it’s important to make sure that’s what the person wants. 

Samm says that when Aaron passed, she felt overwhelmed by the number of people coming in and out of her home, even though they had good intentions. 

“People were trying to clean my house and moving his stuff aside, and it really bothered me,” Samm says. “They washed his dirty clothes that I wasn’t ready to wash. Now I hold on to the last dirty outfit of his that I have and take out on occasion to smell and hold because it’s the last thing I really have with his scent on it.”

Samm says that while she appreciated the effort from family and friends, she wanted space more than anything to process what happened. 

“I felt like everyone was too scared to leave me alone,” she says. “I almost felt like I was treated like a toddler who didn’t know how to take care of myself.”

Dr. Narasimhan says it’s common for people to withdraw when they’re feeling depressed or anxious, so it’s helpful to give them space to sit with their emotions.

“Figuring out a balance where they know you’ll be there when they need you can be helpful,” she says.

Samm says she’s also had to deal with comments that hurt more than they helped. 

“I personally have been really hard on myself since losing Aaron,” she says. “The last thing I want to hear is how someone who isn’t in my position would handle it and how what I’m doing is wrong.”

Any kind of patronizing or belittling comment can do irreparable damage to someone who is going through a hard time. Here are a few things you should never say to comfort someone who is depressed or grieving. 

1. “This too shall pass.”

2. “They're in a better place.”

3. “It could be worse.” 

4. “You don't have much to complain about.” 

5. “Get over it.” 

6. “Everything happens for a reason.”

7. “Focus on something happy.”

Lovell says phrases like these can feel insensitive since they encourage the recipient to “hurry up” their grieving process and deny them the ability to feel their feelings. 

“These types of statements and platitudes often leave people feeling unseen, unheard and not understood,” McBain agrees.

Although it may be unintentional, Hardie says emotional invalidation conveys the message that a person’s subjective emotional experience is insignificant or inaccurate. This can lead to the individual feeling confused and unable to trust their own emotions and validity of their experiences. 

“This can exacerbate existing mental health conditions and symptoms whilst hindering the individual from seeking help,” she says. 

Samm wanted to offer her advice for anyone dealing with a loss. 

“Do what makes you happy, and don’t listen to people tell you how you should or shouldn’t grieve,” she says. “Losing someone you love is hard enough as it is. Take care of yourself and remember, you deserve to be happy.”

McBain says therapy can be a safe space where someone who is struggling can feel their feelings and process what’s going on at a deeper level — underneath the symptoms that are currently showing up in their life.

If you’re going through a tough time, BetterHelp stands out among online therapy sites, and can connect you with a licensed therapist without ever leaving your home. Here’s why we recommend them: 

  • A Better Business Bureau rating
  • Used by nearly 2 million people
  • Network of more than 20,000 licensed therapists — who all have a Master's or Doctorate degree
  • Financial aid is available for qualifying incomes
  • Plans start at $60-80/week for 24/7 unlimited messaging and include a weekly video or phone session (you get to choose)
  • Specialists available based on religion, age, sexuality, race, age and gender (plus couples therapy is an option)
  • Easy to switch counselors

Sign up with BetterHelp online therapy in a few minutes, and start chatting with your therapist within 24 hours.

Read about my experience with BetterHelp.

If you have unwanted gold, silver, or jewelry lying around your house, you can sell it to a recycler who will give you cash for your items — and you can feel good about doing it.

Gold and diamond mining are notoriously disastrous for the environment. Global greenhouse gas emissions from gold mining alone produce more than 100 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.1

So while making money on selling your jewelry or coin, you can also feel good about helping to preserve the Earth.

But how exactly does a gold or silver recycler work? Which precious metals recyclers are the best?

We answer these questions and more:

Where to find silver, gold and jewelry recyclers

Recycling silver 101

Recycling gold 101

Where to find silver, gold and jewelry recyclers

Depending on how quickly you want to cash in on your jewelry, you can sell to an online or local jewelry buyer:

Online silver, gold and old jewelry recycling

Unless you have high-end branded or luxury jewelry, most online jewelry buyers are interested in your jewelry for its precious metal content. They will melt down your jewelry to create new jewelry, coins, bars, or bullion.

We put together guides on where to sell gold and sell silver. We also have reviews on several of the top online jewelry buyers:

  • Abe Mor (accepts gold worth at least $500 and diamonds of .50 carats or larger)
  • Alloy Market (All weight and karat of gold and silver and diamonds of at least 1 carat
  • CashforGoldUSA (accepts all forms/sizes of gold, silver, platinum and diamonds)
  • MyGemma (only interested in branded diamond jewelry and diamonds over .50 carats)

Our No. 1 recommendation when it comes to jewelry recyclers is CashforGoldUSA, thanks to its A+ Better Business Bureau rating, 24-hour payment, fast, insured shipping, and free, insured returns — features not shared by all jewelry recyclers.

Other jewelry recyclers you can consider include:

  • American Bullion (gold)
  • APMEX (gold and silver)
  • Goldco Precious Metals (gold)
  • Gold Geek (gold) 
  • JM Bullion (gold and silver)
  • Kitco (gold and silver)
  • Liberty Gold and Silver (gold and silver)
  • Luriya (gold and silver)
  • Money Metals Exchange (gold and silver)
  • SellYourGold.com (gold)
  • SilverRecyclers.com (silver)
  • US Gold Buyers (gold)
  • SpecialtyMetals.com (gold and silver)

Local jewelry recycling

If you don’t want to send your jewelry to an online buyer or you need immediate cash, you can also find local options for recycling your jewelry:

  • Pawn shops
  • Local cash for gold storefronts
  • Jewelry stores
  • Precious metals dealers

Detecting gold and other metals: beginners guide

Recycling silver 101

Chances are pretty good that you’ve got some unused or unwanted silver lying around your house. It might be in an obvious form, such as silver coins, silver flatware, or old or broken silver jewelry.

But it could also be in some surprising forms, too. Silver can be found in old electronics, soldering, trinkets, statues, ingot, and even in raw form. 

A silver flatware set, for example, could be worth more than $1,000—money that you can use to pay down your debt, start investing, or just buy something that you will actually use.

Why recycle silver now?

Global trade organizations report that the use of recycled silver has gradually been rising, as the population overall is more concerned with the environmental impact of the products they produce, and metals recycling has become more efficient.

Further, the high price of silver and gold in recent years has inspired many to cash in their old jewelry, coins and scrap — which buyers then melt for recycling. 

As of , the silver resale value in the United States was at per ounce, or  per gram.

In 2020, jewelry giant Pandora announced2 that by 2025, 100% of the gold and silver used in its jewelry will be recycled. Today, about 60% of the silver the Danish jeweler uses is recycled. 

How silver recyclers recycle silver

Silver recyclers might seem like complicated businesses, but they’re actually pretty straightforward. Most work like this:

The silver recycler purchases silver items or scrap from a seller, whether that is another business or an individual (like you). They will usually pay the seller slightly less than the current spot price of silver, which allows them to make a profit when they resell the metal later. 

Once the recycler has enough silver, they will collect it together and melt down the miscellaneous items. What happens next depends on what sort of business the recycler is in.

Some silver recyclers sell their silver to other businesses that need silver for their products. In these cases, the recycler will pour the molten silver into a mold (such as a bar mold, or an ingot mold) and let it cool. They will then sell this silver according to its current spot price to another business. This usually yields a relatively small profit margin for the recycler. 

Other silver recyclers are in the business of using their reclaimed silver for their own products. In those cases, they may pour the melted silver directly into the required mold, or they may store it in bar form until it is needed. 

As a note: Silver is often mixed with other metals, such as copper, to form an alloy. A recycler may decide to separate the silver out from the other metals so that in the end they will have pure silver, or they may simply keep the alloy as-is, depending on their needs.

Can tarnished silver be recycled?

If your jewelry is sterling silver, it definitely has value to any recycler — regardless of whether it is tarnished. If your silver is plated, it has little recycling value, though you may be able to sell it through consignment, Facebook marketplace or an antique store. You can always donate it.

Other ways to repurpose or recycle silver

Aside from melting silver down to recast it, the most common alternative for recycling silver is to reuse the component pieces as-is. 

For example, a silver ring can be resized, or converted into a ring blank to be used in a future design. Likewise, a silver chain can be transformed into a new necklace or bracelet. Silver trinkets or statues can be refurbished or incorporated into multi-media art projects. Silver electronic components can be moved to a new product.

Silver can also be used to create pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. In these cases, it will be mixed with other compounds. 

Recycling gold 101

For as long as humans have owned gold, they’ve been melting it down and recycling it into new shapes whenever they’ve grown tired of the old shapes. This trend is on the rise. 

What can gold be recycled into?

According to the World Gold Council, recycled gold accounted for 28%3 of the global gold supply in 2020 — 90% of that recycled gold comes from jewelry. 

Gold coins become gold jewelry. Gold bracelets become electronic components. Gold electronic components become gold dental caps. Gold dental caps become gold coins. The cycle will continue for as long as we value gold.

And if you have gold coins, gold jewelry, or gold in any other form that you’re looking to sell, that’s good news—because it means you’ll always have a market to sell and recycle your gold.

Aside from jewelry, and as an investment, gold's durability and heat-conducting properties make it valuable for many other uses. These include:

  • Industry and technology, including wiring and data storage, as well as a reflector on glass.
  • Space technology, as NASA uses gold on astronauts' visors, as well as in the wiring of space equipment.
  • Medicine, as gold's healing and diagnostic properties are applied to treat cancers and rheumatoid arthritis.

Detecting gold and other metals: 2024 beginners guide

How gold recyclers recycle gold

Gold recyclers purchase gold from sellers. This can include gold coins, gold jewelry, gold scrap, gold nuggets, gold ingot, gold statues, gold dental crowns, gold electrical components, and countless other forms of the metal. Usually, whatever gold recyclers pay the sellers will be a bit less than the current spot price of gold.

The recycler will typically separate the gold out by its karat weight, as this will make it easier to repurpose the gold later in the process.

Once the recycler has enough gold, they will melt it down and cast it — either into a form that they need for their own business, or into a form such as a bar or ingot that they will then resell to their customers. 

In this way, a collection of 14k gold items may become a bar of 14k gold, while a different collection of 24k gold items will become a bar of 24k gold, etc. 

If the recycler needs to, they may put less pure forms of gold through a process to separate the pure gold away from other metals. 

Other ways to repurpose or recycle gold

Sometimes, gold can be repurposed into new items without needing to go through a recycling process. 

For example, imagine that you have a gold ring which is a family heirloom. You may not like the style of the ring, but also don’t feel right about selling it. In a case like that, you might work with a jewelry designer to turn the ring into something else that you actually do like: Such as a new ring, or a different type of jewelry altogether. 

Likewise, gold ingots, statues, and trinkets can be repurposed in a variety of ways to give them new life without necessarily needing to melt them down. 

Is recycled gold real gold?

Yes, recycled gold is truly real gold. Gold is an element (remember the periodic table of elements from high school chemistry?) and when broken down to its essential molecular structure, can be used again as pure gold, or combined with other metal alloys to make stronger 10k, 14k, 18k and 24k gold items. 

Is recycled gold bad?

Because recycled gold cuts down on carbon emission, recycled gold is good for the environment. Some critics4 argue that the smelting process for recycled metals still creates environmental waste, and any reduction in gold mining hurts the small mining communities that rely on that industry.

Can gold jewelry with diamonds and gemstones be recycled?

Yes, absolutely!

All you need to know to recycle your old jewelry is what it is made out of. If it contains a precious metal like gold, silver, or platinum, or a precious gem like diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls, you can sell it to a recycler who will break it down into its component pieces and reuse it.

Bottom line: There are options for recycling gold, silver, and jewelry

If you have gold or silver flatware, scrap, coins or jewelry, there are quality options for recycling for cash. Our top recommendations based on user reviews, customer service, security and speed to payment are CashforGoldUSA and CashforSilverUSA.

Sources

1. “Gold mining greenhouse gas emissions, abatement measures, and the impact of a carbon price,” Sam Ulrich, Allan Trench and Steffen Hagemann, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 340, 15 March 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652622004899

2. “Your Next Necklace May Have Gold From an Old Phone,” The New York Times, Aug. 29, 2022 nytimes.com/2022/08/29/fashion/jewelry-electronic-mining-recycling.html

3. “Gold Demand Trends Full year and Q4 2020,” World Gold Council, Jan. 28, 2021 gold.org/goldhub/research/gold-demand-trends/gold-demand-trends-full-year-2020/supply

4.”Is recycled gold an ethical choice?” Alliance for Responsible Mining, Oct. 30, 2019 responsiblemines.org/en/2019/10/is-recycled-gold-an-ethical-choice

Why recycle silver now?

Global trade organizations report that the use of recycled silver has gradually been rising, as the population overall is more concerned with the environmental impact of the products they produce, and metals recycling has become more efficient.

What can gold be recycled into?

According to the World Gold Council, recycled gold accounted for 28% of the global gold supply in 2020 — 90% of that recycled gold comes from jewelry.

Is recycled gold real gold?

Yes, recycled gold is truly real gold.

Is recycled gold bad?

Because recycled gold cuts down on carbon emission, recycled gold is good for the environment.

Can jewelry be recycled?

Yes. All you need to know to recycle your jewelry is what it is made out of.

Is recycled gold real gold?

Yes, recycled gold is truly real gold. Gold is an element (remember the periodic table of elements from high school chemistry?) and when broken down to its essential molecular structure, can be used again as pure gold, or combined with other metal alloys to make stronger 10k, 14k, 18k and 24k gold items.

Is recycled gold bad?

Because recycled gold cuts down on carbon emission, recycled gold is good for the environment.

If you are looking to bring in extra cash, selling gold jewelry, diamonds, watches, coins, or gold dental scrap can be a good way to make money, and CashforGoldUSA is one of the first online gold buyers that pops up on a Google search in a sea of options.

This post outlines why we think CashforGoldUSA is a quality company, based on company history, customer reviews, ratings by third-party agencies, overall services offered — and especially speed to payment.

Is CashforGoldUSA legit?

While it’s understandable that you might feel nervous about selling your gold online, CashforGoldUSA is a solid and legitimate business:

  • CashforGoldUSA pays within 24 hours
  • Better Business Bureau A+ rating
  • “Price beat” guarantee with written offer from another buyer
  • Free return guarantee
  • Insured up to $150,000
  • Family business with decades of history
  • Buys all weight and karat of gold, as well as all diamonds and silver
  • 10% bonus if you ship within 7 days

One mom’s experience selling to CashforGoldUSA:

Melinda Burris is a mom of two from North Carolina who is a freelance writer and digital marketing instructor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

As part of an initiative to compare online and in-person gold buyers, we asked Melinda to purchase six of the same 7.5-inch Italian 10k gold bracelets from Macy’s, which the site claimed originally retailed for $600 each but were purchased on sale for $200 each, plus tax. Her assignment was to sell the bracelets to various online and local gold buyers.

10k gold bracelet from Macy's.

This is Melinda’s experience selling to CashforGold: 

On Wednesday, March 13, 2024 I went on CashforGold’s website and completed a simple form with my mailing and contact information to request one of CashforGold’s SafePaks to send in my jewelry for appraisal. (The SafePak is their term for the packaging envelope they send you with a pre-printed, no postage required label. It contains a small plastic bag to put your valuables in and self-seals.)

The SafePak arrived in three business days on March 18 via USPS. I also received a text message from my assigned representative immediately after requesting the SafePak to let me know it was on its way. They provided a tracking link and assured me the package was insured. 

CashforGold kept me apprised of every step in the process. I followed the detailed instructions they included and mailed the SafePak out on Thursday March 18, the day I received it. I sent it via the pre-labeled USPS SafePak I received. You can also request a FedEx overnight label which you can print at home.

On March 26, the following Friday, I received a message from my rep at CashForGold stating they had received my SafePak with a note that my item would be appraised and I would receive an offer within one business day. 

On March 27, I received an offer of $15.34, when the price of gold was $2,196.20 per ounce. Based on the weight of the bracelet (2.1 grams) and its 10k purity, the total spot price for my bracelet would have been $61.79. CashforGold’s initial offer was about 26% of the spot gold price. 

Offer from CashforGoldUSA for 10k gold bracelet.

Considering the bracelet was brand new and therefore in excellent condition, I texted my representative and let her know I wanted to discuss the offer, since it seemed very low. 

When I did not receive a reply within one business day, I called CashForGoldUSA on March 29 and asked to speak to a representative. I told the rep on the phone (who was not my assigned rep) that the item was nearly brand new, and I had purchased it for $200, so I couldn’t understand why I was getting such a low offer. 

She explained, “We aren’t buying it for its retail value; we’re buying it for its precious metal value.” I asked her what the difference was. She replied that when you purchase gold jewelry at retail, the seller can charge whatever they want or whatever the consumer is willing to pay. 

Meanwhile, like all gold buyers, CashForGoldUSA isn’t interested in reselling the jewelry. They are buying it based on spot price, which they plan to resell to a refinery which will melt it down to 24-karat, and make a profit based on the market price of the gold.

The representative was courteous and informative but unwilling to negotiate on their offer. Since I had sent the same item to other online gold and jewelry buyers, I did not immediately accept their offer. 

Instead, I waited to see if I would receive a higher offer elsewhere I could leverage to get them to negotiate. I received an offer from TheAlloyMarket on March 29 for $41.49. That same day, my assigned representative from CashForGoldUSA texted me: 

Hello, 

We apologize that you are unhappy with the offer amount. 

We take pride in our customer service and want to work with you to get the highest possible payment.

We’d like to get a sense of what you were expecting for your entire shipment, to see if we can accommodate you. If we are unable to, we will return your items free of charge, as agreed.

I replied telling her that Alloy had just offered me $41.49 for the same piece and asked if she would match it. I also sent her a screenshot showing Alloy’s offer. (NOTE: CashForGoldUSA cannot see photos, including screenshots over text, so she took my word for it that I had the higher offer. Also, all communications with my assigned CashForGoldUSA rep were conducted via text.) 

The customer rep let me know that unfortunately, she could not see images via text. She then asked me to please let her know how much The Alloy Market had offered me. I told her and within a few minutes she replied:

Hello,

I spoke with my supervisor, and he approved a one-time courtesy increase to the requested $41.49. Please confirm that you would like to accept this and how you would like the payment.

CashForGold advertises a 10% bonus on your offer price if you return a coupon that comes with your SafePak within 7 days, which I included in my return package. When I inquired about it, they said the one-time courtesy adjusted price included my 10% bonus.

Payment methods offered were:

  • Physical check through USPS that would arrive in 3-10 business days
  • FedEx Express, which would arrive within 2-3 business days and cost $15
  • FedEx Overnight, which would arrive the next business day (where available) and cost $25
  • PayPal, which has a 3-4% transaction fee. Note: If you accept an offer from them before 3 pm EST and choose PayPal as your payment method, you are promised you will receive your payment within one business day. 

I accepted their offer, chose PayPal, and received payment within two hours.

By negotiating with CashForGoldUSA, I was able to raise their initial offer by 40%.

Based on my experience, here are my thoughts: 

Pros: They offer excellent communication, courteous service, and very speedy payment. 

Cons: Their initial offer was very low. Before I got the better offer from one of their competitors, they were not willing to increase it. 

Original offer: $15.34

Final offer: $41.49

Final payout: $40.29 ($1.24 fee charged for Paypal)

Percentage of spot gold price paid out: 67%

How long does CashforGoldUSA take?

Once you request your free mailer, CashforGold claims the whole process to payment can be completed within three days, if you choose the fastest shipping options and immediately mail in your jewelry.

They offer two shipping options: 

  • USPS, with items in the Safepak insured for up to $1,000
  • FedEx envelope, with items insured up to $5,000

If needed, additional insurance is available when you contact Cash for Gold USA.

Shipping your item to the company will take less than 24 hours via trackable FedEx, CashforGoldUSA claims. However, USPS may take a bit longer — Melinda’s Safepak took three days to arrive to her home and a little over a week for CashforGold to confirm they had received it.

Once your item is received, it will be appraised within 24 hours and you will receive an offer. Melinda did receive an offer the next day after her item was received.

If you accept this offer, CashforGoldUSA will send payment immediately based on your preferred payment method.

Receiving payment via PayPal will be the fastest option, with money deposited in your account immediately, though there is a 3-4% processing fee deducted from your payout.. The following payment options are also available: 

  • Check via First Class USPS mail (no fee)
  • Print-at-home-check ($5 fee)
  • Check via FedEx Express (2-3 days, $15 shipping fee)
  • Check via FedEx Overnight (next day, $25 shipping fee)
  • Bank wire for payments over $30,000 (no fee)

CashforGold offers a 10% bonus if you ship within 7 days. However, if you are able to negotiate a higher price or ask CashforGold to match a competitor’s offer, this bonus may be wrapped into that final payout, not necessarily paid on top of it (this was Melinda’s experience).

How much does Cash for Gold USA pay?

Ultimately, how much you receive for your gold from any gold buyer will depend on the weight and purity of the gold, as well as the current market price of the metal.

Based on our recent experience selling gold to a number of online and in-person gold buyers, you can expect to make anywhere from 64% to 80% of the spot value of your gold, though you may be able to negotiate a higher price depending on the buyer. 

CashforGoldUSA offers a price-beat guarantee — if you have a written, higher offer for you gold, silver or diamond, they promise to beat it. Though CashforGold’s initial offer to Melinda was quite low, they were willing to match the competitor’s price, even without seeing proof of the offer amount, though it was requested.

As of , the spot gold value in the United States was trading at $ per ounce, or $ per gram.

Here are some recent sales at CashforGoldUSA, including a gold chain and charms:

10k gold bracelet that sold for $430 on CashforGoldUSA.
Recent sales of rings and charms sold to CashforGoldUSA.

How does Cash for Gold USA work?

There are more details below, but in short, this is how CashforGoldUSA works:

  1. Go to CashforGoldUSA.com, enter your name, address, phone number and preferred shipping method.
  2. Provide photos and a brief description of your items
  3. FedEx or USPS mailer may arrive as soon as the next day, though shipping speeds vary — or print a label at home immediately
  4. Send in your item, and get an offer within 24 hours of receipt
  5. If you accept, get paid immediately by your choice of:
  • Direct deposit
  • PayPal
  • Virtual Visa credit card
  • Print-at-home check
  • Check mailed via overnight FedEx
  • Check sent via USPS First Class mail

CashforGoldUSA buys gold online from people looking to sell old gold jewelry, coins, dental scrap, as well as watches, Rolex, and diamonds. They make money by buying the gold at a discount to the scrap value of the metal. They then melt these objects down and sell at a profit.

Get an idea of the value of your item before you send it in for appraisal. Just enter the weight and karat of gold into CashforGoldUSA's gold calculator:

CashforGoldUSA informational gold calculator
CashforGoldUSA informational gold calculator

Note that this is just for informational purposes, and not a final offer. The only way to get an accurate offer is to send your item in for appraisal.

What does CashforGoldUSA buy?

CashforGoldUSA buys gold in any shape, form, or quantity, including:

The company accepts all karats of gold, including 8k, 9k, 10k, 14k, 15k, 18k, 22k, and 24k gold. 

CashforSilverUSA and Diamonds USA

CashforSilverUSA and Diamonds USA are sister sites of CashforGoldUSA — they share the same family-run parent company, C.J. Environmental, which enjoys an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.

Learn about top silver buyers.

Diamonds USA (formerly CashforDiamondsUSA), buys engagement rings, diamond jewelry, tennis bracelets, necklaces, earrings, tennis bracelets and loose and lab-grown diamonds.

Learn about top diamond buyers.

CashforGoldUSA BBB rating and reviews

If you were to search for CashforGoldUSA on the Better Business Bureau website, you would learn that CashforGoldUSA and its sister websites are run by CJ Environmental, Inc., a metal refining company that has been in business since 2005 and accredited since 2020.

You’d also find that CJ Environmental has an A+ rating with the bureau. The profile also shows that the company has an average of 4.02 stars out of 5, based on an average of 42 customer reviews as of July 2025. 

At the time of this review, it appears CJ Environmental replied to and addressed all of the complaints filed on the BBB site.1

CashforGoldUSA TrustPilot reviews

CashforGoldUSA has more than 975 customer reviews on Trustpilot, averaging 4.6/5 as of July 2025. Common complaints include too-low of an offer.

Most are very positive, and highlight the ease of use, professional communication, quick process and payment, and fair price. Negative reviews are from customers who didn't get as high an offer as they expected:

Cash for Gold USA Trustpilot reviews.

Pros of CashforGoldUSA

The benefits of selling your gold to CashforGoldUSA include:

  • Ease: Selling your gold is as easy as requesting a mailer, sending your gold in for an appraisal, and accepting an offer.
  • Speed: If you accept their offer, you can be paid in as little as 24 hours depending on the payment method you choose.
  • High pay: CashforGoldUSA guarantees you'll get the best price. However, it may be wise to seek estimates from multiple gold buyers to get CashforGold to match your highest price.
  • If you send in your item within seven days, you can receive a 10% bonus for your gold. 
  • Price match: CashforGoldUSA will match any offer from a competitor, so you know you’ll always get as much money for your gold as possible.
  • Free shipping: CashforGoldUSA will provide a prepaid, insured shipper for you to send in your gold for appraisal, and return your item free of charge if you choose not to sell.
  • Many choices for immediate payment:
    • Direct deposit
    • PayPal
    • Virtual Visa credit card
    • Print-at-home check
    • Check mailed via overnight FedEx
    • Check sent via USPS First Class mail
  • Hassle-free returns: If you decide you don’t want to accept their offer, CashforGoldUSA promises to send your item back without question.
  • Accepts a range of items and accepts all weights and quality of metals and gemstones: From jewelry to coins to dental scrap and Rolexes in any karat or weight. CashforGoldUSA will also accept platinum, silver, palladium, watches and diamonds and gemstones through its sister websites. No minimum weight or value.
  • Feel good about recycling your gold and silver — which has a much lower environmental impact than mining and smelting.

Get started with CashforGoldUSA.com today >>

Cons of CashforGoldUSA

Drawbacks of CashforGoldUSA include:

  • It’s not ideal for collectible coins, or, in some cases, branded jewelry: If you have gold coins that have value as collectible or high-end designer jewelry, such as Tiffany, Cartier, Bvlgari, David Yurman, Van Cleef & Arpels, or Harry Winston, we recommend Abe Mor or Worthy.
  • Your offer is based on a single evaluation: CashforGoldUSA appraises each item as it is received and uses this one evaluation to calculate an offer. Take it or leave it. That said, feel free to negotiate, or get your item returned for free.

CJ Environmental history

CashforGoldUSA.com, CashforSilverUSA.com, and CashforDiamondsUSA.com are owned by CJ Environmental, which was founded by Norm Schneider in the basement of the Schneider family home. Norm still owns and operates the company in Foxboro, Massachusetts with his sons Cory, Stephen and Barry.

Other places to sell gold online

Selling your gold can be a great way to reach your financial goals, whatever they are, and CashforGoldUSA is an excellent option to help.

This post outlines top gold buyers to consider, and you may also look into local pawn shops for immediate cash, as well as antique or consignment stores that may be interested in gold jewelry or coins.

Also, here is specific information on how to sell your jewelry.

SOURCES

  1. CJ Environmental Better Business Bureau review https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/canton/profile/precious-metal-dealers/cj-environmental-inc-0021-32441
Is Cash for Gold USA legit?

While it’s understandable that you might feel nervous about selling your gold online, CashforGoldUSA is a completely legitimate, A+ BBB rated business started in 2005.

How much does Cash for Gold USA pay?

Ultimately, how much you receive for your gold will depend on the weight and purity of the gold, as well as the market price of the metal. That said, CashforGoldUSA guarantees that they will match any offer you have received from a competitor.

What does CashforGoldUSA buy?

CashforGoldUSA buys gold in any shape, form, or quantity, including: broken gold jewelry, gold coins, gold ingots, gold dental scrap, and more.

How does Cash for Gold USA pay?

CashforGoldUSA pays within 24 hours by paper, mailed check, Paypal or ACH bank wire — your choice.

In 1980, David Yurman founded his eponymous jewelry company alongside his wife Sybil. Just two years later the company would release a design that would become an icon of the brand—the cable bracelet. In the following years, other of the brand’s designs like the Renaissance bracelet, Noblesse ring, Albion ring, and Oval Link necklace would incorporate the cable motif.

David Yurman is extremely popular thanks to its brand recognition and wide variety of price points thanks to his use of silver and semi-precious gemstones like quartz, citrine, topaz and turquoise. 

As such, most major jewelry buyers will not pay a premium for David Yurman like they will Tiffany, Bulgari or Cartier, and instead pay a standard price for the weight and grade of the diamond or gemstone, as well as the weight and grade of the gold or silver. 

Below, we walk you through a number of options for selling your unwanted David Yurman jewelry for as much money as possible, and answer other common questions about the brand:

Where to sell David Yurman jewelry

How to sell David Yurman jewelry online

How much David Yurman jewelry is worth

Common questions about David Yurman jewelry

Where to sell David Yurman jewelry: 5 ways

David Yurman doesn’t currently buy back their jewelry but there are places to get cash for your item. Keep in mind the following challenges for selling your David Yurman:

Resale value is low, especially for silver and semi-precious gemstones. Because Yurman is one of the most popular brands in the business, there is a big markup at retail. There are also a lot of fakes on the market, so they are mostly worth only the scrap materials if you sell to most online jewelry buyers. There does seem to be a David Yurman market on ebay and online consignment stores — but lots of fakes are also reported.

Sell back to a jeweler

Some local jewelers purchase used jewelry, including designer brands like David Yurman. Make an appointment for an appraisal, which will help you understand the value of your piece. Then, ask them if they’d be interested in buying your item. 

Selling your David Yurman to a local jeweler can be a good option if you would prefer to sell your jewelry in person, and in emergencies where you need money immediately.

That said, local jewelers ultimately make money by reselling your jewelry to another customer, so expect a trustworthy jeweler to pay you around 50-70% of the item’s resale value. 

Sell on consignment

Selling your David Yurman jewelry on consignment works like this:

  • Find a local consignment shop that accepts high-end jewelry.
  • Bring your item to the store so they can decide whether or not they’d like to take it.
  • If they accept your item, the store will typically price the item and then display it in their shop for sale.

How and when you get paid will depend on the shop’s policies. Some consignment shops pay an upfront fee when they accept your item.

Other shops only pay when they actually sell your item. Expect to get 40 to 60% of the sale price.

You can also turn to an online consignment shop like TheRealReal, which has an extensive David Yurman offering. 

Sell at a pawn shop

When many people think about selling their jewelry, they immediately think of local pawn shops. But the truth is that pawn shops on average only pay around 30% of the retail value of your item. If you need money fast, then a pawn shop might be a good option for you. Otherwise, you’d likely be better served by selling your David Yurman elsewhere.

Sell at an auction

With a jewelry auction, you ultimately sell your piece to the person who’s willing to pay the highest amount of money for your item. 

However, since the majority of David Yurman pieces are not particularly valuable, most auction houses will not take these items.

Worthy.com will buy a gold and diamond David Yurman piece worth at least $1,000. Typically, this translates into a piece of jewelry with a diamond that is .7 carat or larger, or precious gems like rubies, emeralds, or sapphires that are at least 2 carats. When it comes to David Yurman, Worthy is more inclined to accept gold pieces over silver pieces.

We like Worthy because:

  • Worthy has a B+ rating with the BBB and a score of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, based on more than 3,500 customer reviews.
  • Worthy lets you choose the minimum sale price for your item
  • Worthy covers shipping, handling, and insurance of your item, meaning that you pay nothing to sell your item.
  • Free GIA or IGI lab report for each item
  • Only professional jewelry buyers can purchase items through Worthy’s platform, increasing the chances of a good price

Read our extensive review of my personal experience selling with Worthy, or get a free estimate now >>

Sell to a professional jewelry buyer online

Just like local jewelry shops buy jewelry to resell in their brick-and-mortar shops, some professional online jewelry buyers purchase jewelry with the intention of reselling it. 

Because these businesses typically have less overhead compared to physical businesses, and because they must compete with other online venues, you’ll often find that they offer more for your items, which can make them a great option for selling your jewelry.

CashforGoldUSA is our recommended online jewelry buyer for most items, because:

  • A+ BBB rating
  • Accepts all sizes and weights of gold, silver and gemstone items
  • Pays within 24 hours of shipping your item
  • 100% free FedEx shipping
  • Insured up to $150,000 – free
  • 10% bonus if you send your item in within 7 days

CashforGoldUSA will pay market rate for the gold, silver, diamond and gemstones in your item — but not a premium for the name brand, as with most jewelry buyers.

How to sell David Yurman jewelry online

The best way to sell your David Yurman jewelry online depends on what you are trying to sell. 

CashforGoldUSA is our top choice because they will accept your David Yurman piece, no matter the value. They are also extremely trustworthy and found by my own investigation to pay top dollar, qickly.

How to sell to CashforGoldUSA:

  1. Go to CashforGoldUSA.com
  2. Plug in your name and address, and whether you prefer a FedEx or USPS mailer.
  3. Either print your mailer immediately, or wait a few days for one to arrive.
  4. Pop your item in the mailer and get it picked up by FedEx, or drop it off.
  5. Within 24 hours get an offer and accept payment. If you choose Paypal, you get your funds immediately.

How much is David Yurman jewelry worth?

A lot of factors go into determining the worth of your David Yurman jewelry. Some of the most important factors include:

  • The materials used (gold, sterling silver, diamonds, other gemstones, etc.)
  • The condition of the jewelry, including whether or not it has any damage
  • The rarity and popularity of the specific design you are selling
  • Whether or not you can prove provenance with a receipt, certificate, or original box/bag/other accessories that would have come with the piece

All of that being said, you can get a sense of what your jewelry might be worth by comparing it against similar pieces that have recently sold. Some David Yurman bracelets that have sold recently on Worthy.com include:

14K gold cuff and silver 18k and diamond bracelets for $2,029*

Gold, silver and diamond David Yurman bracelets for sale.

2 David Yurman 18K gold and diamond bracelets for $1,154*

Two gold, silver and diamond David Yurman bracelets for sale.

4 18K gold and diamond David Yurman bracelets for $2,228*

Four gold and diamond David Yurman bracelets for sale.

*Note that Worthy generally does not accept single items worth less than $1,000, and each of these sales are a lot of 2 to 4 items.

CashforGoldUSA accepts all weights and values of gold, silver, diamond, gemstone and other jewelry.

FAQs about selling your David Yurman jewelry

Below are answers to some of the most common questions people have about selling David Yurman jewelry.

Can I trade in my David Yurman?

David Yurman does not offer a trade-in program.

What is the resale value of David Yurman jewelry?

The resale value of your David Yurman jewelry will depend on a lot of different factors, including the condition of the piece, how rare and popular the design is, and the materials that were used to make it. Pieces with diamonds or other gemstones will fetch a higher resale value than similar pieces without stones.

Likewise, if you have the original box or bag that the piece came in you might find it easier to sell the piece to a new owner, as this will make it easier for you to prove the provenance of the piece. 

Typically, expect to get the scrap gold or scrap silver value of your item. Check current value at CashforGoldUSA's gold and silver calculator >>

CashforGoldUSA informational gold calculator
CashforGoldUSA informational gold calculator

It is important to note that this is just for informational purposes, and not a final offer. The only way to get an accurate offer is to send your item in for appraisal.

How can you tell if your David Yurman jewelry is real?

If you purchased your jewelry directly from David Yurman or a reputable jeweler including Neiman Marcus or Saks, then you can rest easy knowing that the piece is authentic. If, however, you purchased your piece from a second-hand buyer or received it as a gift, you may not be 100% certain that it is, in fact, real.

One way to see if your David Yurman jewelry is real is to look for the brand’s trademark in the piece. All authentic David Yurman jewelry is stamped with the David Yurman trademark. Depending on the year and design, this could include:

  • D.Y.
  • D. YURMAN
  • DAVID YURMAN
  • Or even the artist’s signature

Of course, a skilled counterfeiter can forge a trademark. With this in mind, the only way to know 100% whether or not your jewelry is real is to have it appraised.

Can I trade in my David Yurman?

David Yurman does not offer a trade-in program.

What is the resale value of David Yurman jewelry?

The resale value of your David Yurman jewelry will depend on a lot of different factors, including the condition of the piece, how rare and popular the design is, and the materials that were used to make it. Pieces with diamonds or other gemstones will fetch a higher resale value than similar pieces without stones. Typically, expect to get the scrap gold or scrap silver value of your item.

How can you tell if your David Yurman jewelry is real?

If you purchased your jewelry directly from David Yurman or a reputable jeweler including Neiman Marcus or Saks, then you can rest easy knowing that the piece is authentic. If, however, you purchased your piece from a second-hand buyer or received it as a gift, you may not be 100% certain that it is, in fact, real. One way to see if your David Yurman jewelry is real is to look for the brand’s trademark in the piece. All authentic David Yurman jewelry is stamped with the David Yurman trademark.

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