Searching for the “best place to sell jewelry near me?”

Do you have diamonds, gold, an engagement ring or other fine jewelry that you no longer want or need? Or perhaps you realize you could sell it for money that you really need instead.

Unlike stocks, bonds, or an old car, jewelry is an asset that tends to be very emotionally loaded, and it can be hard to decide whether or not to sell it for cash — no matter how broke you are!

Add to it the normal fears of getting ripped off, or otherwise finding a legitimate buyer who will give you a fair price.

In this post I outline:

• How to find reputable jewelry buyers “near me”
• 3 places where you could “sell jewelry near me”
• Where you could sell online
• What you should do before you sell
• How to decide whether to sell your jewelry (vs. keeping it)

How to find reputable jewelry buyers “near me”

Have you ever done a Google search for “best place to sell jewelry near me?” You may want to start locally to sell your jewelry:

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The pros of going to a nearby jewelry buyer are you can get cash the same day, 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 around for a reputable gold, diamond buyer or jeweler in your community
• Search the company's Yelp, Better Business Bureau and Google reviews
• Visit, and get a quote
• Visit multiple local businesses
• You can also mail in your jewelry to an only 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 places you could start with:

3 places where you could “sell jewelry near me”

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

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

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.

There are many online jewelry buyers, though our No. 1 recommendation is CashforGoldUSA with its A+ BBB rating, 24-hour payment and more than 20 years in the business. 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 Paypal or check. 10% bonus if you send in your jewelry within 7 days.
5. If you choose not to sell, return your item via insured, trackable FedEX for free.

2. Search for “jewelry buyer near me”

Jewelry stores and pawn shops typically buy fine jewelry, though because the competition in local markets is less competitive, and the overhead of maintaining a retail location and staff more expensive, selling your jewelry near you typically nets a lower payout to you. A jeweler near you will likely offer a jewelry appraisal, often for free, that can help you understand the quality and value of your item — whether or not you choose to sell to them, or elsewhere.

Of course, you can sell to local jewelry shops, but you will miss out on top, online jewelry buyers and likely end up selling for less.

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3. Search for “jewelry stores near me” that buy jewelry

Jewelry stores typically pay a maximum of 70% of melt price, while pawn shops pay even less.

CashforGoldUSA reports paying an average of 80% of gold melt price for jewelry, inclusive of all insurance and shipping — including free returns.

Sterling silver vs white gold: What’s the difference, which is worth more?

Where you could sell online

While there are many online jewelry buyers, our top recommendation is CashforGoldUSA because of its A+ BBB rating and 24-hour payment.

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 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. 

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 are likely 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?

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 in 2023

Is it worth selling jewelry through a consignment shop?

Because brick-and-mortar consignment shops have more overhead costs, you likely won’t make as much as you would selling to an online to a site like CashforGoldUSA if you just search for the “best place to sell jewelry near me.”

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.

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. Start with this: Complete guide to symbols stamped on jewelry

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

1. Understand what you have — the weight and karat of gold, 4Cs of any diamond, whether your jewelry has a brand, and whether it is in style, or will likely be disassembled and sold for scrap. 
2. Get a jewelry appraisal or diamond appraisal and possibly also a diamond certification.
3. Get several quotes from local jewelers and online jewelry and diamond buyers. 
4. 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. 

Here is 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. When you go to the entire world for quotes on what your ring or other jewelry is worth, you are more likely to get a fairer price. Market economics 101.
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, or a handful, of local jewelers, 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 online businesses with hundreds or even thousands of reviews and reports.
3. Ease. You can drive around your town or area, maybe take a train or bus, and schlep around your area’s jewelers or diamond buyback businesses, scratch your head, check your gut and hope for the best price. Online jewelry sites are easy. The good ones offer great customer service, send you a mailer, and communicate constantly with you via text, email or chat — putting you at ease and getting you your money quickly without ever needing to leave the house.

Why sell your jewelry?

Examples of how women have turned jewelry-box clutter into self-care:

• Bonded with kids on a cruise paid for with money from selling ring from a broken engagement.
• Used money from selling earnings from an ex-boyfriend to earn a yoga instructor certificate — and start a new career!
• Profits from selling engagement ring after a divorce used for a hiking retreat in Italy.
• Jewelry inherited from an aunt with whom the new owner had a long and painful relationship, was sold, and the money was used to landscape her yard — which honored the aunt’s love of gardening, gave the niece joy, and improved her home’s value.

All those shared memories are locked in furniture on which you created memories, china you hosted dinner parties together, and linens that represented evenings and mornings spent with one another.

Many relationships involve precious jewelry — investments that represented care, love, tradition and a shared vision for the future.

When the relationship ends, those rings, watches, necklaces, earrings, gold chains, 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.

Why? You’re not enjoying it.

Those diamond rings, necklaces, earrings, and broaches represent something negative (even if there are some fond memories attached).

It all holds energy, good or bad.

Cleanse out the bad energy, welcome the good.

Unlike tossing out old clothes or cleaning your pantry, selling unused, or toxic jewelry can make you serious money.

All that negative energy can translate into a positive experience.

Learn about the top online jewelry auction sites

Reasons to sell your jewelry include:

1. Money in your bank account is always better than jewelry sitting in a box or dish 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, guilt for buying yourself something you don’t use). Get rid of the jewelry, and get rid of the negativity!
4. Clutter. 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! Come on. Let it go!
6. Let it go. Let the man go. Let that negative, complicated relationship with your mom/aunt/friend/cousin who gave you the earrings go. It is just a thing. We’re talking about your life here. Let the material thing go. Embrace your energy.
7. Money. You need more money. You don’t need more crap. And if you’re not wearing and enjoying the thing, it is crap.
8. It is legally yours, so why not? Almost always, the person who received the engagement ring or wedding ring has legal property rights to it in a divorce.

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!

The bottom line is that I sold an engagement ring that I didn’t use, no longer wanted, and kept me holding on to a relationship that I was no longer in.

Plus, I got some cash that I needed at the time.

I don’t think it was insignificant that same month I started my first significant relationship in two years.

I also think that selling those diamond and gold rings has something to do with the fact that my ex and I have been getting along better than since before our split.

In ways I don’t fully understand, I was freed.

I also wrote about how to sell valuable necklaces, watches, and bracelets. Not sure what to do with that pretty Tiffany engagement ring? Read my post on selling Tiffany jewelry for the best price. Same with how to sell Cartier jewelry, LOVE bracelets, and watches for the most money, as well as who buys David Yurman — not to mention Harry Winston jewelry.

Heirloom, inherited, estate and antique jewelry are often confusing and emotional assets that can earn the owner money to honor their loved one in a meaningful way. Learn more about appraising and selling your estate and antique jewelry.

If you specifically want to research selling diamond jewelry or loose diamonds or gemstones, there are some quality resources online and in-person.