Stones and diamonds in pawned jewellery: why the gold comes first
Short answer: for most jewellery, lend on the gold, which you can test and weigh, and treat stones as a separate question. A diamond's value depends on characteristics that need proper grading, and small stones often add little to what a pawn shop can sell the piece for.
Why the gold comes first
Gold has an official daily reference price and can be tested and weighed at the counter. Stones are harder: their value depends on details that need training and equipment to judge.
What decides a diamond's value
- Carat weight. The size of the stone.
- Cut. How well it is shaped and proportioned.
- Colour. How colourless it is.
- Clarity. How few internal and external flaws it has.
A grading report from a recognised laboratory describes these and makes a stone much easier to value and to sell.
Small stones
Small diamonds and coloured stones in everyday jewellery often add little to the resale price compared with the gold. Many shops lend on the gold weight only and treat the stones as a bonus when the item sells.
Large or certified stones
For a large stone, or one with a grading report, get the opinion of a gemologist before lending more than the gold value. Check that the report matches the stone.
Weigh only the gold
Whatever you decide about the stones, the gold value is based on the gold weight only. Remove the stones' weight, or ask for the gold weight if the item comes with documents.
How PawnMeter helps
PawnMeter calculates the value of the gold from its weight, the karat and the official reference price of the day. It does not put a value on stones, which stay a separate decision for your staff or a specialist.
PawnMeter: Type the item. PawnMeter shows the resale price and a suggested loan, calculated only from what comparable items really sold for. When there is not enough data, it says so instead of guessing.
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