This is a good way to get extra money fast and when you need it. Look through your jewelry box and get out all the broken necklaces, old earrings (the ones you have lost a match too) or earrings you no longer like or wear. You can also sell bracelets, old charms, or even rings. If you ask, they will give you the money for the gold and you can keep the diamonds. I plan on having the diamonds reset into some earrings some day.
Instead of just letting it sit in your jewelry box, take it to a reputable jewelry store, and get some much needed cash for it. Gold is at a all time high, so if you need extra money for something, now is the time to get cash for gold! I recently took in some old jewelry and got enough money from it to get a new mattress that I desperately needed. I even had enough money to get several Christmas presents. Now is the time to cash it in and get a great price for your old gold. Happy Holidays.
By dorothy wedenoja from New Creek, WV
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
At the age of 49, I know I am getting on in years and want to spend more time with my grandson. When cleaning out my jewelry box, I noticed just what items I have held on to that will never be used again, or are broken or have missing sets too. I realized that those things can be put to good use besides just gathering dust, when exchanged for cash and use that money for other needed things.
So I took them into my local jewelry store where they welcome buying your scrap gold and got paid back $89.00. I plan on using that money to take my grandson to see the aquarium. At my age, the memories that we can make from that trip will be more valuable for both of us than those items laying there even longer than the 32 years they have been there just collecting dust thus far.
By Julie from Tenn
I have seen ads and heard others talking about jewelry parties where you sell your gold for cash. The only reason I'm NOT going to do that is because I'm afraid that when the US dollar is worthless, I won't have any "money" or valuables. You might want to hang on to SOME of your good jewelry
Do not mail your jewelry to those companies advertising on TV or in Magazines. One TV show did a sting. Your best bet is to go to a few jewelry stores and see who gives you the best deal.
Will jewelry stores pay for gold filled jewelry?
It is my experience that they only pay for gold and silver.
If you have a jewelry store that does both--buy for scrap and buy and resell antique or vintage pieces they may buy gold filled for the piece (meaning say it is a neat pin or necklace that someone may wear, they may buy it).
As an example, back in the 80s I inherited some ugly to me gold filled broaches and necklaces. They were still functional--I can't remember the "designer name--maybe Monet or Trifalgari--it escapes me. But they were "higher end", gold filled (marked GF) costume jewelry, just to me, hideous.
A jewelry store in my town bought a few of those because of the pieces-- they were still wearable and collectible. Interestingly enough, l just saw one of them was fetching $20 on eBay--who knew--it was an unusual "U" pattern--now they call them statement pieces with salmon color stones. I think I got 2 bucks for it back when I sold it. To me, the whole lot was worthless as I would never wear it, so I was happy at the time for the few bucks I got for each piece.
If you have a store like that in your town you could fetch a small amount for these kind of pieces. Again, this is not scrap value and it would only apply if the pieces were still wearable.
If it is true "junk" jewelry (broken or damaged) I suggest gathering up all of your pieces--see if you can fill up a small US Post Office one price mailing box and put it on ebay to sell to artists.
I have a box just like this I need to list sitting on my dining room table. It is filled with a bunch of broken GF necklaces, GF earrings (some singles), bracelets, broken beaded pieces, and such.
Some of these lots can fetch into the low teens; if there are interesting stones or beads with them, even more.
Search eBay using the term junk jewelry lot or estate jewelry lot and look at some of the sold prices so you can get a feel for how this works. Artists who make assemblages love these lots.
I hope you can sell your pieces one of these two ways.
Pghgirl has given excellent suggestions and this type of jewelry lots usually will sell within a few weeks/months on eBay. Some sellers just weigh baggies and take pictures of bags which is undoubtedly the easiest way but may be a little slower to sell.
Here are a couple of good examples from present listings on eBay. You can always place a watch on a listing to see if it sells.
www.ebay.com/
www.ebay.com/
You can always check sold listings on eBay to see what people are really buying and what price they are willing to pay. You do not have to have a large amount as showing pictures of 5 or 6 pieces will sell if priced right.
www.ebay.com/
Even new sellers can usually list items like this on eBay as shipping is usually not a problem. But it will take good pictures to sell items like this.
I have several pieces of gold jewelry that are broken or unusable. How do you know if it is really gold? How do you know you are getting the right price when you take it to a jeweler? If I weight it on my kitchen scale and it is 3 ounces, is that what the jeweler will weight it as? Thanks in advance.
By Linda from Ashdown, AR
Just take it to two or more jewelers and see what they would be willing to pay you and if they're willing to buy ;-) Do not use the places like Cash 4 Gold because they only pay pennies on the dollar! You're better off to go to local reputable jewelers!
My brother buys scrap gold all the time. He is very honest and reputable. If you would like more information, you can contact me directly as I don't think we are allowed to out and out advertise on this site. He weighs the gold using a special scale and I believes weighs it by the penny ounce. Not sure what that means. As suggested above, take it to a couple of jewelers first to get estimates. It also depends on the day of the week because gold is a commodity and the prices per ounce changes daily.
My husband took all of the single earrings, old, broken, and one very ugly piece of jewelry I had to a jeweler who makes his own pieces (not a chain store.) For not very much money he made me up a gorgeous pendant and to my surprise those tiny little stones in the ugly piece were real diamonds!
I own a dental lab and I am very knowledgeable and current on prices of gold. First- DO NOT send your gold to something like "cash for gold" or any other TV ad, your best bet would be to sell it at auction form on ebay. You can also do what I do when I have scrap gold in my lab- send it to a dental refining company. Rather than getting paid per piece, you will get paid per pennyweight or troy ounce minus whatever their assaying price is. Usually you get anywhere from 85%- 95% of the value of your gold. A couple places to try- Jensen Industries in CT, or The Argen Corp. in CA.
Another option is having it remelted into something nice like a ring or a pendant (which by the way I can do since it is the same process of making gold crowns). I use a website to buy the mold to make the piece, it is www.waxpatterns.com It has thousands and thousands of patterns to choose from. My fee to remelt your gold into something new is only $45 per piece. Way less than a jeweler! And I will send you back (or buy from you) whatever gold is left over. The best way to determine how much gold you have is using a plain and simple kitchen scale- or to be more accurate bring it to a jeweler and have them weigh it.
The website that sells the patterns has a number beside each pattern. That number indicates how much gold you will need for that specific piece. You must make sure there is a little left over for the button (this is the end of the mold where the gold is usually burnt). If you would like any other info, feel free to contact me.
I know it's better to sell it to a smelter but I couldn't find one in Chicago. Do you know of any in Chicago?
Where is the best place to sell gold in Las Vegas?
By GoldFather from Las Vegas, NV
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
Where is the best place to sell your jewelry? I have been out of work since December 11, 2008 per my doctor's orders.
Learning to sell jewelry any tips on displaying and selling jewelry. Just beginning, marking, laying out on table, lighting, things like these.
What is the best way to sell scrap gold to get the most bang for my buck?
