Pawnshop Virgin

[Tmissy]

Hello All, I am thinking of visiting a pawnshop for the first time to preview the types of diamond jewelry than can be found there.

Looking for any tips from PS that frequent and buy diamond jewelry from pawnshops. Basically how not to get ripped off should a find something I like. For example how do you price comparison shop to determine if the price is fair or not? Can you negotiate at a pawnshop?

Are the return polices as what you might find at a large B&M store? For example full refund for purchase price within 30 days with a receipt. so I could conceivably get an appraisal and then return the item if it does not check out to my expectations.

I have observed that some PS have found nice items at pawnshops. I live in the Boston area so any pawnshop suggestions would be welcomed.

 

[RockHugger]

Always haggle. If they won't budge go to another shop.

I never pay more then half of the items original value. They are used items and should be sold at used prices.

I found a 1ct SI/h diamond ring at a pawn shop before. Set in platinum. Was 1000$. Good times.

Now I live in No where land and no pawn shops to be found....

 

[perry]

Pawnshops typically have no return policy - unless the item turns out to be defective. So its buyer beware.

But, you can get some good deals if you look (and some interesting jewelry). I agree with haggling on the price - but you do have to know when to stop haggling.

I have browsed them in the past - and I took my idealscope and loupe with me (and now I have an asetscope as well).

Perry

 

[Miss Sparkly]

I can usually haggle down 30 to 50 % of the asking price. LIke another poster said, it's buyer beware and usually no returns.

 

[LGK]

If you can spend some quality time looking at diamonds and secondhand jewelry, anywhere, IRL that helps quite a bit. Get a loupe and learn how to use it. Knowing how to inspect a piece of jewelry is important- what platinum looks and feels like, what gold looks and feels like. At the antique store I work at for example, I find a *lot* of jewelry that's misidentified, in terms of the metal or even the stone. (Not sure if pawn shops are typically better at that stuff, or not- but I doubt it.) Also learn how to look for repairs, whether prongs are worn or not (retipping a lot of prongs can be quite expensive!). Whether something has been sized or not, and how well the sizing was done.

If you have *any* diamonds of known color/clarity/cut bring them with. It's very helpful to have a known quantity to compare things to.

I love buying second hand and once you start having an idea of what you're looking at- an area of interest you've learned a bit about- it's great fun and you can find some really awesome deals for sure. You just need to have some experience to find them usually.

If I were you, I'd probably spend a good bit of time browsing pawnshops and antique stores before buying, just to get some idea of what you like, and some ability to know what prices are good and what ones aren't before plonking down any serious $$.

A simple brass calipers to measure stones is very helpful, as well as the MM to carat weight conversion chart.

Another thing- if you like antique cut diamonds like OECs and whatnot, look closely at any chunky yellow gold rings from around the '60s to '70s. Many, many, many Edwardian and Art Deco rings were reset in the '60s into "modern" settings. Deco & Edwardian stuff was considered hideous at that time, and "updating" such rings was hugely popular. (And sadly many gorgeous settings were consequently scrapped ) But you can find some great OECs hiding in chunky yellow gold '60s rings because of that, and often they're very inexpensive because they themselves are quite out of style right now.

A lot of antique jewelry has been altered in some way and it's helpful to be able to spot the alterations. For example: I recently found this gorgeous Edwardian diamond filigree bow shaped brooch. The pin clasp was from the right period, and marked 14K, which is what the jeweler IDed it as, and priced it at. Well, upon further inspection: the pin was period, yes, but wasn't original to the piece. It had originally been hinged to move, and was probably part of a larger piece of jewelry, or perhaps a necklace. The whole brooch was platinum, with the added pin the only 14K part. Also because of the fact that it wasn't meant to be a pin, it didn't hang right as one and flipped down. I'm having it turned back into a necklace. You find stuff like that all the time if you know how to look for it.

 

[Tmissy]

Hello All, Thanks for the information.

RockHugger and Sparkly Blond glad to know that I would not be derided if I attempt to negotiate.

Perry, buying my own tools good idea. I assume you learn using them on your own, Will have to search for any tutorials on how to use.

LGK thanks for the varied tips and suggestions.

Everyone's suggestions are loud and clear to train your eyes, look at lots and lots of jewelry to determine pricing, and become proficient in using the tools. Got It!

 

[Tuckins1]

I have made a few purchases form pawn shops. The first thing I do is educate myself on comparable prices online, and in retail stores. You can and should haggle. If you know what something is "worth", then you are able to determine of you are getting a deal or not. Make sure you loupe any piece you are buying and really inspect it. Happy hunting!