Where To Sell Jewelry: 12 Best Places To Earn More Cash

Selling your own jewelry and cleaning out your jewelry box can fetch a surprising amount of cash. But you must find out where to sell jewelry to make more profit!

Choosing the best option depends on how fast you want the money and what kind of unwanted jewelry you’re trying to sell.

You can sell jewelry at local retailers, such as jewelry stores or pawn shops, or you can sell jewelry through various websites.

Whether selling fine jewelry or costume jewelry, weigh the pros and cons below to find the best place to sell jewelry online or in person.

Sell Your Jewelry: Where To Sell Jewelry Online

Selling jewelry online doesn’t have to be confusing or scary, there are plenty of reputable jewelry buyers that will give you a fair price for your pieces.

Whether you want cash for a diamond piece, gold jewelry, or precious metals, you want to know that you’ll get the best value.

Below is a breakdown of the pros and cons of the top places for selling jewelry online so you can make an informed decision.

1. Worthy

Worthy is an online marketplace for fine jewelry and watches. They are an online auction house that deals with high-end jewelry and brands.

All you have to do is give them details on your jewelry and mail it to them if you like their estimate of your pieces. They’ll handle the rest!

To make it even easier, Worthy provides free, secure FedEx shipping for your jewelry, and they will ensure your item is up to $50,000 with Lloyds of London.

Once your item arrives at the Worthy offices, they will clean it and take professional photographs for auction. They also use objective, external labs like GIA and IGI to inspect and evaluate the piece to give you a more accurate price estimate.

Then, Worthy will sell your jewelry at auction, and the highest bidder will buy your piece. Don’t worry. You get to set a reserve price, the lowest price you will accept for your jewelry.

Worthy takes a fee of 10% – 18% of the sale. The higher the value of your item, the lower the fee. Their fee for a multiple-piece sale is a flat 18%.

You can also set a “buy it now” price, ending the auction and getting you the amount you want to earn from your jewelry.

Pros

Instant price appraisal, then free evaluation for a more accurate estimate
Complimentary diamond and watch grading
Free secure pickup and secure tracking service
Full insurance coverage from the moment your item leaves your home
Free cleaning and professional photographs
Get money fast, and items sell within an average of 10-14 business days

Cons

No guarantee of sale
Final sale price is determined by bidders, not by estimate
Fees as high as 18%
Once you set a reserve price, you are committed to the sale

You can get started selling your jewelry on Worthy right here. 

2. Cash for Gold USA

Cash For Gold USA is great for selling jewelry online and getting money quickly. They will buy all kinds of jewelry from you at reasonable rates.

Despite their name, Cash For Gold USA will purchase gold, silver, platinum, and diamond jewelry from you- not just gold!

They also accept broken jewelry, and you’ll be paid based on weight and purity rather than the item’s condition.

The process is easy to sell your jewelry to Cash For Gold USA. You just fill out a form and choose your preferred method of shipping.

FedEx shipments are insured for up to $5,000; additional insurance is available for higher-value items.

Within 24 hours, you will be sent an offer from a certified appraisal technician. They even match any competitor offers you’ve received.

If you’re not happy with the offer, they will send your jewelry back to you for free. If you accept their offer, you’ll be paid within 24 hours, so you can get paid fast when selling jewelry to them.

Pros

Accepts fine pieces regardless of age, value, or whether it’s mass-produced
Will buy broken or damaged jewelry
Pays within 24 hours
Insured shipping up to $5,000
Mails back jewelry for free if you decline their offer
Owned by C.J. Environmental, a business with a BBB rating of “A”
Get a 10% bonus above their estimate if you ship within seven days

Cons

The minimum karat for gold jewelry is 8k
You do not get competing bids from auction buyers
May not get the highest offer for diamond jewelry and other more valuable gems

3. Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s is one of the best-known names for art and collectibles auctions.

They have auction houses in many places, including New York and Paris, but they also have an online auction house perfect for selling jewelry and earning top dollar.

Sotheby’s is a great place to sell your jewelry that’s rare or highly valuable. You can sell gold and diamond jewelry at an auction or with a private sale.

Once appraised, they’ll list your items until you find a jewelry buyer.

You might have to wait up to 7 days for an estimate, so it is not as fast as other platforms. It may take longer if they need to do additional research on the piece to get the proper value of it.

They don’t have the same service as other companies, such as free shipping and insurance, but you can earn more money because they have a large network of jewelry buyers with deep pockets.

Sotheby’s offers a lot of luxury auctions, including online jewelry auctions, and they have been auctioning for over 200 years. This makes Sotheby’s a trustworthy choice for jewelry sales.

Pros

Trusted place to sell rare or valuable jewelry
Reliable auction site
You can earn a lot of money for your jewelry
Have the option of an auction or private sale

Cons

Jewelry must be worth $2,000 or more
Long wait for an estimate, before you sell your jewelry
Doesn’t offer shipping or insurance

4. The Real Real

The Real Real is an online luxury consignment site that will evaluate your jewelry and sell it for a determined price. It is an online portal of gently used, designer furniture, rugs, clothes, and much more.

To send your item to The Real Real, you can schedule a pickup, ship, or drop off your jewelry.

Once the item is sold, you receive payment minus the consignment commission, plus the compensation.

Items not sold within a year are sent back to you at TheReal Real’s expense.

TheRealReal sets the sales prices using data points from recent sales. They charge commission fees, but these fees get smaller as the value of your pieces increases.

You keep up to 70% of the sales price for jewelry that sells for $995 or more. Watches you sell for at least $2,495 means you’ll pocket 85% of the sale cost.

You’ll also get paid for your jewelry within 24 hours of the sale, an excellent perk of selling jewelry with The Real Real.

Pros

A+ BBB rating
Transparent consignment fees
Pays within 24 hours

Cons

Not just focused on jewelry sales
Have to pay consignment fees, which can be high
Only consigns high-end brands

Local Jewelry Stores: Sell Jewelry In Person

5. Pawn Shops

You will not get as much for your jewelry at a pawn shop as you would at local jewelry stores. But pawnshops will buy most kinds of jewelry, including watches, costume jewelry, and trendy collections.

You can even sell gold jewelry at pawn shops, but you will want to ensure you know the value of the gold jewelry before selling it.

Shoppers at a pawn shop expect ultra-low prices, and jewelry buyers must account for some profit margin when they resell it. This means you might get a lower offer for your jewelry if you sell it at a pawn shop instead of elsewhere.

If you’re looking to sell your jewelry, ask around at multiple pawn shops to compare prices and ensure you get a good price.

I’d also skip the pawn shop if you want to sell fine jewelry or valuable items like diamond jewelry or loose diamonds. But they are great for selling more modest jewelry and fast cash for your jewelry.

Pros

Can sell any jewelry, including estate jewelry and other jewelry
Earn cash on the spot
No shipping, show up to the shop 

Cons

May earn less than at a jewelry store
You should know the value of your jewelry before selling it to get a fair price

6. Jewelry Stores

A local jewelry store may be the best place to sell fine jewelry and get a fair price. However, jewelry stores are more likely to buy your item and give you store credit than to pay you cash.

Therefore, a local jeweler might not be the right option if you are looking to earn money quickly. But if you want to update your jewelry collection or earn store credit towards a gift, jewelry stores may be the right place to sell your jewelry.

National jewelry stores offer trade-in and buy-back programs for their own jewelry you bought, which you may not get from a local jeweler. You must show a purchase receipt to receive a trade-in towards a new purchase at a local jeweler.

Most jewelry stores will allow you to trade your diamond items for the full amount you paid, as long as your new purchase is double that amount.

Jewelry stores also offer online gold and platinum buyback programs, where you can ship these items to them for free and receive a competitive offer.

Jewelry stores know jewels, so they can give you an accurate appraisal and a good offer. Make sure you read and understand the buyback terms and conditions before selling to a jewelry store.

Pros

Get store credit towards a new diamond purchase
Trusted source
Secure process for gold and platinum trade-ins

Cons

Diamond pieces must be purchased at the store you are trading them in at
You must have a receipt for diamond trade-ins
You might not earn cash
Need to read buyback terms and conditions

Zales

Zales is a well-known jewelry store selling jewelry for 90 years, and even where I got my engagement ring from. They offer a Lifetime Diamond Commitment (for gold purchases over $200) and Zales Gold Exchange.

According to their Lifetime Diamond Commitment, Zales has a lifetime guaranteed value for Zales diamond bridal sets, solitaire rings, solitaire earrings, necklaces, or solitaire pendants. This does not include lab-created diamonds. You must have a valid Zales sales receipt for your trading item.

You will receive credit towards your next diamond jewelry purchase if the new item costs at least twice what you paid for the jewelry you are trading in. Zales guarantees that the item you trade will be valued at 100% of its original net purchase price for Zales store credit.

Zales Gold Exchange is a good place to get cash for your gold and platinum jewelry. They offer shipping and insurance up to $500. Zales Gold Exchange will also send you a recording of your package being opened, unpacked, and weighed, for your peace of mind.

They will also tell you in advance what their offer is, which is based on the afternoon London Fix. When you accept their offer, a check will be mailed to you within 2 days. If you do not like their offer, you can return their uncashed check within 30 days and they will return your jewelry to you for free.

KAY Jewelers

KAY Jewelers is another reputable jeweler to sell your jewelry at. You can go into the store to sell pieces or even trade the diamond items you purchased at KAY.

KAY will give you the original net purchase price (minus tax and shipping) as your trade-in value. This excludes lab-created diamonds, and they also do not accept gemstones, gold, silver, or other metals.

However, they accept gold and platinum jewelry through their KAY Gold Exchange program.

At KAY Gold Exchange, they will accept broken and mismatched jewelry items as long as they are made of gold above 10 karats or platinum 900 or 950. You must remove diamonds or other gemstones before sending in your articles, as they will not pay you for these or remove them and send them back to you.

Similar to Zales, KAY Gold Exchange will send you a Gold Exchange Packet, provide free shipping, and video your items being unpacked and weighed. They also base their prices on the London Fix.

Jared

Jared is another of the top stores to sell your jewelry locally. Jared has been selling diamond rings and other jewelry for more than 100 years.

They will give you the full purchase price of any Jared diamond pieces (excluding lab-created diamonds) towards a new diamond purchase. This new purchase must be twice the price of your trade-in piece and must be diamond.

Jared will not accept diamonds that have been chipped, cracked, or damaged for trade-in.

You can sell your old and unwanted gold and platinum jewelry online to Jared Gold Exchange. Like KAY, they will accept gold pieces of 10 karats or more, and platinum 900 or 950, and you must remove diamonds and gemstones before sending in your jewelry. They also base their prices on the London Fix.

Jared Gold Exchange will provide shipping packages and insurance for up to $500. Once they receive your items, they take a video of unpacking and weighing each item twice. Then, they will email you an offer. You can accept or reject the offer and have your jewelry mailed back to you for free.

7. “We Buy Gold” Shops

Many businesses will do a gold exchange, not just jewelry buyers. You can sell jewelry with different metals and stones at these shops.

Additionally, you can sell broken or damaged pieces, and their value will not be affected.

Exchange stores accept almost anything with precious metals. You can even sell gold bullion and collectible coins for cash.

This isn’t the place to necessarily sell vintage jewelry if they aren’t a valuable material, but everything is practically fair game.

Gold exchange stores are likely to pay you the scrap value for your gold, diamonds, silver, and platinum pieces.

You may earn less for the quick cash sale, but upfront payment can be better than trying to find a buyer yourself.

If you’re looking for a fast and easy way to sell your jewelry and get paid ASAP, a “we buy gold” shop might be the way to go.

Pros

Easy and fast
Cash up-front
May accept any type of jewelry
You can shop around for the best rates
Can sell broken jewelry

Cons

May earn less than if you sold the jewelry yourself
May get more money for vintage pieces elsewhere 

8. Consignment Shops

Consignment shops are not the same as pawn shops. In a consignment store, you bring your fine jewelry in, and the shop will display it until someone purchases it.

You do not get paid right away. Instead, you will earn money once your jewelry is sold.

Consignment shops are essentially serving as your personal jewelry showroom, and you will pay for that privilege.

Consignment rates can be high, sometimes up to 50% of the item’s value. Be sure to ask what the rate is before selling your jewelry at a consignment shop.

There is a chance that the consignment shop will not accept your jewelry for sale if they don’t think they can sell it.

Even if they do consign it, it is possible that your piece may not sell. In that case, they would return it to you, and you don’t usually have to pay a fee.

Pros

Your jewelry is displayed at a storefront
You don’t usually have to pay a fee to consign, you only pay once the item sells

Cons

High rates up to 50%
You may need to wait a long time

Bonus Places To Sell Jewelry: Create Your Own Store

Sometimes you want to sell things but with your own price point in mind- you can get more money by selling directly to customers.

Have you ever bought used stuff online before? You can turn around and be the seller by offloading your jewelry online on your online store or social media.

9. Etsy Shop

Etsy is a great place to sell handmade or vintage jewelry. You can resell items you’ve bought or your own work, plus there are so many things to sell on Etsy to earn extra cash.

You can sell jewelry of any kind really, including homemade jewelry or fine jewelry.

However, Etsy may not be the best place to re-sell expensive jewelry- you’ll want to see what they have similar to your offerings or get an estimate for your jewelry to know what it’s worth.

You can visit a local jeweler for an estimate and decide whether you want to sell there or stick with Etsy.

Etsy has a buyers’ network from all over the world. Plus, it’s easy to use and secure.

Etsy does charge a $0.20 fee to list each item, which will be charged every 4 months as long as it is listed.

Then, they have a 5% transaction fee when you sell your item. which isn’t much.

You also are not required to pay a monthly fee to sell on the platform, although they offer an optional Etsy Plus package for growing brands.

Pros

Fees are relatively low
Audience is large

Cons

Jewelry must be handmade or vintage
Vintage items must be more than 20 years old

10. eBay Store

Sell your jewelry from the comfort of your own home rather than heading to the jewelry store! eBay is a perfect site to sell jewelry and so much more.

eBay is a good option if you have jewelry like necklaces or rings that don’t have a high resale value on luxury jewelry sites.

Plus, if you’re just selling a few items, you don’t even need a paid subscription to sell on eBay.

Make sure you describe your jewelry properly and list it in the correct category. It’s also important to look at competing listings for similar items to get an idea of what people will buy your item for.

You can opt to run an auction, where your starting price is lower but bidders bid against each other to drive up the price.

The other option is to set a “Buy It Now” price for whatever amount you want to earn for your jewelry and wait for the right buyer to come along.

Once your item sells, you will get money immediately if they use a PayPal or credit card.

eBay fees for sales of jewelry and watches are 12.85%, with a maximum fee of $750 per item.

Pros

Sell from home
Can sell low-value or other jewelry
Don’t need to pay a subscription to list a few items

Cons

You have to ship the items
Risk of scams- see our safety tips below!

11. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is a peer-to-peer social media platform. It is super easy to list items; the best part is you can sell anything.

There are plenty of other ways to make money on Facebook too, but you can easily sell some unused jewelry- or other unwanted items!

Oftentimes buyers will haggle on jewelry prices on this platform, and you don’t want to lose out on making more money.

On the Marketplace, you can arrange meetups or pickup options for your items with local buyers. It might even be someone you know, like a friend or neighbor.

Pros

Sell to someone you know
Easy to list
Earn cash

Cons

Time-consuming to deal with no-shows
Buyers may haggle

12. Craigslist

Another great option for selling your jewelry locally is Craigslist.

Here, you will upload a picture and description of what you are selling, and someone in your area will reach out to you to purchase it.

Craigslist sales are usually done locally, through meetups, and with cold hard cash.

Be wary of anyone who wants to wire you money or send you a check and ask you to mail your jewelry to them, this is a common scam. Since the risks of getting scammed are higher on Craigslist, be sure you sell safely.

It is common for buyers on Craigslist to haggle over prices, so you’ll want to back up your pricing with a strong description and maybe even list it for a slightly higher price so you don’t take less than you want.

Pros

Easy to list
Free to list
Earn cash
Sell locally

Cons

Time-consuming to deal with no-shows
Buyers may haggle
Risk of scams

6 Jewelry Tips To Get The Most Money

Here are some top tips for selling your jewelry to get the most money, whether you are selling jewelry online or locally.

1. Be Informed On Your Pieces

If you want an immediate sale, your options will be limited on where you can sell. If you can wait, researching other possibilities allows you to find a better price for your pieces.

Visit an American Gem Society (AGS) jeweler who buys jewelry (not all do) and learn your options for selling your particular type of jewelry.

Pawnshops can help you with immediate sales, but you will need to visit several to get a good idea of what brokers will pay for a piece like yours.

When you decide to sell jewelry at an auction, online, or locally, you must ensure you understand the selling process to get a fair price.

And when you sell to a jewelry store, ensure you understand their buyback policies.

2. Get A Professional Appraisal 

Do you know how much your jewelry is worth? Resale value is a numbers game; you don’t want to be gypped! 

Knowing the value of your jewelry is one of our top tips for selling it because it will help you earn an appropriate amount of money, especially fine jewelry like gold or diamonds.

You should get an independent appraisal to compare estimates you will receive from various buyers at any of the possible sales avenues.

You may need to pay several hundred dollars to receive an official report from an independent appraiser to keep for your records, but it may be worth every penny to earn more in sales.

Many jewelers will provide an appraisal for free so you’ll know more about the resale value of your pieces.

However, you may not want to have the same source purchasing your jewelry provide your appraisal if you’re worried about them underselling you.

3. Have The History Ready (If Possible)

If you know the history of the item you are trying to sell, ensure that information is written down and ready to share with your buyer.

For example, purchase receipts and origin information are constructive for an appraisal.

If you don’t have history available, you can still sell your fine jewelry, but future you should keep records of all your jewelry purchases to have more info for resale value.

Buyers will be willing to pay a higher price for a piece of jewelry with a detailed history- plus if there’s a detailed appraisal!

4. Be VERY Detailed

When you are describing the jewelry, be as detailed as possible.

Describe the gemstones, cut, setting, and more for jewelry like rings, earrings, and necklaces. If your piece is gold, indicate how many karats it is.

For your diamond necklace or amethyst earrings, you’ll want to specify where they’re from and how they were cut.

This will help your buyer know exactly what they are buying and determine if it is what they want.

This detailed information also helps back up your appraisal and get you paid the right amount of cash for the value of your jewelry.

5. If Selling Jewelry Online, Be Safe

Safety is key when you want to do local sales through Facebook or Craigslist.

Be careful sharing your address and personal information, and make sure you trust the person you are selling to.

Opt to meet in a public place to be safer. Many police stations allow peer-to-peer sales to occur in their parking lots to protect the sellers and buyers.

Never accept a wire transfer or check in return for mailing your jewelry item to someone you don’t know. This is a common scam that is used to rip people off.

The wire transfer may never go through or the check will bounce, and the scammer will get your jewelry for free.

There is a higher risk of scams when selling your jewelry online on websites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist.

You will be safer selling your jewelry, especially high-value items like diamond and gold pieces, to a reputable dealer instead of an individual.

Ultimately, you should go with your gut – if something doesn’t feel right about a buyer or an offer you are receiving, decline to sell to that person.

6. Wait For Better Offers

Unless you want a rush sale, don’t accept the first bid that comes your way. You could get a few other offers, which may be better- and worth the wait.

Auctions are great for this because buyers compete with each other. Each offer will need to be higher than the last, and you will see the amount you earn go up and up with each offer.

Even if you sell your jewelry locally on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, you don’t have to accept the first offer you get if you feel it is too low. Feel free to haggle the price up to what you want or decline and wait for a better offer.

Reselling Your Jewelry Online: FAQs

Is it worth selling my old jewelry?

Selling old jewelry is a great way to pay some bills, pay off your debts, treat yourself to something nice, or make room for new styles.

Remember that ring you’ve had for years but never wore once? Turn those into your new vacation fund!

There’s no better feeling than putting those unwanted pieces on the market and enjoying your earnings in other areas of life!

Is selling jewelry and other goods online a good idea?

Selling online is a savvy, time-saving way to flip your unwanted items and make money on something you no longer need or want.

If you sell your jewelry online, you can reach a wider audience and avoid the hassle of finding, communicating with, meeting, and exchanging jewelry with a local buyer.

In-person, you might be more comfortable selling fine jewelry, such as loose diamonds, diamond pieces, or gold items, to a local store.

But keep in mind that several reputable websites will ensure and provide secure shipping and tracking for your jewelry, such as Worthy.

As long as you choose a reputable company or website, selling jewelry online is a great way to earn extra cash for that old diamond ring or gold necklace you no longer want.

Final Thoughts

It can be hard to pick where to sell jewelry online or locally with so many options, but how much cash you can earn depends on the quality of the jewelry and how you can earn money fast.

Getting multiple quotes will help you find the best price for your pieces, so contact as many sellers as possible!

You can sell your fine jewelry to buyers at auction or directly to a local jewelry store. Just make sure you get an appraisal, so you know how much your item is worth (especially if it is gold or diamond).

Some options work quickly if you’re looking to get paid within 24 hours. But if you wait, you may earn more than the selling price.

Each option has pros and cons, so look closely and pick whatever suits your needs. Don’t hesitate to look each company up to compare or call with questions.

Our top recommendation to sell your jewelry is to use Worthy, as they have a streamlined and stress-free process to help you get the most money for your used jewelry. 

The more informed you are, the more money you earn!