10 Best Places to Sell Jewelry

Do you have fine jewelry sitting around the house and not being worn? Why keep having it take up space when you can turn it into cash? There are several reputable places to sell jewelry online at a fair price.

Maybe it’s an old engagement ring/wedding set, diamond bracelet or earrings, or an old heirloom piece that you no longer want.

Whatever the case, we can show you how to turn your unwanted fine jewelry into money in the bank. 

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Where to Sell Jewelry

Selling fine jewelry can be a daunting task. How much is a piece worth? Is the buyer honest and trustworthy, or are they simply out to rip you off?

You can sell your fine jewelry pieces to a local pawn shop or gold buyer, but doing so limits your audience and your potential profit.

When you sell with the best online sites, you automatically broaden your audience to buyers around the world.

Expanding your potential buyer list means you have a better chance of selling your jewelry at a price that pleases you. Consider these online jewelry sites as you prepare to sell your unwanted fine jewelry.

1. Worthy

Worthy homepage

Worthy is an online jewelry auction site that exists to bring fine jewelry sellers and buyers together in a luxury auction marketplace. And to do so with transparency and integrity.

That means you’ll always know exactly what the selling process is with Worthy. Here’s how it works.

  1. You contact Worthy and give them a description of your jewelry piece(s). This helps them determine the best route for the sale. 
  2. Worthy mails you a free shipping label and packing instructions for your piece. Then they send FedEx to pick your fine jewelry piece up from a location of your choice. Your shipment is insured by Lloyd’s of London for up to $100,000, so it’s always in safe hands. 
  3. Your jewelry arrives at Worthy and is checked in and screened with Worthy’s secure system (constant camera monitoring) by their dedicated team. 
  4. The jewelry piece is professionally cleaned and photographed.
  5. Third-party certified professional gemologists inspect and authenticate your fine jewelry item(s). 
  6.  Worthy creates an auction listing for your piece that includes the third-party grading report, professional photos and a great description. 
  7. Worthy will help you get an idea of what similar items have sold for in the past so that you can set a minimum “reserve price” for your jewelry piece. 
  8. When the auction ends, Worthy sells your piece to the highest bidder that meets or exceeds your reserve price. If the highest offer is lower than your reserve price, you have the option to have your jewelry returned to you. Worthy will return unsold items free of charge and insured. 

What’s Next? 

Worthy doesn’t charge you anything until your item sells. Once your item sells, the company charges a commission fee based on the selling price of your item.

Fees

Value Fee
$5000 or less 18%
$5,001 to $15,000 14%
$15,0001 to $30,000 12%
$30,001 and above 10%

The nice thing about using an auction site like Worthy is that you get professional assistance all the way through the transaction. From inspection to sale, fine jewelry professionals are with you the whole time.

This process helps ensure you’re not selling your jewelry piece for too little–or to the wrong people.

Note: Worthy only accepts jewelry pieces that have a minimum sale price of $1500 or more.

For lesser value items, you’ll have to choose one of the other options available.

Trustpilot score: 4.8 out of 5 stars

2. Cash For Gold USA

cash for gold usa homepage

If you have gold jewelry to sell, you can sell it to Cash For Gold USA. This company will take just about any type of gold. 

You can sell them:

  • Intact jewelry such as bracelets, earrings, rings, etc.
  • Gold nuggets
  • Gold dental crowns
  • Scrap gold
  • Broken jewelry

And more. The company accepts any karat gold between 8K and 24K. Since the company pays for gold based on purity and weight, it doesn’t matter what condition the gold is in.

The process of selling to this company is pretty simple. You start by filling out the submission form on the site’s home page and requesting whether you want to ship via FedEx or USPS.

Cash For Gold USA will send you a shipping package based on the information you’ve given.

What’s Next

After you get your free shipping package, you can send in your insured, trackable package of gold. When Cash For Gold USA receives your parcel, they’ll have one of their certified technicians appraise your gold.

The appraisal typically happens within 24 hours of when they receive the shipment. After they analyze it, they’ll send you a check for their buy offer amount.

They can pay via PayPal if you choose, too.

If you’re happy with the amount you’ve received, just keep your cash. If you don’t like their offer, you can return the money, and they’ll send your gold back free of charge.

Shopper Approved Rating: 5 Stars

3. The Diamond Valet

the diamond valet homepage

The Diamond Valet operates with three goals in mind: convenience, security and customer satisfaction. They buy the following jewelry items:

  • Diamond engagement and wedding rings
  • Diamond stud earrings
  • Tennis bracelets 

Like some other companies, The Diamond Valet gives you an online price range for your diamond when you fill out their online form.

After you send your diamond in, the company’s diamond experts evaluate your ring and give you a final offer price.

What’s Next? 

The Diamond Valet’s authenticity experts don’t remove your diamond(s) from the setting to give you an offer price. They keep the piece intact. If you decide you don’t want to accept their offer, they’ll send your diamond piece back to you.

If you decide you do want to accept their offer, The Diamond Valet will send you a cashier’s check or company check. They’ll send the check via UPS, FedEx 2nd Day Delivery or USPS First Class Mail.

The Diamond Valet will send you free shipping labels and instructions and return your item free of charge if you decide not to sell. Note that the company also buys pre-owned watches.

As with their diamonds, The Diamond Valet only buys high-end pre-owned watches in brands such as Cartier, Rolex, Breitling and so on.

The process for selling your name brand pre-owned watch is the same as it is for selling diamond jewelry.

You start by filling out the appraisal form, and then sending your watch in for authentication if you’re happy with the online price range quote.

If you’re satisfied with the final price quote, you can agree to sell, and the company will send you a check for the amount of the sale.

Trustpilot score: No reviews

4. I Do Now I Don’t

i do now i dont homepage

The I Do Now I Don’t website says it’s the largest jewelry buyer from the public. Their goal, according to the site, is to help jewelry sellers receive the strongest possible pricing for their diamonds and jewelry. 

The selling process with I Do Now I Don’t is simple, and the company offers two selling options.

  1. You can list your item for sale on their site
  2. You can take the company’s Direct Offer, where they buy your piece directly

You’ll likely earn more money if you choose to list your item for sale on the site, but the downside is that it will probably take longer to get that money.

Note that it’s free to list your piece on the site. The listing will expire after 30 days if your jewelry item hasn’t sold, but it’s free to relist it again.

What’s Next? 

I Do Now I Don’t does things a bit differently than other sites. You don’t send your jewelry in for authentication until after it sells. Once you have an accepted offer on your item, you’ll send it in, and the company will authenticate it.

If the sale is processed, you’ll be charged a commission rate based on the I Do Now I Don’t commission scale:

  • 20% for items selling between $500 and $5,000
  • 18% for items selling between $5,001 and $10,000
  • 15% for items selling between $10,001 and $50,000
  • 10% for items selling at over $50,000

(Note that you will pay a 25% commission if you choose to use the company’s VIP Service. The VIP Service provides pre-authentication and valuation, cleaning and photography for your jewelry piece.)

If there are any issues with authentication, the buyer will have the option to renegotiate the deal or cancel it. After authentication is finished and your sale is complete, you will receive your payment on the 15th of the month following completion of purchase.

Payments are sent in the form of a check via USPS.

Trustpilot score: 2.7 out of 5 stars

5. The RealReal

The RealReal homepage

The RealReal is an online luxury consignment store that helps clients buy and sell a variety of luxury items, including fine jewelry. Here’s how selling your jewelry online would work with TheRealReal.

You choose from three easy ways to get your fine jewelry piece to TheRealReal:

  1. Shipping your piece directly using a free, printable shipping label
  2. Having your item picked up from a location of your choice (this service available in over 20 metro areas)
  3. Bringing your jewelry piece into a consignment location (Chicago, Miami, Dallas, NYC, SanFrancisco, LA, Washington DC)

Once The RealReal has received your jewelry, they’ll authenticate it and inform you of their suggested list price. If you agree, they’ll list your item for sale.

What’s Next?

After your jewelry piece sells, you can choose to get paid by Direct Deposit or by check. The RealReal gives you a large commission on any item they sell for you.

Here are the commission rates you’ll pay:

  • 60% on items with an original resale value of $145 or less
  • 50% on items with an initial resale value of $146-$195
  • 30% on jewelry with a beginning list price of $1,000 or more 

There are other commission levels, too, based on the value of particular items. You can find more details on commission levels on The RealReal’s website.

Note that there is some language in The RealReal’s terms and conditions page that mentions their right to lower the price.

In other words, if you set an agreed-upon price and your item doesn’t sell soon enough, The RealReal has the authority to reduce the cost by up to 20% unless you’ve agreed otherwise with them.

Lowering the price would affect your bottom line, so it’s important to make sure you get your desired terms in writing before selling with The RealReal.

Trustpilot score: 4.1 out of 5 stars

6. Circa (formerly Mondiamo)

Circa homepage

Circa helps you maximize the value of your diamond when you’re ready to sell. Note that they only buy diamond jewelry.

Selling your diamonds to Circa takes just four easy steps.

  1. You fill out some information online about your diamond jewelry piece.
  2. Circa will give you a price range they’ll commit to online.
  3. You’ll send your diamond into Circa for authentication using their insured free shipping process.
  4. If you accept their Final Cash Offer, they’ll send you immediate payment. If not, they’ll send your item back to you insured and free of charge. 

What’s Next? 

There’s no specific commission structure with Circa. Instead, they simply make you an offer price which you can accept or reject. Circa will pay you via bank wire into your bank account or by mailing a check.

For international customers, they pay via wire transfer.

Another option you have is to get a gift card to Circa or to Blue Nile (a partner company of Circa) instead of cash. When you choose this option, you can get up to 110% or 120% of your quote price.

Note: Circa’s offer price includes the precious metal that your diamond is set in. If you’d rather not sell the metal, they’ll remove the diamond from the setting. Then they’ll ship the setting back to you free of charge.

Trustpilot score: 4.2 out of 5 stars

7. WP Diamonds

WP Diamonds homepage

WP Diamonds was founded in 2012 to create a marketplace for people to buy and sell diamonds and other fine jewelry pieces quickly and safely.

At WP Diamonds you can sell loose diamonds, diamond jewelry, fine watches or any other designer or estate jewelry piece.

When you sell to WP Diamonds, you don’t have to wait for someone to buy your piece. Instead, WP Diamonds buys your jewelry directly. The process is similar to some of the other sites listed here:

  1. You fill out an online form describing your item
  2. WP Diamonds will give you an initial valuation range by email or phone
  3. If you’re happy with the price range, they’ll send you instructions on shipping your item to the company for free
  4. WP Diamonds experts will evaluate your jewelry piece
  5. You’ll get a final and exact offer price

What’s Next

After you receive your final offer price and tell WP Diamonds that you accept their offer, the process is quite fast. In many cases, you can get paid within 24 hours.

If you go directly to a WP Diamonds location to sell your jewelry, you may be able to walk out the door with a check the very same day.

Note that WP Diamonds has internal valuation specialists instead of third party valuation specialists like Worthy uses.

WP Diamonds has locations in New York City, Hong Kong and in the UK. 

Trustpilot score: 4.7 out of 5 stars

8. 1stdibs

1stdibs homepage

1stdibs calls itself “the leading online marketplace for the world’s most beautiful things. They were founded in 2001 and specialize in selling unique luxury items, including fine jewelry. 

In order to sell your jewelry on 1stdibs, you have to start by completing a seller application. The company has high standards for sellers, which means they attract quality buyers as well.

Once you’re accepted as a seller, you can list your jewelry pieces and work to sell them. I looked to find details on 1stdibs about listing fees, selling fees and commissions. But there was no information given unless you sign up to be a seller and go through the vetting process.

I can tell you that while they seem to specialize in higher-end pieces, there were dozens of pieces for sale under $1,000. And although I can’t give you details regarding fees and commissions, I can tell you that the 1stdibs Trustpilot rating is quite high, which is why we include them here.  

Trustpilot score: 4.3 out of 5 stars

9. Ruby Lane

Ruby Lane homepage

Ruby Lane is an online marketplace that specializes in selling a small group of items. The company is sort of a cross between Etsy and Amazon. Ruby Lane has members sell items like Etsy does, where members open stores. 

You can sell antiques, porcelain, dolls, furniture–and fine jewelry. As with the other companies listed here, you can only sell high-quality jewelry on Ruby Lane.

Regarding their fine jewelry section, Ruby Lane requires that the pieces are:

  • Less than 20 years old
  • Made of precious metals or stones
  • Worth $250 or more
  • Marked with the stamp of a designer or luxury brand (or a non-mass produced unmarked item)

You’ll list your item for sale, along with adding a description, photographs, and terms, including the shipping costs. 

What’s Next

Once you list your item for sale, it’s up to you to communicate with the buyer for payment, shipment, etc. You can choose which methods of payment to offer, but the company encourages the use of PayPal.

Note that, like Etsy, Ruby Lane requires you to open an online “shop” to sell there. While their listing fees are affordable at only 19 cents per item (for under 80 pieces), they do have other costs.

There is a one-time set-up fee of $100 for your store (this fee includes ten free listing fees) and a monthly maintenance fee of $69.

So, if you’re only looking to sell one item for $250, Ruby Lane wouldn’t be worth the cost, and you’d be better off going with another choice.

However, if you have a very expensive piece, the total you’d pay to sell it could be quite low, compared to the commission rates of some of the other stores here.

Ruby Lane provides a primarily hands-off method of helping you sell your jewelry on your own.  

Trustpilot score: 4.6 out of 5 stars

10. Cash For Diamonds USA

cash for diamonds USA homepage

Cash For Diamonds USA is a sister site to Cash For Gold USA. This site works the same way Cash For Gold USA works. Of course, the one difference is that they accept diamonds instead of gold. 

You can send in any size loose diamonds or diamonds set in a ring or other jewelry piece.

If your diamonds are in the inside of a setting, such as a ring, they will evaluate the precious metal portion separately from the diamond portion. They’ll do this without damaging your jewelry pieces.

After evaluation, they’ll send you a check for your jewelry pieces. You can request payment via PayPal as well.

If you aren’t happy with the amount they’ve offered, you can call them, and they’ll send your item(s) back to you free of charge.

Other Options to Sell Jewelry Online

Note that while there are other popular sites that you can sell jewelry online, we tried to stick with sites that had the highest ratings for customer service.

Feel free to check out websites like eBay, Bonanza and more for other options to sell your jewelry online.

Just note that you’ll pay commissions when you sell on eBay and similar sites. Be aware of what those commission amounts are when you go to set a price for your jewelry piece.

And be aware of what your piece is really worth. If you don’t like the thought of going it alone as you sell jewelry pieces on a site like eBay, you can always use an auction house.

However, auction houses have their rules for selling your jewelry online too. Here is some information about two very popular auction houses that might buy your jewelry online.

Christie’s

Christie’s famous auction house buys jewelry online in some cases. Well, they won’t necessarily buy your jewelry. Instead, you can ship your jewelry items to Christie’s for a place in their online auctions.

Note that auction houses like Christie’s are much more particular about which jewelry pieces they’ll take. They have a minimum estimated value and only sell higher value items.

Also, the timeline and process of selling jewelry with Christie’s is much slower. You start by sending photos of your item.

The jewelry experts at Christie’s will determine whether the piece is best served by selling by auction, private sale, or online sale.

You send your piece in and you pay for shipping and insurance. It might be a month or two before your item goes up for auction or is placed in a private or online sale.

When it sells, Christie’s takes a cut to cover commission and expenses. The website doesn’t specify what percentage commission and what expenses they’ll take.

Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s auction house lets you sell jewelry online too. As with Christie’s, Sotheby’s only takes higher quality pieces of jewelry.

And they don’t typically do auctions for online jewelry sales. Instead, they take jewelry pieces on consignment. You start by sending them photos of your jewelry pieces.

They’ll share what they think you should price your piece at, and then list the piece in their online store.

Note that you do need to pay for your listing and your estimate with Sotheby’s. If you both agree to sell with the company, they’ll take a roughly 25% commission as well.

And as with Christie’s, selling through Sotheby’s will likely take longer than it will if you sold through Worthy or another company that specializes in buying online.

However, you may get more money depending on the process and the sales price too.

Next, let’s talk about some important frequently asked questions that come up as it pertains to selling jewelry online.

FAQs

I can understand how the thought of selling jewelry online might seem a little scary. After all, you’re putting something potentially worth thousands of dollars into the hands of a shipping company.

Then you’re hoping it reaches its destinations safely. There can be a lot of unknowns when it comes to buying and selling online. Here are a few FAQs about how to sell jewelry online.

Is it safe to sell jewelry online?

Yes, it’s safe to sell jewelry online–if you’re dealing with a reputable company like the ones mentioned here. When researching companies that help you sell jewelry online, it’s important to check sources like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau.

Be sure the company insures your product and do your research to ensure you’re dealing with a reputable company.

Is it worth it to sell jewelry online?

Anytime you’re selling jewelry to a jeweler, whether it’s online or in person, you’re going to receive less than the piece is worth. After all, the goal of jewelry companies is to buy at a price that allows them to sell at a profit.

Your job is to consider two things as you look to sell your jewelry. These things hold true whether you’re selling online or in person.

1. Have you shopped around to get the best quote or offer?

2. Is it worth holding on to the piece when you could be getting money to use for more important things?

Your answer to those two questions will help you decide whether it’s worth it for you to sell your jewelry or not.

For instance, is it worth it for you to sell your jewelry pieces so you can get out of debt faster? Pay for a semester or two at your kid’s college? Accelerate paying your mortgage off?

Weigh the answers to these questions with the price you’ll get for the piece. If you take some time to think about it, you’ll know what the right answer is.

Should I sell my jewelry via an auction buyer or a direct buyer?

You might be wondering whether you should sell your jewelry via an auction, like with Worthy, Christie’s or Sotheby’s, or to a company that buys it outright.
The answer to that question depends on a couple of things.

First, it depend on the piece. Auction houses typically only take higher value pieces.

For example, Christie’s jewelry selection starts at $2,000. Second, it depends on your patience, timeline, and willingness to take risks.

There is a chance that your piece won’t sell at an auction. And there’s a chance that it’ll sell for less than you’d hoped. However, auction houses do set a minimum price on items.

On top of that, you’re looking at a much longer wait time for your cash when you sell at an auction house.

And don’t forget that auction houses typically don’t offer freebies like free shipping and free estimates. Instead, you’ll be paying for all of these services, and paying a commission when you sell.

Consider these facts as you decide which method of selling is better for you; direct buy or online auction.

How much is my jewelry worth?

Only online jewelry buyers can answer that question. Remember that you’ll likely only get a fraction of what you paid for the piece, unless you can rake in some big bucks by selling at an auction or selling directly to a buyer on a site like eBay.

Also, you’ll have to subtract any commissions or other fees from your sales price. And those can vary depending on where you sell. Keep these facts in mind and don’t expect to get what you paid for the piece when you bought it.

Yes, jewelry can rise in value depending on the market. However, getting a higher price takes knowledge, time, and patience. In addition, it takes educating yourself on what the right selling venue is for your particular piece.

Summary

It is possible to sell your used jewelry online and get cash for it. Instead of having it lay around taking up space, why not earn some money and sell your jewelry easily and quickly by using one of the online sites above?

Then take the cash you’ve earned and use it for something that’s important to you. Go on that vacation. Put it in your house purchase fund. Pay off your debt.

Donate the money to help someone less fortunate for you. There are all sorts of better options for your money than to have it in the form of jewelry pieces you never wear.

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