San Diego's A+ BBB Engagement Ring Buyers

What is my engagement ring worth?

Four things decide it: the carat weight, cut, colour and clarity of the centre stone, and then the metal and any side stones.

What it cost at retail is not what it is worth now, and that gap surprises people, so we would rather show you the grading in front of you than quote a number down the phone and have you feel misled at the counter.

Do I need the appraisal or the GIA certificate?

Bring them if you have them, because a current GIA report removes any argument about the grade. Neither is required. We grade in house either way, and an old insurance appraisal is a replacement value rather than a resale value, so it is not the number we will be working from.

Selling after a divorce or a broken engagement

A large share of the rings we buy come from exactly this, and there is nothing to explain to us. We can do it in a private room, quickly, and you will not be asked about it. Some people want it gone the same day; others want the stone reset into something with no history attached. Both are normal and we do both.

Can I sell the ring but keep the diamond?

Yes. This is the option most buyers cannot offer because they have no bench. We can take the stone out, buy the mounting for its gold, and reset the diamond into something you will wear. Or the reverse: keep nothing and take the cash.

What about a lab-grown diamond?

We buy them, and it is important to be straight about this: lab-grown stones are worth very substantially less on resale than natural ones of the same size and grade. We test rather than assume, so tell us if you know which you have.

How do I get paid?

Same day you accept. No per-transaction cash limit, though a very large amount needs a day's notice so we can arrange funds. Check and wire are always available. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, which California law requires.

Where can I sell an engagement ring near me in San Diego?

907 6th Ave in the Gaslamp Quarter, downtown, Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm. A short drive from La Jolla, Hillcrest, North Park, Coronado, Del Mar and Chula Vista. Reserved customer parking is available in the ACE lot across the street, directly opposite our storefront. Paid parking options are also available. Not local?

The Sell From Home kit is free and insured to the full value of the ring.

Does the center stone or the mounting carry the value?

Almost always the stone. A mounting is priced as gold or platinum by weight and purity, so a typical 14K setting is 58.3% gold and a few grams of it, while the diamond can be most of the ring's worth on its own. The exception is a signed piece, where the maker's name carries value that outlives the metal.

We price the stone and the mounting separately and show you both, which is also what makes it possible to sell one and keep the other.

How long do I have to change my mind?

Before you accept, as long as you like. The appraisal is free, verbal, done in front of you, and carries no obligation, so you can walk out with the number and think about it. After we buy an item we hold it for 7 days before it can move on.

That hold is on our side of the counter rather than a return window, so if you are undecided the time to say so is before you accept the offer.