FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions


Do I need to make an appointment to buy or sell jewelry

No appointment is needed. Please come by our Cary office at your convenience during our business hours which are 10:00AM – 5:30PM, Monday through Saturday.


How do I know what my jewelry is worth?

To determine the value of your jewelry, we will take it through the appraisal process. Appraisals are usually created by a specialist for insurance or other purposes and to some extent, they represent one appraiser’s opinion of the piece. This value is generally representative of a full market retail price. The actual cash value which we will offer you will likely differ from this appraised value.


How long does it take to receive payment?

After a few tests, we will weigh and measure your jewelry. Once that is complete, we should be able to make you an offer and give you your money while you wait.


What is the value of a diamond?

A diamond’s value is based on a combination of four value factors called the 4 C’s. These four factors, Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight. Color and Clarity are standardized grading systems devised by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in 1953. This system rates a diamond’s color in relation to colorless (white) and clarity in reference to the size and type of internal inclusions. Carat weight is a standardized unit of measure described as a numerical value, which defines the weight of a diamond. A cut is a reference to how well a diamond reflects light that has entered the stone. Standards for better cut stones have been devised by the Gemological Institute of America and the American Gemological Society Laboratories (AGSL) with numerical calculations and light reflection as measured by computer analysis.


What is the value of gold?

To properly answer this question, we would need to take in to account the karat percentage, weight, and the market price of gold at the time. The price of gold is constantly changing, so what we offer you today for your gold jewelry could be much different than what we offer you in a month from now.

Generally, the purer your gold is, the higher the value. The purity of gold is measured in karats. The Karat number specifies how many parts of pure gold are contained in 24 parts of the gold. The higher the karat, the greater its gold content and price. The content of pure gold in the various karats is as follows:

24k = 24/24 = 100% pure gold
18k = 18/24 = 75.0% pure gold
14k = 14/24 = 58.5% pure gold
10k = 10/24 = 42.0% pure gold
9k = 9/24 = 37.5% pure gold (commonly found in Europe)

Karat marks are stamps or official markings on items made of gold. Typical American made jewelry is stamped in 14K or 18K, while most European or Asian made jewelry is stamped with the quality mark of .585 (14K) or .750 (18K). These stampings guarantee a certain purity of the metal. In addition to the karat mark, every piece of gold jewelry should be stamped with a hallmark or trademark of its maker. These designations assure you that you are buying genuine karat gold jewelry.


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