From the classic diamond solitaire to halo rings to wedding ring sets, they come in an endless variety of shapes, sizes, and designs. While diamonds are the most common stones in engagement rings, the use of other precious and semi-precious gemstones like white and black pearls, tourmaline, rubies, opals, sapphires, and onyx is increasing in popularity.
While this variety makes it fun to shop for the perfect engagement ring, it also makes it very challenging to assess the value of a ring should you decide to sell it.
How Much Can I Sell My Engagement Ring For?
Engagement rings typically sell second-hand for 30%-50% of the original retail price. To get the best price for your diamond ring, it pays to sell to the experts. At myGemma, our team of GIA-trained gemologists buy engagement rings of all shapes and qualities with at least one stone of 0.50ct+.
Our service is free of charge with no hidden fees or commissions deducted. The entire selling process can take as little as 24 hours from filling out the form to receiving payment.
At myGemma, we are committed to providing honest price quotes, exceptional customer care and a trustworthy, professional selling service. We are proud of our A+ BBB rating and 1,000+ customer reviews.
How To Sell My Engagement Ring?
- Fill out the online form
- Receive a price quote for your engagement ring
- Schedule an appointment OR send your ring in (we provide free and fully insured Priority Overnight Fedex shipping labels)
- Receive a final price and get paid or your ring is returned free of charge
How Are Engagement Rings Priced?
As you prepare to sell an engagement ring, it’s helpful to have a general understanding of how rings are priced. There are a number of factors that impact the value of a piece of jewelry. They include:
- Type and quality of the center stone
- Diamond certificates
- Type of metal in the band
- Designer
- Age of the ring
- Where the ring was purchased and how much for
- Where the ring is sold
Center Stone
For rings that have one primary stone, much of the value is tied to that stone. The type of gem (diamond, ruby, emerald, etc.), its size, how it is cut, and its quality are all pieces of information that will help you start to determine the value of the ring.
There are defined standards that are used when assessing a diamond. They are known as the 4 Cs:
- Carat weight
- Color grade
- Cut grade
- Clarity grade
Based on these characteristics, a diamond expert can determine an accurate value for the stone, which can then be used in calculating the overall value of the ring. If the diamond has been certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), these details will be indicated on the certificate.
Diamond Certificate
Engagement rings with GIA-certified diamonds generally command a higher price, as the buyer is assured of the quality of the stone(s). There are other diamond grading laboratories, but their findings generally don’t instil the kind of confidence that a GIA inspection does.
If you do not have a certificate, your local jeweler will likely be willing to take a quick look at the ring and give an opinion of the 4 Cs of any diamonds.
Metal
One of the reasons it can be challenging to determine the precise value of an engagement ring is that the price of the gold, silver, or platinum that its band is made of fluctuates daily.
However, if you know the composition of the material, that figure can be helpful. For example, with gold, karat weight is the percentage of pure gold present. The higher the number, the higher the purity.
Of course, the more pure gold there is, the more valuable the piece of jewelry is. Do keep in mind however that the value of the metal will be minimal in comparison to the value of any gemstones.
Designer
Diamond jewelry created by a well-known designer like Tiffany or Cartier are likely to sell faster and for more money than others. You can maximize the impact on price of a designer name if you have the ring’s original box and paperwork.
Age
Rings that are between 20 and 100 years old are considered “vintage,” and that designation will have a positive impact on price. Those older than 100 years are “antique” and, here again, that label will make the piece more valuable.
Purchase Price
While the factors above all influence the resale price of an engagement ring, in general you can expect to get 20-45% of the original retail price. If you sell your ring to a jeweler, this number will be affected by their markup. Larger stores will likely have a higher markup than your local independent jeweler.
Why Is There A Difference Between Retail And Resale Value?
In general, the reason your engagement ring is worth less in a resale transaction is the idea of “markup” noted above. Jewelers have high markups in order to cover expenses such as overhead, marketing, rent etc. Meaning that when it comes to the resale of your ring, you will not receive the original sale price.
It is also important to understand that diamonds are not investments, contrary to popular belief, therefore they will not increase in value. Much like a car, when a diamond is purchased, it decreases in value once you leave the store.
Another factor in the difference between retail and resale prices is the ring’s history. Is there any hidden damage that will have to be repaired? These kinds of unknowns cause jewellers to pay less for a ring in order to protect themselves from loss.
Does Where I Sell My Ring Affect The Price?
Where you sell your diamond engagement ring can have a big impact on the price. Some of the options and their advantages/disadvantages include:
- Websites like Craigslist or eBay: They are easy to use, but dealing with potential buyers is time-consuming. And, there are the risks of being approached by people looking to take advantage of you. There is also no guarantee that your ring will sell.
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Local jeweler: An obvious local option would be your local jewelry. However, because they likely sell to a local (and therefore smaller) market, they may not have a need for your piece.
They may offer to take the ring on consignment, with no guarantee of a sale and months of waiting to see if it does. - Pawnbroker: Pawn shops are convenient, but they may not have the expertise to understand the value of your ring and make you a good offer.
- Auction house: An auction format can help you get a higher price for your ring, especially if it is vintage or antique. But, auction houses charge fees that take a bite out of your profit.
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myGemma: Sell your diamond ring online to the experts in jewelry valuation at myGemma. As leading, international diamond buyers, we also offer in-person appointments at our offices in New York or London.
Fill out the online form to get started.
