What’s the Best Place To Sell Jewelry? 9 Options To Try

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Some items, like luxury jewelry and especially gold, can be worth a significant amount of money. Here’s a roundup of the best places to sell jewelry and everything you need to know about how to convert unused items into spending money.

1. The RealReal: Best for Designer Jewelry

To get started with the RealReal, you’ll need to sign up for an account and provide info about the item(s) you want to sell. You then schedule a pickup and send the goods to headquarters for an authenticity check. Or you can drop it off at a location near you.

Once the company confirms the items are authentic, the RealReal will price your items for sale and, if you agree, list them. All you need to do is wait until it sells, and you’ll get the sales price minus commission via direct deposit.

2. Worthy: Best Online Auction Platform

You can sell your old jewelry like diamonds and watches after you consult with one of Worthy’s jewelry experts. You’ll be provided free, insured FedEx shipping that includes the appraisal, cleaning and photography.

Worthy will also manage the auction for you. Once your item sells, you can receive payment in the following ways:

• PayPal: One to two business days
• ACH transfer: Two to three business days
• Check: Four to five business days

3. Cash for Gold USA: Best for Quick Payment

Cash for Gold USA is a good choice when you’re in a hurry to sell gold and liquidate your jewelry. You’ll receive free overnight delivery with a guarantee of an appraisal and offer within 24 hours of receiving the goods.

You can even get paid the same day the package is received if you choose PayPal or ACH. If you decide not to accept its offer, your jewelry will be overnighted back to you free of charge and insured.

4. eBay: Best for Non-Designer Items

Not all jewelry sold online is gold or diamonds. You may have other types of less precious jewelry that still have some value to someone and those are perfect listings for eBay.

Learning how to sell on eBay is an art. Spend some time researching how much you should start your auction for and if you’d like to set a reserve price. One thing to note, eBay fees can quickly eat into your profit so use caution when adding upgrades.

5. Circa: Best for Antique Jewelry

Circa may buy the widest range of jewelry styles and you can make an appointment at an office or overnight your jewelry for free.

If you accept Circa’s offer, you can opt for a check on the spot or a bank wire. The biggest potential downside is that you have to meet in person. The company has offices worldwide, but it’s not an entirely digital experience. 

6. Local Pawn Shop: Best for In-Person

Selling jewelry at a local pawn shop is a quick and straightforward process. Plus, you get paid immediately. You might not get as high of a price as you could somewhere else, so compare offers before agreeing to the deal.

There’s also a difference between pawning and selling your items.

• Selling items: You receive payment immediately, and the item is no longer yours.
• Pawning items: You get a loan and hope to reclaim the item in the future, assuming it hasn’t been sold. 

7. Brick-and-Mortar Jewelry Store: Best for Personalized Experience

Jewelry stores in your town or city might buy your old jewelry pieces. It’s a common practice that most people don’t know about. Most buyers report that it’s a positive experience with personalized attention. 

Remember, not every jeweler buys used pieces. You may need to contact different businesses to confirm that the company buys used items. It requires some extra effort, but it might be worth it.

8. Auction House: Best for High Bids

You can work with an auction house to sell your jewelry for cash. Make sure the auction house has a jewelry specialist who can appraise the item and guide you through the process.

Fees vary depending on the auction house and item. Take time to understand the fees and how much you can earn if you work with the company.  

9. Facebook Marketplace: Best for Less Expensive Items

Facebook Marketplace is a solid resale platform for local sellers but it’s not the best for high-end pieces, as there isn’t an authentication process. Buyers might be skeptical of more expensive items. But it’s a good pick for less expensive jewelry, especially from mid-level brands.

You can set your own price and choose to sell locally or ship the item to buyers in different locations. You probably won’t get the highest price, but it works well when it makes financial sense.

What’s Better: Selling Jewelry Locally or Online?

Selling jewelry online can give you access to more buyers, lower fees and the convenience of managing the sale from home — though it does come with the risk of scams. On the other hand, selling locally through a jewelry store or pawn shop supports local businesses and provides fast cash, but may result in lower payouts.

How To Get the Most for Your Jewelry

The best place to sell jewelry depends not just on where you sell it, but also on how you present it. Whether you’re working with costume pieces or fine jewelry, these tips can help you maximize your payout.

Sell as a Bundle or Set

If you have costume jewelry or a large collection of pieces you’d like to sell, consider selling them as a set or bundle.

For example, market your jewelry as a color pack of items in a specific theme. Or create a coordinating set that includes earrings, a bracelet and a necklace.

It takes less work, and you can potentially get more money when you group your jewelry.

Get It Appraised First

Selling high-end items like gold, watches or diamond jewelry? Consider paying for your own appraisal before you send it off. It will give you a ballpark of how much you can expect to receive, so you can tell whether future offers are lowballs.

Prioritize Presentation

Include original packaging or jewelry boxes with your items, if available. In the case of a designer piece or collectible watch, buyers typically prefer to have the original packaging as well, which may increase your sales price.

Time the Market

If you’re not in a hurry, think about the best time of year to sell your jewelry.

Certain types of colorful jewelry, such as those in aquas and vibrant colors, might be more popular in the summer than in winter.

Fine jewelry may sell faster before Christmas or Valentine’s Day as gifts for someone special.

Final Takeaway

There’s no reason to have a cluttered jewelry box of unused pieces. There are plenty of places where you can sell your unused jewelry for free or for a small fee.

Start by taking an inventory of what you want to sell and how you want to sell it. Knowing how and where to sell jewelry is a straightforward way to make space and put some cash back into your pocket.

Cynthia Bowman contributed to the reporting for this article.

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