Selling old engagement/wedding rings.....

[Minnie_me]

Has anyone done this? I'm *not* going to mail them to "cash 4 gold". But wondered if I could sell them to a local jeweler; I've heard them advertise on the radio. I have a certificate stating the value of both of my rings, and now that the marriage is over I just wonder if I should get rid of them and get a little cash?

Will I get anywhere near what was paid for them?

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Good luck if you try. I tried taking mine...I have certificates and the original receipts for both of my rings. The engagement ring cost about $1500 and the wedding ring $250. They offered to give me $227 for the set

 

[Minnie_me]

Good luck if you try. I tried taking mine...I have certificates and the original receipts for both of my rings. The engagement ring cost about $1500 and the wedding ring $250. They offered to give me $227 for the set

oh, that stinks!!! My engagement ring cost about $1750 thirteen years ago. I'm so bummed that I wouldn't even get 50%..............

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Have you thought about eBay or something similar? You probably won't get their value, but you might get more than what the jeweler will offer you.

 

[s&k'smom]

I don't know where my sister hawked her but it was enough to get her started on her road to graduate school. I thought what a great idea. Try a couple of shops and get what you can. Good luck.

 

[clgwli]

IMO Ebay or Craig's List is the only chance you will have of getting even close to 50% of what you paid. Jewelers will pay you less than 15% of what you paid if that. They have to mark it up to resell it again an dwant to make a profit.

Personally I would only expect to get about 25% of what you paid if you are lucky.

Now if you have a GIA or AGS certfied stone you might get more on the private market. However for the record if you are speaking of an apparaisal value then do not go by that. Especially if it was given to you by the store as they over inflate their value to make you feel better. If a private appraiser gave you that value it still will be high but not near as high.

Reselling market for rings is not good though. I buy vintage pieces and can tell you I've gotten some beautiful larger diamonds for under $500. If your setting is a classic you will get more people wanting it. If it is a dated look or quirky looking you probably won't get much at all.

And if you are going to sell it privately you will get much more interest if you know the exact carat weight total, clarity, color and cut grades of the diamond(s). If you say "I think it is about a...." you won't get much money or interest at all.

 

[powellrj]

My DH took his dads wedding band to a custom jewelry store after he died to have it appraised. His father had told him to sell it for him and give the money to the church. It appraised at almost $700. He took it to a few places to sell it and was offered in the $40 range. For that price he kept the ring and just gave the church a couple of hundred dollars himself.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If it were me (and I don't know that I'd sell them) I'd clean them up really nicely and photograph them against a black background up close so you can see the detail very well. Use a ring holder if you can find one somewhere so it looks professionally done. Then I'd list them on Craigslist for something like $500-700 (your choice) for the set. Someone looking for a decent set at a bargain price might just bite. It's not ideal, but at least this way you get more than the pittance a jeweler or the like will give you, and the buyer will get a better yet cheaper set than they could get for the same price elsewhere. Win-win. It's helpful that they can see the set in person. Keep the frame of reference happy for them even if there's heartache attached to your rings, IMO - you want to give buyers a good vibe. Good luck.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I took my orginal one in dh bought me a new one after 10 years. I bought it at Kays for about $1200 and they offered $88. I knew I wasn't going to get nearly as much for it but I thought at least a few hundred.

 

[kerrynic78]

I just got divorced and took my ring to the jeweler who made it for my ex. He gave me exactly what my ex paid for it so I considered myself very lucky. I never thought I would get anything close to what he paid.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I sold mine on Ebay. I think the center diamond was appraised at about 8k (It was a 1ct emerald cut and side stones) and I got 2k which I was happy with. I believe you never get what they are worth...that is just the nature of the business. We did some research and the 2k was the going rate at that time about 5 years ago for that cut.

ETA: I had all the paperwork that went along with the ring too. It was a very easy transaction with the Ebay buyer. You can set the sale to only have people bid or buy with positive feedback too.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I have heard of jewelers who will buy back the diamonds they sell you. I don't know if they pay what you paid, but it's something to consider.

 

[Nie0214]

You can try http://www.exboyfriendjewelry.com/

 

[englishteacha]

That Exboyfriend jewelry site is funny! It reminds me of the man on eBay who sold his ex-wife's wedding dress by modeling it himself. That dress went for over $1000!

If you decide to auction it, come up with a clever selling point. Catchy auctions get attention.

 

[tinatark]

You can also try www.diamondbistro.com - use your ebay feedback to increase your chances of a sale.

 

[MickeysMommy]

I went to the local jeweler where the ring was purchased and traded UP for a pair of Diamond earrings. I love my earrings so much better than my engagement ring and I traded my wedding rings (I had 2 diamond bands) for a diamond and sapphire band. I got the same price that they were originally priced at.