San Diego Luxury Pawn Shop Report

A New San Diego Trend in Pre-owned Gold & Used Luxury Handbags?

2010-08-31T03:04:57Z

According to San Diego Jewelry Buyers & Loans (SDJBL), increasing numbers of San Diegans are purchasing pre-owned designer handbags and gold jewelry. “On the surface, this might appear strange considering the current economic conditions,” says Carl Blackburn, owner of SDJBL, “but there is a logical explanation for this trend.”

“For one thing, many people are no longer letting their second-hand luxury items like gold jewelry and luxury handbags (which they no longer wear or use anymore) gather dust in their drawers and closets,” says Blackburn. “Instead, they are taking them to a trusted business such as San Diego Jewelry Buyers & Loans to receive cash on the spot for these assets.”

According to Blackburn, consumer selling of pre-owned handbags and gold benefits other shoppers, some of whom previously couldn’t afford gold jewelry or a high branded handbag. “It just makes perfect sense to our customers from a financial standpoint. They are purchasing more gold due to the fact that they are worried about inflation and it’s a secure way to store wealth, and they are purchasing pre-owned luxury items like designer handbags, because they can last for decades versus mass market merchandise which often wears out in a year or less.”

“This philosophy of purchasing pre-owned gold jewelry as an investment and choosing second-hand luxury items over new, but more cheaply made, products is something that I’ve frequently observed in my travels throughout Asia,” adds Blackburn. “It is also something we’ve long seen from our clients who come from the Asian communities of Kearny Mesa, Mira Mesa, Claremont, Linda Vista, and other areas of San Diego County. Indeed, a lot of the gold we buy these days and have in our safes is investment grade 23K Thai gold, 24K Taiwanese gold, and 24K Hong Kong gold chains and jewelry, since many of our customers from San Diego’s Asian communities travel back and forth from Asia or have friends and family who purchase gold there.”

San Diego Jewelry Buyers & Loans has recently opened a new showroom and office suite at 907 6th Avenue, on the NE Corner of 6th Avenue and E Street, in the Gaslamp District of downtown San Diego. In addition to being one of California’s most recognized buyers of pre-owned gold and designer handbags, SDJBL is a pre-eminent buyer of large carat diamonds, prestige watches, platinum, and silver.

Customers can contact them at 800-557-9413 for a free consultation or to arrange a confidential appointment. For more information, visit SanDiegoJewelryBuyers.com.

Silverware Master Maker: Georg Jensen

2010-05-30T08:56:03Z

San Diego owners of sterling silverware often ask just what brands of silver flatware are worth the most money. If you are fortunate enough to have any silver flatware or holloware by Georg Jensen then that is exactly the kind of silverware that second-hand sterling silver buyers are looking for and will bring you very high buying offers.

Take for example the Georg Jensen silver pieces recently sold on auction at Christie’s. A Danish silver six-piece tea and coffee service set went for $27, 500. And a Danish silver flatware set was sold for $50,000.

Jensen’s naturalistic silver designs took their cues from the aesthetics of the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau movements, and his stylized fruit and floral motifs reinvented new shapes for established silver forms. The Blossom pattern is one of the most classic examples of the early Jensen style and can be found in the tea and coffee service and Blossom pattern silver flatware.

Georg Jensen also employed several skilled silversmiths and designers to work with him. Among the most celebrated of these designers was Johan Rohde, who joined in 1917 and is perhaps best known today for designing the Acorn pattern flatware. In contrast to Jensen’s work, Rohde’s was more spare in its use of ornament, illustrated by his incredibly sleek silver pitcher designed in 1920 and considered an iconic 20th century silver design. His pieces show less interest in naturalism, instead finding inspiration in historical styles, as demonstrated by the Acanthus pattern flatware which draws upon a classical vocabulary. A classic fish dish, one of few to feature a fish on the mazarine, epitomizes Rohde’s talent for stylized forms.

Remember to always seek out a professional San Diego silver buyer if you ever on the possession of a set of precious silverware like those made by Georg Jensen.

Louis Vuitton: Ultimate Luxury Brand

2010-05-29T08:49:12Z

Louis Vuitton Malletier (commonly known as Louis Vuitton or simply LV) is a French fashion house founded in 1854 that has become synonymous with ultimate luxury products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes, watches, jewelry, accessories, sunglasses, and books.

The Louis Vuitton story begins with its founder and namesake Louis Vuitton (1821 – February 27, 1892), who once served as the luggage maker of Napoleon III of France. He created the Louis Vuitton label in 1854, introducing a series of innovative luggage products and travel cases. It wasn’t until after Louis’s death that his son, Georges Vuitton, began a campaign to build the company into a worldwide corporation, exhibiting the company’s products at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.

By 1913, the Louis Vuitton Building opened on the Champs-Elysees, becoming the largest travel-goods store in the world at the time. Stores also opened in New York, Bombay, Washington, London, Alexandria, and Buenos Aires as World War I began. In order to broaden its luggage line, the company revamped its signature Monogram Canvas in 1959[3] to make it more supple, allowing it to be used for purses, bags, and wallets.

In 1987 Moët et Chandon and Hennessy, leading manufacturers of champagne and cognac, merged with Louis Vuitton to form the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH. After introducing its pen collection in 1997, Louis Vuitton introduced the following year the company’s first “prêt-à-porter” line of clothing for men and women. Also in this year, the company introduced the Monogram Vernis line, the LV scrapbooks, and the Louis Vuitton City Guide.

By 2001 the first Louis Vuitton jewelry appeared, a charm bracelet, followed by the Tambour watch collection in 2002. In 2004, Louis Vuitton celebrated its 150th anniversary, opening stores in New York City (on Fifth Avenue), São Paulo, and Johannesburg. It also opened its first global store in Shanghai. By 2005, Louis Vuitton reopened its Champs-Élysées store (reputed to be the largest LV store in the world), and released the Speedy watch collection. Today the Louis Vuitton brand stands as a testament to fine handcrafted manufacturing with the highest quality materials.

Patek Philippe Watch Sold for Millions at Auction

2010-05-29T08:14:33Z

San Diego watch enthusiasts will be glad to hear that rare timepieces continue to command top prices on the international market. A Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch went for nearly 6.26 million Swiss francs ($5.86 million) at a recent Christie’s auction. It was sold to a Swiss private museum and set a record for the highest price paid for a yellow gold watch sold at auction, according to Christie’s.

The 1943-44 watch features an avant-garde case design and was a forerunner for future generations of complicated wristwatches. It was sold as part of a 20-piece collection put up by an anonymous seller.

“I started buying watches in the 1970s, at a time when these amazing objects appealed to very few collectors and even fewer scholars were exploring this charming field. In my opinion, wristwatches are the most beautiful wearable item created in the 20th century,” Christie’s quoted the anonymous seller as saying.

Aurel Bacs, international co-head of Christie’s watch department, called it the “Mona Lisa of all watches.”

“European bidders were fiercely challenged by international collectors, especially buyers from China,” he said of the sale.

The name of the museum wasn’t revealed, but Geneva is home to a Patek Philippe museum, which contains the best pieces made by the independent watchmaker. The entire collection netted 16 million Swiss francs, making it the most expensive private collection of watches ever sold.

SDJBL Launches San Diego Buyer Service for Used Handbags & Purses

2010-08-31T03:06:39Z

San Diego Jewelry Buyers & Loans (SDJBL) has announced that it is now buying pre-owned designer handbags, purses, and wallets from the public. The purchasing of authentic designer bags and purses is a new exclusive service that SDJBL is offering clients, who in the past have benefited from the company’s substantial buying offers and collateral loans on fine jewelry, gold, diamonds, and prestige timepieces.

“In San Diego the public has only limited options for converting their unused designer handbags and purses to cash,” says Carl Blackburn, owner of San Diego Jewelry Buyers & Loans. “After receiving hundreds or thousands of dollars for their old gold jewelry, many of our female clients have told us lately that they wish they could sell all their old designer handbags to us too.”

“This was something we hadn’t thought of before,” adds Blackburn. “But it made perfect sense. There is a demand for pre-owned designer purses and wallets, especially from brands such as Louis Vuitton and Fendi, just as there is a demand for vintage fine jewelry. So now we are offering clients instant cash for those beautiful bags rather than having them gather dust in a closet.”

Besides Louis Vuitton and Fendi handbags, some of the other brands that San Diego Jewelry Buyers is buying from customers are Chanel, Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, and Dior.

The process for selling a designer purse to SDJB is simple:

1. Call or email SDJB to set up an appointment.
2. Bring in your designer purses.
3. SDJB staff will meet you in their parking lot, validate your parking, and escort you into their private buying offices
4. Their qualified consultants will appraise your handbags in front of you.
5. You will receive cash on the spot against the value of your handbags.

As when selling pre-owned gold or diamond jewelry, customers should not expect a buying offer that approaches the retail price of a designer purse, but a fair offer based on the current resale market for designer purses. This price varies depending on the style of handbag and the handbag’s current condition.

San Diego Jewelry Buyers & Loans is located at 907 Sixth Avenue, on the ground floor of the Beaumanor Building in the historic Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego. They can be reached toll free at: 800-557-9413.

To learn more about SDJB’s 30+ year history of being one of San Diego’s most trusted luxury buyers, please visit www.SanDiegoJewelryBuyers.com.

Carl Blackburn & SDJB’s Gold Buying Business

2010-04-24T08:12:41Z

In the following media interview Carl Blackburn, owner of San Diego Jewelry Buyers (SDJB), discusses the ways in which his company’s gold and jewelry impacts the local economy.

San Diego Jewelry Buyers has been in the gold, jewelry, and watch buying business for some thirty years. In these difficult financial times, what role do you see your company fulfilling with regard to the larger San Diego economy?

CB: Every day, San Diegans bring me items which have been lying around in a dresser or safe deposit box, and trade it in for cash. Yesterday a woman in her 80s traded in her scraps of old gold for about $1800, and said she was going straight to Best Buy to get a brand new flat screen TV and home theatre for her apartment. All things considered, I think she’ll get a lot more enjoyment from that TV entertainment center, than she was getting from some old broken gold jewelry that had been lying around in her dresser drawer for 30-40 years. I joked with her that if someone ever breaks into her apartment, the gold would have been a lot easier to make off with than the new giant flat screen TV mounted to her wall!

So you are saying that San Diego Jewelry Buyers helps customers realize wealth they might otherwise have forgotten about?

CB: In many cases, yes. But it also is more than that. When people find out that they have un-tapped wealth sitting in their drawers and cabinets, wealth that can be transferred into quick discretionary income, this feeds the local economy. Money is moved, circulated, spent, and re-generated through all the businesses that the customers patronize with their sudden “windfall”. In addition, taxes are paid on all of these new transactions, thus supporting local, state, and federal government services.

But at some point doesn’t this all run out? I mean, there is only so much of this “untapped” wealth lying around, right?

CB: On the one hand yes, and on the other hand, no. People often ask me “you keep buying all this gold, don’t you think the public will run out of gold soon?” My answer is to point to the whole eBay phenomenon, which turned millions of everyday Americans into moonlighting dealers of second-hand merchandise. That started long before the current gold rush and economic crisis, and people are still selling their unused possessions on eBay, as much if not more so than ever. So do you think that Americans will run out of diamonds, gold, silver, jewelry, and fine watches anytime soon? Sure, the economy is bad now but it will eventually turn around. New precious items will continue to be bought, which eventually become “old” items, and SDJB will be here to turn those items into cash and transfer that wealth back into the economy.

From what I understand, you also see San Diego Jewelry Buyers’ business as contributing to more than just the economy, don’t you?

CB: That’s right. As a professional jeweler and designer, I’ve been a longtime supporter of sustainable luxury. And when it comes to selling your gold to a company like SDJB, people are helping the environment by reducing the need for eco-harmful gold mining activities. The same thing goes for when consumers sell us their pre-owned diamonds and precious gemstones. It’s a win-win situation for our customers, for us, and for the community.

SDJBL Moves to New Location

2010-08-31T02:59:50Z

San Diego Jewelry Buyers & Loans (SDJBL) has announced that it has moved to a new location across from the San Diego Jewelers Exchange building. SDJBL’s new address is 907 6th Ave. The new showroom and offices take up the entire NE corner of 6th and E Street, at the same intersection as the Jewelers Exchange (861 6th Ave.), but on the opposite side of E Street.

“Our philosophy has always been to keep our overhead low, so we can offer customers more cash and bigger loans for their gold, jewelry, diamonds, and watches,” says Carl Blackburn, owner of San Diego Jewelry Buyers & Loans. “In the past, this meant we operated out of a small office at The Jewelers Exchange Building. Now we are able to serve San Diegans from our new larger location, and it is less than half the price, per square foot, of our old place. In other words, this will not affect our ability to pay the best and fairest prices for gold jewelry, diamonds, and other precious assets.”

San Diego Jewelry Buyers & Loans’ new location has increased visibility, with floor to ceiling windows covering the entire NE corner of 6th and E Street. It also provides customers with greater privacy and comfort. There is a showroom, coffee lounge, back office rooms including kitchen and pantry, and six separate individual offices, including private buying/consultation rooms and a small workshop for in-house jewelry repairs and custom work.

Since the new office suite is less than 100 feet from the San Diego Jewelers Exchange and its wide variety of specialist craftsmen, customers who purchase estate diamonds and precious gemstones from SDJB at wholesale prices can still have them easily set into custom-made fine jewelry crafted by the Exchange’s jewelry artisans. An internationally recognized jewelry designer as well as one of San Diego’s most prominent fine jewelry buyers, Blackburn often advises diamond jewelry shoppers, especially future newlyweds, on how to best design a gold or platinum ring around an affordable estate diamond purchased at SDJB.

Blackburn is also a recognized spokesperson regarding ethical business practices for gold and jewelry buyers, having last year been interviewed by Sasha Foo of KUSI TV News. Ms. Foo, a former CNN anchor, sought Blackburn’s advice on how San Diegans can avoid getting scammed when selling their gold. Consumers seeking further advice can find it on the SanDiegoJewelryBuyers.com website, which is filled with helpful articles such as Tips on Selling a Used Rolex, How to Sell a Used Diamond, 7 Quick Questions to Ask a Gold Buyer, and Appraisal Tips for Jewelry Sellers.

To set up an appointment at their new offices and talk with Carl Blackburn personally about any precious asset you wish to sell or receive a collateral loan on, please call SDJB toll free at: 800-557-9413.

Located across from the Jewelers Exchange Building in the gas-lamp quarter of downtown San Diego, SDJBL leverages over 30 years of industry experience and fine jewelry expertise to make certain that customers receive the fairest cash offers and loans for their diamond/gemstone jewelry, and premiere brand watches.

How to Sell Your Designer Handbags & Purses in San Diego for Quick Cash

2010-05-29T07:56:01Z

With today’s economy still struggling, many consumers have been selling old, unused products that they consider a “luxury”. In the past, the list of items for sale has included gold jewelry, silver flatware, diamond rings, and high-brand watches. But lately a new product has been added to the things that people are selling for quick cash: designer handbags, purses, and wallets. Many women have built a collection of bags and purses from design houses such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes, and Prada that are now simply gathering dust in their closets. Just as with old gold jewelry they don’t wear anymore, these shoppers are looking for places to sell their pre-owned handbags.

One common online venue for selling used ladies handbags and purses is eBay. But in recent years this has become more difficult because of the amount of people on eBay selling fake designer merchandise. eBay now reserves the right to demand that you show a receipt for selling an “authentic” designer handbag, and shoppers have become more wary of buying luxury handbags on eBay, even if there is a receipt (since such receipts can be forged). Some online sellers have chosen to use Craigslist instead of eBay, but the same kinds of issues exist involving the risk of counterfeit merchandise, perhaps even more so, since Craigslist does not conduct oversight on its sellers the way eBay does.

If you do decide to sell your high-end designer handbag on eBay be sure to include several good quality photos of the bag (inside and outside), along with a thorough and well written description, and a scan of the receipt (if you still have it). When shipping the handbag or purse, pay the small extra fee for USPS’s “delivery confirmation” service, so you don’t end up in a situation where a buyer says they never received their handbag.

Another option for selling a used ladies handbag or wallet is to go to a “bricks and mortar” buyer of pre-owned handbags. Some well-known gold and jewelry buyers such as San Diego Jewelry Buyers (SDJB) are now buying luxury handbags from select high-brand designers. So, you may want to check with a well-establish fine jewelry buyer in your area to see if they are purchasing luxury purses too. Even if they haven’t purchased handbags previously, they might decide that it’s a good idea to start buying luxury handbags in addition to gold jewelry and diamonds.

The thing to keep in mind when selling your pre-owned handbag to a second-hand buyer is that you won’t be receiving a price that’s equivalent to the retail price. The buying offer will be related to the value of your designer handbag on the resale market, and that price varies, depending on consumer demand for the brand and the condition of your handbag.

There are, of course, always pawnshops too. But you will likely get the least amount of cash for a used designer handbag and purse from a pawnshop, since they aren’t in the usual business of buying such items and don’t have an established network of channels through which they can re-sell ladies handbags. A pawnshop would be best only if you need a small amount of quick cash for a collateral loan and you plan to buy back the purse in a few weeks or couple months.

About the Author
Mary Wilson is a passionate shopper of used handbags, and is always looking for new and better ways to buy and sell your handbags.

Gold Fuels Pawn Shop Boom

2010-02-02T05:35:44Z

KPLC TV News is reporting that the high price of gold has local pawn shops booming, as more people dig through their jewelry boxes for gold items they can trade or sell for cash. The Lake Charles news team interviewed a local pawn shop owner who says more customers are finding gold and pawn shops a great combination, especially since it’s hard to get fast cash from banks and other lending institutions.

“A lot people have single earrings, broken rings or necklaces that they’re not going to repair,” said the pawnbroker. “With the record price of gold now, a lot of times they’re pleasantly surprise with how much they can get for it.” He also advised customers to go local when you put your gold items on the market.

Many people are also mailing in their gold to companies who advertise frequently on television. Recently several of these businesses have come under intense scrutiny. New York Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) has even called for the Federal Trade Commission to look into one company’s “deceptive practices,” after hearing several complaints from sellers who say the company didn’t give them the promised price for their gold.

And all experts agree (including us at the San Diego Luxury Pawn Shop Report) that before selling or trading to any gold buyer, consumers should get several quotes from different brokers.

San Diego Buyer Predicts Strong Prices for Gold, Gold Jewelry, & Scrap Gold

2010-05-29T08:53:21Z

Although the U.S. economy and the dollar remain on shaky ground, many analysts are predicting that one thing will remain strong during 2010: the price of gold. One of those analysts is Carl Blackburn, owner of San Diego Jewelry Buyers (SDJB). “In early December we saw the price of gold break the $1200 an ounce barrier, and ever since then it’s been fluctuating around the $1100 range,” says Blackburn. “The price is now starting to spike, and we may just see it breaking the $1200 mark again soon.”

According to SDJB, the strong price of gold can help consumers weather the current economic downturn in two ways. For investors looking to store their wealth, gold provides an attractive alternative to the stock market or real estate. And for consumers and small businesses seeking quick cash to pay off outstanding bills, now is an excellent time to be selling your scrap gold, outdated gold jewelry, or other gold assets.

For those looking to sell gold, Blackburn says that San Diego Jewelry Buyers consistently pays customers between 50% to 100% more than other gold buyers and pawn shops in the San Diego area; and as much as 400% more than some of the well-known national gold buyers who advertise on TV. “Our business model is based on low overhead, large volume, small margins,” says Blackburn. “It works for us, and it works for our customers. We make enough to operate with a profit, and the end-consumer ends up with a lot more money in their pocket.”

But Blackburn is quick to add that customers shouldn’ t just take his word for it. San Diego Jewelry Buyers encourages people to shop around and do their homework, such as examining closely gold buyer reviews. SDJB also offers the following tips for finding a reputable gold buyer who will pay you top dollar:

1) Be wary of high-end retail stores in high-rent locations advertising to buy gold. The common misconception is that the better the location and quality of the jewelry store, the more money they have to pay you for your gold. Actually, the more overhead they have, the more profit they need to make on your transaction, thus the less money you will get for your gold.

2) Call gold buyers by phone and get a feel for how they answer your questions. Most likely if the phone call goes smoothly (no telemarketing feeling, or snobby, or secretive voice on the other end), then your face to face transaction will also go smoothly.

3) Check out the gold buyer’s website. If it is sloppy and disorganized, then it’s likely that their business is too.

To learn more about selling your gold in San Diego watch KUSI TV’s special report, “Selling Your Gold? Don’t get scammed!”, where Emmy-award winning reporter Sasha Foo interviews Carl Blackburn about how to sell your gold smartly.

To schedule an appointment with SDJB call 800-557-9413 or visit SanDiegoJewelryBuyers.com.