More Folks Turning Gold Jewelry into Cash

More Californians are taking advantage of a jump in the price of gold to turn their old gold jewelry into cash, says the Santa Cruz Sentinel. The price of gold, which rose to $1,000 an ounce last February and March, then dropped to the mid-$900s, is back above $900 an ounce, sparking a gold rush.

The newspaper article mentions that Santa Cruz Pawn is the only licensed and bonded pawn shop in the city of Santa Cruz, and that it has been in business for more than 10 years, paying cash on the spot for jewelry that might be damaged, missing pieces or just not your style. Bruce Pedersen, owner of Watsonville Pawn, says that most people don’t know that they can come to a pawn shop to sell their gold jewelry. This is unfortunate, since Pedersen said that when he called the “cash for gold” phone number advertised on television, he got referred to another phone number, where he found the voice mail full and no longer taking messages.

Pederson also stated that the $900 per ounce advertised price quote is misleading because it applies only to pure 24-karat gold. Most gold jewelry is 10 karat or 14 karat, so it is worth less, he said. For example, 12 karat is 50 percent gold so the price could be $450 an ounce, half the rate for 24 karat gold.

Other advice worth remembering is that “if it’s gold over silver, it’s worth less,” says Michael Craig, owner of Monterey Bay Estate Jewelry and Antiques, explaining that silver is priced at $12 an ounce.

###

While people of all walks of life are turning gold jewelry into cash, the opposite is true too. Many people are now turning cash into gold, seeing gold as one of the few secure investments in this volatile economy. To read about the cash to gold trend, go to this article: Record Sales for Gold Bullion and Coins.

Is Gold Going to Become a Mania Asset?

Steve Ellis, a manager of RAB Gold Strategy, is reporting for Yahoo News that the US Federal Reserve has flooded the market with liquidity by more than doubling its balance sheet in less than six months. This means it may be unable or unwilling to withdraw it in time for fear of precipitating a secondary relapse in economic activity. Meanwhile other central bankers are predicted to face intense pressures to “support” their domestic economy by weakening the currency, leading to competitive currency devaluations. Read more

Stolen Goods Up for Legal Auction!

CBS News is offering a new tip for how San Diego shoppers can save money this holiday season…buy stolen property! Some people are turning to giving hot gifts (as in stolen property from the police). But not to worry; it’s perfectly legal. A bonanza of fenced goods is now available at PropertyRoom.com–an online auction site where you can buy stolen goods without someone calling 911 on you. Read more

The Essential Guide to U.S. Trade in Gold and Silver Jewelry

JCK Online reports that The Jewelers Vigilance Committee has released a new publication, “The Essential Guide to the U.S. Trade in Gold and Silver Jewelry.” The Guide was developed to provide clear explanations of the legal standards that govern the manufacture, sale, and advertising of gold and silver industry products and can help the trade to provide clear, accurate information to consumers.

The publication includes JVC’s interpretation of the following governing standards:

1) The National Gold and Silver Stamping Act
2) The Federal Trade Commission Guides for Jewelry, Precious Metal and Pewter
3) Voluntary Product Standard (VPS) PS 68-76, reflects the accepted trade practice in the marking of articles made only of silver in combination with gold, either visually distinguished or not, and includes articles where the gold fully covers the base.

The Guide also contains information that jewelry manufacturers must be familiar with and follow, including: when and how to stamp gold and silver; what a gold alloy is; and what is solid silver.

“The Essential Guide to the U.S. Trade in Gold and Silver Jewelry” is posted on JVC’s Web site.

###

Looking for some good deals on used jewelry? San Diego jewelry shoppers take note that big stash of fine jewelry is going up for sale on e-bay soon. You can read about it here: Unclaimed Jewelry On Sale at E-bay.

SDJB Sees Gold Rush Going Green

California (and the entire country) has seen a gold rush over the past year—with consumers cashing in on exploding gold prices to sell their outdated and unwanted gold jewelry to ease the burden at the pump, take a holiday, or modernize their fine jewelry boxes. But San Diego Jewelry Buyers reports that it is not just $900+ dollar spot prices for gold that is sending customers through their doors. They say that shoppers desire to “go green” is also a driving factor.

“The internet has made jewelry customers tremendously more informed,” says SDJB spokesperson Alan Blyler. “Not only do they know more about the 4 Cs of diamond quality and the intricacies of fine millgraining and filigree, they increasingly are aware of the ways that gold and diamond mining impact the environment. Today, many people come to us because they are looking to do their part toward recycling precious resources.”

The impact to Mother Earth in creating a single piece of jewelry is truly astounding. The production of one 18k gold ring is said to generate 20 tons of mine waste, while it takes another 250 tons of mine waste to process a single one carat diamond. The environment is also at risk from the cyanide used to separate the gold from the ore—which if not carefully disposed can make its way into streams, rivers, and groundwater.

The smelting process that removes gold impurities is another culprit. According to the Worldwatch Institute, an independent research center dedicated to environmentally sustainable living, the world’s smelters release more than 140 million tons of sulfur dioxide (13 percent of global emissions) into the atmosphere every year.

By selling unwanted gold jewelry (and platinum jewelry) which can either be melted down, refashioned, or resold to an interested buyer, consumers can help reduce the need to expand mining activity around the globe, especially in developing areas which often lack the safeguards for environmental protection. “With the burgeoning wealth of countries like China and India, there are millions of more shoppers seeking fine jewelry, which is putting added pressure on the gold and diamond mines,” says Blyler. “When customers sell their old jewelry, they can help relieve that pressure, and take us another small step toward a healthy planet.”

With only about 15% of gold consumption recycled each year, there is undoubtedly much more waiting to be refashioned again into exquisite jewels. To learn more about how you can resell and recycle your fine gold jewelry, platinum jewelry, and silver jewelry, please visit SanDiegoJewelryBuyers.com.

###

Gold lovers will surely enjoy the gold jewelry of master goldsmith Gurhan Orhan. Check out our profile of this extraordinary designer at: Gurhan Orhan: 24K Gold Master Craftsman.

Selling & Loan Guide For Consumers: Jewelry, Diamonds, Gold, & Watches

**The United States has over 12,000 businesses that buy and sell used jewelry, watches, and diamonds. Not all are the same. When deciding on whom to entrust with your fine jewelry transaction, be selective, do research, and choose only those businesses that specialize and understand the current jewelry market. Read more

« Previous Page