I'd like to sell my wedding ring and get the most out of it. Advice?

September 23, 2013 9:06 AM

My wedding ring is maybe 2 karats? How best to monetize?

I can provide photos. My ex gave me a wedding ring, diamond band, and ~100 year-old ring. He cheated on me with hookers, so fuck him.

We are divorced. How can i most effectively monetize (sell) these rings? I'm in North Carolina. I reallly want the most money possible and am willing to travel.

posted by Punctual to Human Relations (11 answers total)

I went with a friend on the same mission. We visited 3 jewelers and pawn shops. The quotes were nearly identical, and it was 10 - 20% of what the ring cost retail. They'll assess the value of the stone and the metal in the setting.
posted by theora55 at 9:10 AM on September 23, 2013

My guess is that you'd want to go to a bespoke jeweler to see if they're interested; pawn shops will give you the cheapest possible rate. Also, have a look through eBay.
posted by dobie at 9:15 AM on September 23, 2013

Best answer: Some excellent tips here. Including this online option for direct sales, with only a 15% commission.
posted by beagle at 9:16 AM on September 23, 2013 [2 favorites]

I'd go to his family, if it's an heirloom and see if any of them wants to buy it back from you.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:20 AM on September 23, 2013 [9 favorites]

My ex, with my blessing (although not sure why she even bothered to ask me), had hers made into diamond stud earrings.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:45 AM on September 23, 2013

Hit post too soon. Not sure if changing the setting or repurposing the diamond may make monetary sense.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:46 AM on September 23, 2013

I used the online option mentioned by beagle. It worked great and I got more than I would have out of a pawn shop.
posted by ephemerista at 9:57 AM on September 23, 2013

A jeweler I know said that consignment shops are best. It'll take longer but you'll get more for it.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:11 AM on September 23, 2013

Best answer: I have not used them, but Circa advertises in high end magazines and places like the Wall Street Journal. Maybe worth talking to them? According to their site they buy everything from major pieces to one carat diamond rings.
posted by cecic at 10:46 AM on September 23, 2013

Best answer: I sold mine at a local (not chain) jeweler who sold pieces on consignment. She only had one small case of consignment pieces and was otherwise a high end store. Unless you knew what that case held, it wasn't obvious it was consignment....she had everything marked as "sale" and probably had non consignment stuff in there too. We paid just under $6000 for my wedding set, and I got $3000 when I sold it (and it sold quick) so she knew what she was doing. It was a 3/4 carat stone with about a 1/2 carat anniversary band, all in white gold.

I would shop around smaller jewelry stores, especially ones who design their own pieces. It may take a while to sell, but that might get you the most value.
posted by MultiFaceted at 2:03 PM on September 23, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Specific to NC: my mother once sold a few nice pieces on consignment through Perry's, at SouthPark in Charlotte. She worked directly through "Mr. Perry", as she calls him, and had a good experience and got a decent price. Google tells me they have since expanded significantly, selling through the store and a home shopping channel (!), so things may be different.
posted by marmago at 7:02 PM on September 23, 2013