Which Stones and Precious Metals Are the Most Valuable

Whether you’re buying jewelry or selling it secondhand, the value of your piece will largely be dictated by whether it includes precious metal or gemstones. Luxury accessories almost always include precious metals and stones because they elevate the price of the piece and add to its rarity. While many consider gold and diamonds to be the most desirable materials to own in a jewelry piece, they’re actually oftentimes not the most expensive. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most valuable stones and precious metals on the market, so when you stop by Watch & Wares Tustin, you’ll know exactly why your piece is valued at its listed price.

Platinum

There are four precious metals used in jewelry: platinum, gold, silver, and palladium. Of the four, platinum is often the most expensive and definitely the most exclusive. It’s 30 times rarer than gold and used in a purer form. It’s the densest, strongest, and most non-corrosive of the precious metals, which makes it an ideal choice for those who want a low-maintenance metal whose beauty will stand the test of time.

Gold 

Because of its desirability, durability, and malleability, gold is the most popular precious metal option. It’s a traditional precious metal choice that has been coveted for thousands of years as both a jewelry base and a currency. Its value fluctuates daily and is measured by the purity of the gold used, with 24 karat gold being the most valuable with 100% gold.

Silver

Silver is the most popular jewelry base option after gold. Sterling silver is often considered the standard for high-quality silver jewelry since it’s over 90% pure silver. Silver is more affordable than gold, making it a great options for those on a budget, but its price is also much more volatile than gold. If you’re selling silver jewelry, be sure to monitor the market price before you sell to ensure you’re getting the best value possible for your piece.

Palladium

The fourth and least common precious metal option is palladium. Palladium is used to create white gold alloys in jewelry. It is combined with one or more other white metals such as nickel, platinum, manganese, zinc, or silver in order to create a stronger material than silver that replicates the same desirable silver color.

When it comes to gemstones in jewelry, many consumers value colorless diamonds for their classic appearance and high desirability. However, they’re far from the most valuable gemstone available. From colored diamonds to rare gemstones, here are some of the most valuable stones on the market.

Blue Diamond

The most expensive gemstone in the world is a diamond, but it’s not just any diamond. The ultra-rare blue diamond is valued at $3.93 million per carat. Blue diamonds consistently sell for millions of dollars at auction to some of the world’s top collectors. The world’s biggest blue diamond, – a 14.62-carat emerald-cut – was sold at auction for $57.5 million in 2016. While it’s not the most expensive jewel ever sold, it does take home the prize for the most valuable price per carat.

Jadeite

Jadeite comes in at a close second for most valuable at $3 million per carat. Jadeite is the purest, rarest, and most vivid form of jade in the world. Despite being known for its vibrant green color, jadeite can actually come in a variety of colors such as red, yellow, and black. Jadeite plays a significant role in Chinese culture, symbolizing prestige and status. 

Ruby

Ruby is one of the most sought-after gemstones due to its range of stand-out fiery red hues. The ruby is often referred to as the “King of Gemstones” and it’s become a symbol of passion and life due to its blood-like color. The most expensive ruby ever sold, a 26-carat stone named the Sunrise Ruby, was sold for $30 million in 2015, making it worth $1.18 million per carat.

Emerald

Emeralds, known for their unique green tones, are some of the most popular gemstones in the world. Most emeralds are found with flaws, so those that are found to not have any often fetch enormous figures at auction. The most expensive emerald per carat ever sold was the Rockefeller Emerald, an 18-carat gemstone that was sold for $5.5 million, or $305,000 per carat.

If you’re looking to buy or sell jewelry with precious metals or stones, stop by Watch & Wares Tustin for a free appraisal. We buy gold jewelry and offer jewelry loans if you’re not ready to part with your piece permanently. Our expert appraisers have years, if not decades, in the fine jewelry industry, and we consistently offer the most competitive rates in the area. To find out what the value of your gold jewelry is, stop by Watch & Wares today.

The Jewelry Loan Process with Watch & Wares

If you need cash quickly for unexpected expenses and you have valuable jewelry that you’re able to trade, collateral loans can be a great option. With a collateral loan, you don’t need a credit check to qualify, and failing to repay doesn’t hurt your credit score. You can capitalize on the value of your valuable jewelry pieces without permanently losing them when you choose jewelry loans through Watch & Wares in Tustin

The Appraisal Process

In order to determine the value of the loan, we appraise your jewelry and estimate its approximate value on the secondhand market. Our expert gemologists will assess your pieces based on the precious metals and stones they contain as well as brand and condition.

If your jewelry contains diamonds, our gemologists will value each diamond in order to calculate the item’s worth. They will evaluate the cut, clarity, color, weight, and condition. When assessing color, we’ll assign each diamond a letter on the GIA color scale, with D being the whitest in color and Z being the most color tinted. Clarity will also be assessed according to GIA standards. After we’ve determined its clarity grade, we’ll weigh the diamonds in carats. This is arguably one of the most important factors since diamond prices are largely based on the weight of the diamond in carats. Once we’ve determined the value of a diamond in your weight bracket, we’ll assess the condition of the diamond and calculate the exact market value of the diamonds in your jewelry piece. We can then use this to offer you a fair and honest loan value for your diamond jewelry.

If you have gold jewelry to pawn, we calculate the value of your gold based on the weight in troy ounces, the purity in carats, and the current gold spot price. Once we’ve determined the weight and purity of your gold, we can apply a formula that calculates the exact value of the gold present in your jewelry piece. This will help us more accurately determine the value of the piece overall. 

Our Collateral Loan Terms

Once we’ve appraised your piece and established its approximate resale value, we’ll offer you a collateral loan for that amount. Should you choose to accept the loan terms, you’ll be issued a loan ticket clearly stating all of the terms so that the process is completely transparent. All of our loans are four-month terms with a generous ten-day grace period. Our interest rates are state-regulated, and paying back the full interest rate enables you to renew your loan if needed. We’ll hold on to your jewelry until you repay the loan within the agreed-upon timeframe. If you fail to pay back or renew your loan in time, we’ll keep your jewelry as repayment. This makes collateral loans a great option for those with poor credit or those who fear damaging their credit score, as failure to repay collateral loans will never affect your credit in any way. If you do repay your loan on time, then you can come collection your jewelry from our Tustin location at your earliest convenience.

Collateral loans are a wonderful tool to have if you need cash to last you until the next pay period. They allow you to cash in on the remarkable value of your fine jewelry pieces without having to permanently part with them. If you have diamond or gold jewelry that you would like to have evaluated for a loan, stop by our Tustin location today. Our expert team members have decades of experience in the fine jewelry industry and can quickly and accurately appraise your items with no hassle. We have served the Tustin and surrounding Orange County area for more than 25 years, so you can trust us to consistently offer fair loan values in a comfortable setting with exceptional customer service.