How to sell gemstones and birthstones for cash in 2024 (2024)

Gemstones, including rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, can be sold for cash, much the same as diamonds and other jewelry. This post summarizes how to understand the value of your gemstone, the process of how to sell gemstones for the highest price to reputable gemstone buyers.

Note that unless you have a very large and special gemstone, your jewelry is likely only worth the metal in which it is set. Good news is that gold and silver are near record highs. Learn more about selling gold, and selling silver.

How can I sell my gemstones for cash?

You can sell gemstones for cash to an online buyer like Diamonds USA, gemstone dealers, diamond exchanges, antique dealers, and local pawn shops. You can also sell on a site like ebay or on consignment.

The process typically involves getting an estimate on your gemstones, either by mailing them in or going in person, and accepting an offer.

How do I sell raw gemstones?

Semiprecious stones in an unpolished or raw state — like amethyst, quartz, selenite, citrine, jade and lapis lazuli — can be sold on a site like Etsy or ebay.

Raw or rough gemstones like rubies or sapphires, if they are of significant size and quality, may be of interest to the buyers in this post.

Are gemstones hard to sell?

While the amount you get for your gemstones will vary depending on the type of stone, quality, size, and cut, it is not hard to sell gemstones for money, either online or in person. Diamonds USA buys loose gemstones of all sizes and values.

Moissanite vs diamond: What to know about resale value in 2024

Cubic zirconia vs diamonds: What to know before you buy

Here’s what else you should know about selling gemstones (both polished and raw gemstones):

• Where can I sell a gemstone for cash?
• How to find the value of your gemstones
• How to appraise your gemstone
• Is there money in selling gemstones?

Where should I sell my gemstones for cash?

Whether your gemstones are loose or are a component of jewelry, you may be able sell your gemstone to the same buyers that might be interested in purchasing diamonds or precious metals. Jewelers, gemstone dealers, diamond buyers, diamond exchanges, antique dealers, and local pawn shops mayaccept gemstones. Some may even specialize in buying and selling stones. Selling through a consignment store is also an option.

However, note that your sapphire, ruby, emerald, pearls or semiprecious stone like topaz or amethyst is probably not very valuable —though the gold or silver in which it is set is actually very valuable right now — with gold prices around record highs:

As of , the spot gold value in the United States was trading at $ per ounce,or$pergram.

Learn more about selling your gold.

Who buys gemstones? Places where you can sell gemstones and raw gemstones “near me” include:

Pawnshops, jewelers, local cash-for-gold shops and estate and antique dealers in your area likely buy diamonds. There are pros and cons to selling locally: Pros include that you may personally know and trust a gemstone buyer, and it can feel safer to sell in-person.

However, online diamond buyers that have good reputations are incentivized by sheer Internet competition to pay the highest price, and maintain a good, honest business because their potential client base is national or international — and not just local. Plus, online businesses do not have to invest in expensive retail locations or sales people, which keeps their costs down, and can pass the savings on to buyersin the form of higher prices paid out.

Note that diamond prices have fallen more than 30% over the past year, so you can expect less than half of what you paid retail for your diamond jewelry. As lab-grown diamonds become more popular, and diamonds overall are less popular, experts expect diamond prices to fall further. We suggest selling now.

How to sell your diamond.

What about selling to an online gemstone buyer?

Online gemstone buyers are another excellent option for selling your stones. These buyers operate through websites or online platforms to either purchase your gemstone directly, or to connect you with a buyer who might be interested in your stone.

Diamonds USA specializes in buying jewelry and precious metals, paying within 24 hours of receiving your item, and guaranteeing the highest price, or they will return your item free of charge immediately.

Diamonds USA has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, and secures your trackable FedEx shipment up to $100,000. Free, insured returns.

How do I find out what my gemstone is worth?

In order to get the most money, you must understand how gemstones are graded, which gives you an idea of what they’re worth.

What to know about gemstone grading:

While there are a number of factors that will influence the value of your gemstone, the most important are the same as for diamonds:

• Color: What specific color or hue is your stone? The rarer and more vibrant the color, generally speaking, the more valuable your gemstone.
• Clarity: The clearer your stone, the more valuable it will be.
• Carat: The larger your gemstone, the more valuable it will be.
• Cut: If your gemstone is processed, the specific cut and quality of cut will impact its value.

Also, any stone treatments (such as heating) can potentially impact value greatly, even if the end result is a large, clear, and vibrant stone. The origin of colored stones can also play a large part in their value. For example, with all factors being equal, an emerald from Colombia is worth more than an emerald from Zambia, just like a Burmese ruby is valued higher than one from Mozambique.

While it may be possible to reference online charts and resources to conduct some sort of assessment for yourself, in order to get an accurate picture of your stone’s worth you need a gemstone appraisal.

What are the grades of gemstones?

According to the Gemological Institute of America, there is no standard quality-grading scale for gemstones. In most gemstones grading reports, gemologists simply note whether a gem is “eye-clean” (meaning inclusions aren’t visible to the naked eye) or has visible inclusions, which lower a gem’s value. GIA groups colored gems into three clarity types:

• Type I (usually eye-clean)
• Type II (usually included)
• Type III (almost always included)

While it isn’t an “official” grading system, many individual companies follow these designations:

AA-AAA Grade:

• Near perfect
• More expensive
• AAA usually reserved for more expensive gems like rubies, emeralds, and sapphires
• AA usually reserved for stones like amethyst and garnet
• High transparency
• Vivid and even color saturation
• Not usually color enhanced
• Typically faceted cut

A-B Grade:

• Slight inclusions
• Good transparency
• Well cut
• Slight color variations or streaks

C-D Grade:

• More inclusions
• Low transparency
• Varying cuts and styles
• More noticeable color variations or streaks

What is AAA grade gemstone?

AAA grade gemstones are considered to be near perfect based on color, clarity, carat, and cut.

What is the highest quality of gems?

The highest-quality gems have no inclusions visible to the naked eye, are vibrant in color, and are typically more expensive gems like rubies, sapphires and emeralds. GIA would rate the highest-quality gemstones as Type I, while most individual companies would issue a AAA designation.

These are the 10 most valuable gemstones in the world:

1. Blue Diamond – $3.93 million per carat
2. Jadeite – $3 million per carat
3. Pink Diamond – $1.19 million per carat
4. Ruby – $1.18 million per carat
5. Emerald – $305,000 per carat
6. Alexandrite – $70,000 per carat
7. Musgravite – $35,000 per carat
8. Red Beryl – $10,000 per carat
9. Black Opal – $9,500 per carat
10. Tanzanite – $1,200 per carat

How are gems rated?

There is no standard quality-grading scale for gemstones, but most individual companies rate gems on a scale of AAA to D, with D representing the lowest-quality stones.

How to get a gemstone appraisal

You can find appraisers who specialize in appraising gemstones; many jewelers and buyers also appraise stones. The most accurate gemstone appraisal will require laboratory testing to measure color and clarity against scientific benchmarks and recent market data — whether yours is a loose stone, newer piece, or estate or antique jewelry. More on where to get a jewelry appraisal.

These posts will help you understand more about reselling fine jewelry for the highest price, including necklaces, engagement rings, earrings, bracelets, and pieces from Tiffany and Cartier — as well as watches.

What is the difference between precious vs. semi precious gemstones?

According to the International Gem Society, today’s gemologists don’t typically classify gemstones as precious or semi precious anymore because these terms imply that some gems are worth more than others, which isn’t always the case. Instead, gemstones are priced based on their beauty, rarity, durability, size, color, clarity, cut, and carat.

How much is alexandrite worth?

Alexandrite is a popular gemstone in how its color can change in different lights: blue or green in daylight, and purple, pink or red in incandescent or candlelight. As such, the value of your alexandrite is most impacted by the purity of its color, as well as how dramatic and noticeable the color change.

Other factors, such as clarity, carat size, and cut will also determine the value of your alexandrite. Low-quality alexandrite can sell for as little as $100, but high-quality stones can sell for tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

How much are emeralds worth?

As mentioned above, color, clarity, carat, and cut will all determine the value of your emerald. The most important of these factors, however, is color.

The most valuable emeralds are typically those that exhibit a vivid, saturated, not-too-dark bluish-green to a pure green color. The color should be evenly distributed throughout the gem, and the gem should be fully transparent. Generally speaking, the richer and more saturated the hueof the emerald, the more valuable it will be.

Emeralds sell for anywhere between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

How much is a ruby worth?

As with other colored gemstones, color is one of the most important factors determining the price of your ruby. The most valuable of rubies tend to be an intense deep red in color, and may even be a slightly purplish red. Likewise, the clearer the stone—the fewer inclusions, or impurities—the more valuable it will be.

While richer and deeper hues are typically better for gemstones, if a ruby is too dark in color it may actually negatively affect the price. This is typically a concern with stones that are so dark that the color of the ruby cannot be appreciated because it absorbs too much light. On the other end of the spectrum, once they are clearly pink and not red, they’re pink sapphires, and they can also fetch competitive prices.

Generally speaking, the rarer the color, the more valuable the ruby will ultimately be. The most common hues falling in the middle of the spectrum between pinks and deeper reds can sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars, with rarer and higher-quality stones selling for tens of thousands of dollars.

How much is a sapphire worth?

The value of sapphires, like rubies and emeralds, is predominantly tied to the color of the stone. Stones which have a high degree of clarity, color intensity, and saturation will be worth more than stones of lesser quality. Note: Treatments a stone may have undergone will play a part in its final value. It is likely that a smaller untreated ruby with amazing clarity, color, and saturation will fetch much more than a larger, heated ruby with the same clarity, color, and saturation. Heating sapphires and rubies to achieve a more desirable color is an accepted treatment, so untreated stones with naturally desirable colors are rare and hence valued more.

While most people think of blue gemstones when they think of sapphires, the truth is that these gems can be found in a wide range of colors. Blue, pink, purple, orange, and yellow sapphires are all highly sought after. One of the rarest, and therefore most valuable, of colors is the Padparadscha sapphire, which is pink-orange in color.

Sapphires range in price from $25 to $11,000 per carat.

How much is opal worth?

Opal is a unique stone in how it reflects light, and as such the value of opal is often tied to these unique qualities. The class (single vs. doublet vs. triplet, body tone (white vs. black opal), play of color (variety of colors reflected in light), brilliance (clarity of the stone), and internal pattern can all significantly impact the value of an opal. Rare opals can sell for hundreds to thousands of dollars — or be worth tens of dollars.

Learn more about the price of gold and selling gold for the highest price, the best silver buyers, as well as what platinum is worth.

Learn about how much pearls are worth and how to sell them.

How much are birthstones worth?

Every birthstone’s value is different and will vary depending on the quality of the gem itself. While rubies, sapphires, and emeralds are typically the most expensive and sought after gems classified as birthstones, gemstones are typically valued based on their clarity, color, size, cut, carat, and durability.

Which month’s birthstone is most expensive?

There is no single birthstone that is considered the most expensive. Each individual stone is priced based on its rarity and quality — color, clarity, cut, and carat weight — though diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires generally sell for the most money.

What is my birthstone worth?

Birthstone prices vary depending on the quality of the individual gem. These are the current birthstones according to the International Gem Society:

• January – Garnet
• February – Amethyst
• March – Aquamarine
• April – Diamond
• May – Emerald
• June – Alexandrite
• July – Ruby
• August – Peridot
• September – Sapphire
• October – Tourmaline
• November – Topaz
• December – Blue topaz

IGS says the list of birthstones most well-known in the United States originated in Poland between the 16th and 18th centuries. However, in 1912, the National Association of Jewelers released a list of “modern birthstones” that included only transparent gems (the list that appears above).

This was apparently done to make it easier for jewelers to create jewelry that featured the birthstones of a woman’s children.

These are some alternative birthstones for different months:

• March – Bloodstone
• June – Pearl
• August – Spinel and Sardonyx
• October – Opal
• November – Citrine
• December – Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Tanzanite, Blue Zircon

Bottom line: Is there money in selling gemstones and birthstones?

Yes! Once you learn about how to sell gemstones, you will want to know where to sell them. You can certainly search for “gemstone buyers near me” or “gem dealers near me,” but we recommend going with Diamonds USA for selling your jewelry. Get an immediate quote and get paid within 24 hours of accepting your offer now >>

Diamonds USA is our No. 1 recommendation for selling your gemstones. Get an immediate quote and get paid within 24 hours of accepting your offer now >>

Learn how much your silver is worth and how to sell it