I sold mine (this was back in late 80s). You won't get what it's 'retail' is, as you know. I went to a local jeweler (upscale area, btw) and got about 1/3 of what the set was when new only 7 yrs prior.

I used to have a friend who owned a gift shop, and visited Chicago Merchandise Mart frequently. She often bought jewelry pieces from some of the showrooms at wholesale prices. She said jewelry is marked up commonly as high as 400% for retail sale. That's why there's so little return in reselling it. But again, that was back in the 80's. Could be different now. Value of it might be in the gold right now. I'd check several jewelers first. I have to run, so no time to search, but I posted here awhile back in Conv asking if anyone had been to a Pawn shop, if you can find that post, there are some comments about jewelry and getting $ for it.

My 1st one I had turned into a different ring but couldn't wear it so I sold it; getting a fraction of what was paid for it. Read a few hundred (>500) when the ring was over $2,000 IIRC

What I ended up doing was taking the rest of my jewelry & putting it away for my kids. Let them have it when they are old enough.

If you do decide to sell, get it appraised, then get a few prices & think about it for a few months. I'd also consider ebay.

Many regular jewelers will buy used jewelery. And you were right in stating you won't get what the original cost was. However your best bet is to get it appraised so you have an idea of it's value is- that's the only way you'll know if you're getting ripped off. And you'll need it if you try to sell it on your own.

My jeweler will buy pre-owned pieces if they're of a quality that he can use. But he also will give you more money if you're trading it in for something he's selling.

Yes, sell it to a jeweler who buys rings. If you aren't interested in using it for something else, this makes sense.

Just before we separated and finalized our divorce, I was rolling out dough, took off my rings, and put them on a clean spot on the counter. The next morning, my engagement diamond was there, but the thick gold wedding band was not. Mr. X said I probably threw it away with the dough trimmings. I wondered how a big, chunky wide band got lost in dough trimmings a foot away, but his most precious diamond (he never liked the band, it was my choice, the diamond was his...) stayed safe where I put it? I'm thinking "Pawn Shop", but who knows?
Fast forward six months to his engagement to Ms.Right #2, (he is currently married to Ms. Right #4) and he approaches me to ask if he can buy my engagement ring for the same price he paid for it 5 years before? I thought for 12 seconds, asked him why, and ultimately said yes. (He had a deal with the jeweler to trade it in on a more gob-smacking ring for #2.....poor thing. And I say 'poor thing' because she only made it through 6 months and had #1's ring used for a down payment on her ring!)

When my daughter got married, about sixteen years later, I had him use the plain gold band given to me by Mr.Right #2, (the current title-holder) as well as the diamonds from earrings and other jewelry given to me by #1, to make a custom wedding ring that I still wear. So I guess I have no sentiment and don't care about selling the stuff either.

Red

I agree that trading it in on a new piece will get you the largest return. Selling to a jewelry store is a second best idea. Selliing on Ebay or to a place for it's gold value will get you the least money.

My mothers been married "4", yes "four" times. She let me pick one of her rings to wear when I got married at age 19. :0) I later sold it on Ebay for $80(plain wide gold band) when I purchased a nicer one for my 25th anniversary! :0)

I actually hocked mine to buy my kids Christmas presents the year after I left him. Never regretted it.

New SIL's parents own a jewelry store and told DD that mark up is anywhere from 300-400%. SIL got DD's engagement ring for a pittance, which is what she preferred. She got major MAJOR bling, but not a lot of cash outlay. His ring cost her less than $60, but had a retail price of nearly $400.

Jewelry is not a good investment, really. There is no market for used jewelry (unless it is a special piece by a well known someone). The jewelry store likely will give you gold weight value for the gold.

Make sure you have a certified gemologist look at your diamond to determine what grade it is and what it is worth. Don't assume all jewelers are certified gemologists. My husband is not but many people assume he is.

I sold mine to a jewelry store for a fraction of its retail price, and used the $$ to buy a yearly membership at my local boxing gym - kickboxing was great for stress relief.

I just kept mine. After 25 years, I gave it to my son, so he could have the diamond put into a necklace for his fiancee. It's a lovely piece of jewelry now and she is enjoying it.

I held on to mine until late this past year, when I finally took it (and several other unworn gold pieces) to a local shop that buys gold and diamonds, and just got rid of it. I didn't get that much for it - certainly nowhere near what it cost new (I completely agree with Golddust about jewelry being a lousy investment!). We took the money and just had some fun with it, and I have absolutely no regrets!

I had mine reset as a right hand ring, adding 6 emeralds. But my second husband didn't like me wearing the diamond from my first husband. (Even tho I'd been divorced for 13 years...) I ended up giving it to my best friend, who'd always admired it. (We've always said that whoever dies first, the other gets her jewelry!)

I must digress about the jewelry being worth nothing. Before Christmas I decided to do a little "housecleaning" in my jewelry box. I only sold items I don't wear or had no sentimental value. I had a small ziploc 1/4 full and walked away with $3,000 cash. Very nice and clean. My jeweler popped all the stones as I perused the other counters, weighed all the different golds and handed me 30 $100 bills. However, I did my homework and did know approximately how much $$ I should net from what I had.

Point being if you need some $$ and you have gold that you have no particular attachment to, I would sell the gold and hold onto the diamond for now.

I don't think the diamond won't bring what you would like to get for it. Make it into a necklace or reinvent it in another piece. If it is the karma of having the diamond around, then by all means, take it to your jeweler and sell it. I do think you will get more money if it is sold as a piece of jewelry as opposed to a stone. Do you have a nice consignment jeweler in your area? I've left a couple of Tiffany pieces that brought nice money on consignment.

Whatever you decide, good luck!

Thanks everyone. I think I'll check a few jewelry stores and see if they buy used jewelry. I've never heard of a consignment jeweler, so I'll have to check into that also.

Laurie

My ex wore his ring to work one day- a no no for plumbers- and he thinks it fell down the drain in the back of Safeway. Whatever.

I gave my band that matched his to my bro. They disliked each other so bro and I thought it would be funny. Bro used it to go to bars in San Fran. He would use it if creepy guys tried to hit on him. He lost it after putting it in the pocket of his Member's Only coat. Yes it was 1986.

I kept the engagement ring and took the 1/4 stone out and some emeralds from an antique ring I purchased while married and on my 21st birthday made myself a ring to celebrate my divorce. I still wear it and my dh of 20 years does not care. I still have the setting and was told it would be worth not a lot because it was a mix of white and yellow gold.

My husband was married before also. His ring cracked just after he learned she was having an affair with one of his old friends from school. We still have it.

I could probably take the two, along with my gold crown I had removed and make at least a few dollars, ya think?

I did keep one item and still have it. For our first anniversary I went to an antique store and purchased an Elgin 5 ruby pocketwatch guts and had it set into a gold case. It was really cool. I had engraved "for all of time" on the back. He never really appreciated it or me so I kept it when I left him. He understood. I paid $50 and had to save every dime to buy it. He gave me a little heart ring with a chip in it. I still have it too. Thought of giving it to my dd but I think I would rather sell it and buy her something else.

I took watch to an appraisal show in town a few years ago. They told me it was worth about $300 and that they would buy it but really suggested I hang onto it as it would appreciate a lot. Even if I sold the case separate from the guts, the guts were pretty unique. They said it was still valuable even with the engraving. I still have it and will probably get around to selling it. Should take it in again just to see. There are not a lot of master watchmakers around these days but there are a few in town that are reputable.

After my marriage crashed & burned, I took the d#mned thing off, got a hammer, and smashed it into little pieces in front of him.

Susie! My first wedding ring ended up being thrown in a field. (There was no tools around). It ended up being the needle in a haystack so there was no use bothering to even look for it. Yes, I threw it away in front of him. Otherwise why bother?

OK, confession! I was married at 14 years old! The marriage lasted until I was grown, at 19. (OMG! What were my parents thinking?)

i'm student....but i have many girlfriends
i still remember my 1st girlfriend have thrown away my ring on waterfall

Here is a link that might be useful: Ramsdens Gold For Cash