Estimate a loan on a diamond
We do not guess resale prices. Check recent sold listings for the same model and condition, then type the figure.
| Share of value | Loan | Max 1st-month charge |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | — | — |
| 50% | — | — |
| 70% | — | — |
Scenarios, not offers. Each shop sets its own percentage; the charge column is the maximum your state allows.
How pawn shops value a diamond
- The shop checks the stone with a tester and, for natural vs lab-grown, with specialized equipment or the report.
- Carat, cut, color and clarity set the base value; a GIA or IGI report is the reference most buyers trust.
- Stones under about a quarter carat add little to an offer.
- Chips and visible inclusions lower the value.
What to bring
- A government-issued photo ID.
- The grading report.
- Any appraisal and the original receipt.
Insurance appraisals list replacement cost, which is above resale. If the diamond is in a ring, the gold or platinum is valued separately; see pawning an engagement ring.
How much of the value will they lend?
There is no standard percentage. FirstCash, which runs Cash America, First Cash and other pawn chains, says in its annual report that the loan "typically is based on a percentage of the estimated sale value of the collateral", that it does not use a standard or mandated percentage, and that store employees set it item by item (FirstCash 2012 Form 10-K). That is why offers for the same item vary from shop to shop. The calculator above shows scenarios so you can compare offers you get.
What the loan costs
The charge is set by state law, whatever you pawn. Check the maximum for your state and amount:
Pawn loan cost by state
$40
maximum charge for the first month
- Total charges
- $40
- To get your item back
- $240
- Monthly rate
- 20.0%
Maximum allowed by state law. A pawn shop can charge less; your pawn ticket shows the real amount.
Pawn shops near you
Results
Enter a ZIP code or use your location to see the nearest pawn shops, with open-now status. Or browse a city: Las Vegas, San Antonio, Albuquerque, Tampa, Lincoln, Lubbock, Sioux Falls, Houston, Dallas, Columbus.
Questions
Do pawn shops take lab-grown diamonds?
Some do, but lab-grown diamonds resell for much less than natural ones, so offers are low.
Does a certificate raise the offer?
Usually yes: it removes uncertainty about the grade, which is what the shop is pricing.