Monthly Archives: abril 2019

Engagement Ring Etiquette: When “I Do” Becomes “I Don’t”

An engagement ring: a symbol of hope for the future and longevity in a loving, trusting relationship. Engagement ring etiquette dictates we wear it on our left ring fingers because that’s where a vein connects to your heart. This, however, is an old wives’ tale. While it’s a romantic thought, it’s a modern myth… similar to the idea that every engagement turns into forever. While it’s certainly not your intention when you purchase or accept an engagement ring, we know that plans and relationships fall through. After a particularly painful end, it may be tempting to put that ring to the side and let it gather dust. However, let us be the first to encourage you to dust off that ring and give it a new life. Whether you want to sell it for cash or get rid of its bad juju, we can help you create something wonderful with it. After all, as C.S. Lewis said, “there are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” Can’t decide what to do with that old engagement ring? Let us make some suggestions: Check the Laws in Your State Concerning Who Gets the Engagement Ring. If your engagement or marriage was recently called off, look into the local laws concerning who gets to keep the engagement ring. According to Worthy, broken engagement rules vary from one state to the next in the United States. For example, Texas is an implied conditional gift state when it comes to engagement rings. This means that the ring belongs to the bride if an engagement is broken by the groom. While he can request the ring back, it is considered the bride’s legal property unless she is the one who ended the engagement. For more information, visit Nolo. Sell Your Ring So, you’ve gone through the research or spoke with your ex and the ring is yours. Maybe you no longer want it or maybe the only thing that will heal your emotional wounds is cash. This opens up a world of opportunities! If you sell it to us, we’ll give you cash on the spot for it. Whether you want that cash for a vacation or for your rainy day fund, you’re free to choose how that ring contributes to your future. Trade in Your Ring If you’ll miss the feeling of a ring on your finger, trade it in for something you’ll love. Trading in your ring at Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange means you could end up with a pre-owned Rolex watch, a ring with a different gemstone, David Yurman bracelets, or even a new diamond ring. We’ll make sure you’ll leave with something that makes you as happy as that old engagement ring did. Repurpose Your Diamond Perhaps the diamond in your ring is a family heirloom or you have a sentimental attachment to it. By re-setting or re-purposing your diamond, you can keep the sentimental aspect and cleanse it of any bad memories. Whether you want to set it in a new ring or as a necklace, our full-service repair shop can create your perfect piece. At Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange, we can help you make the best of any situation where “I do” becomes “I don’t.” If you find yourself in this predicament, bring in your ring and we’ll help you decide what’s best for you!

What’s the Deal with Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Are you attracted to the lower price tag of lab-grown diamonds? Think twice before making this particular investment! We all know one of the first steps to the perfect proposal: picking out the diamond ring your partner will swoon for! And our team at Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange is thrilled to help you find the right match. We also want our customers to make the most informed decision possible when it comes to this investment, because it’s a big one! Which is why we’d like to discuss one of the newest trends in diamond-buying — lab-grown diamonds. The difference between natural and lab-grown can still be a bit muddy to consumers and sellers alike. In fact, some companies have landed in hot water for falsely advertising their lab-created diamonds. Here’s what you need to know: Natural diamonds are forged deep within the earth over many years under great pressure and heat. We mine, cut and polish raw diamonds to use in fine jewelry. For years, natural diamonds have been the only choice for that signature engagement ring sparkle. They are still what you’ll see in most engagement rings today. However, some companies have started creating diamonds in laboratories. They create them in one of two ways: High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition). The quality of these lab-created diamonds is increasing with time and reputable diamond-graders (like GIA) even grade them based on the four C’s. However, a professional jeweler can still spot the difference fairly easily. If you’re trying to find the right diamond within your budget, perhaps you’ve considered lab-grown diamonds. After all, their prices are up to 30% lower than their natural counterparts, according to Money Under 30. But, before you pull the trigger, consider your diamond’s resell value. Marriage is a life-long thing; you may want to upgrade your ring one day or the marriage may not last forever (unlike that diamond). That’s why Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange suggests investing in a natural diamond, even if you have to shell out a little more for it now. Natural diamonds hold their value extremely well. The supply of lab-grown diamonds is only going to grow, meaning the demand will inevitably go down, making them a poor investment. If you invest in a natural diamond now, you’ll thank yourself later when you need to resell and get at least 30-50% of your money back. If you go to resell your lab-grown diamond, that number decreases to the point where you’ll get next to nothing back. Still interested in a lab-grown diamond? Let us know. While we don’t typically carry them in our store, we can still help you find one with the best quality for the best price! Now that you’ve thought about how your diamond is made, check out our guide to picking the perfect diamond shape.

Selling Your Gold 101

At Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange, we want you to feel comfortable selling your gold and for you to be sure you’re getting the best offer in Dallas. That’s why our experts have put together a list of tips for selling your gold so you can feel like an expert, too! Here’s 4 things you should know before selling your gold: What “karat” actually means.  When we use “karat” to refer to gold, we are referring to its purity. Pure gold, or 24-karat, is too soft to use in most jewelry. So, gold is alloyed with other metals to increase its strength so that it can be used in fine jewelry. Most importantly, the karat purity of your gold will effect the price. To check the purity of your gold yourself, look for the gold hallmark stamped into your jewelry. While you can always check our tracker to see what the price of gold is, this is referring to 24-karat (pure) gold. To get the price of 14-karat or 18-karat gold commonly used in jewelry, you need to both weigh your item and do a little arithmetic. For example, if your item is 14-karat gold, and the current price of gold is $1,600 per ounce, or $51.45 per gram ($1,600/31.1), then the price of your scrap gold is $51.45 x .585 = $30.10 per gram. Gold Hallmark Karat Indicators: Karat Karat Mark European Mark Percent Pure Gold 10-karat 10K 417 41.7% 14-karat 14K 585 58.5% 18-karat 18K 750 75.0% 22-karat 22K 917 91.7% Of course, we can help you with all of this when you bring your items in for a quote. This is just for your reference! Beware of illegitimate buyers. There are many sellers out there who claim to be experts and won’t give you a fair value for your items just to make a quick buck. To avoid these, only sell to legitimate jewelry stores, not pawn shops or random pop-up buyers. When you believe you’ve found a reputable buyer, make sure to check with the Better Business Bureau and ensure they have a good grade. Is it scrap? Or perhaps much more?  Research whether or not your gold items are more valuable as they are than if they were melted down as scrap. You never know how much an item is really worth until you do a little digging! Of course, our experts at Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange can help you with this and give you the most accurate quote in Dallas. We really know our gold! However, if you’re aware that your gold item has some history, let us know so we can get you the best price. Shop around!  Don’t believe we’ll get you the best price for your gold? That’s okay — we’ll let our offers speak for themselves! Check with different (legitimate) gold buyers around Dallas to ensure you’re getting the best offer. If you find a better offer than ours, we’ll match it. Simple as that!