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When it’s time to either upgrade or sell their jewelry, people who have purchased jewelry from Kay Jewelers often wonder, “Does Kay Jewelers buy jewelry?” The simple answer is that Kay Jewelers does not operate a traditional in-store jewelry buyback program. However, the company offers two separate programs. Eligible diamond jewelry may qualify for its…

Money in imperial China worked a bit differently from that in Europe; instead of minted coins, the system relied on Chinese silver bullion. Value wasn’t stamped onto a coin; instead, it was calculated by weight and fineness. The standard measurement used for trade and taxes was the tael (liang), roughly 37 to 40 grams of…

People turn to estate jewelry for various reasons: a wedding ring that fits the budget, a search for something one-of-a-kind, or just the appeal of buying pre-loved over brand-new. Whatever the reason, shopping the estate market well requires knowing how to buy estate jewelry and what to look for. This guide covers what estate jewelry…

From bullion bars and sovereign coins to jewelry and collectible pieces, the “999” stamp appears throughout the precious metals market as a hallmark of extremely high gold purity. For anyone with a gold piece stamped “999,” this guide explains what that marking actually means, how much 999 gold is worth, how to determine its authenticity,…

Some links in this article may be affiliate links, meaning The Alloy Market may earn a commission at no additional cost to the buyer. Twenty years ago, many people may have balked at the idea of buying fine jewelry online. Today, however, purchasing jewelry online has become commonplace. What once felt unsafe or untrustworthy is…

Gold jewelry comes in many forms, but necklaces and 14K gold chains are among the most common pieces that everyday people own, which also makes them among the most commonly sold. Whatever the reason, many sellers still walk into the process without a clear idea of what their chain should realistically be worth, let alone…

Five-gram gold items are among the most common pieces sold by individuals. Despite their prevalence, there remains a significant gap between those who receive surprisingly strong payouts and those who unknowingly accept only a fraction of what their gold is actually worth. For the most part, that difference comes down to one thing: knowing the…

If someone picks up a piece of jewelry with the number 375 stamped on the inside, they have found something that most Americans have never seen before. What is 375 gold? In the US, gold is measured by karats, so numbers such as 10K, 14K, and 18K indicate the karat content of gold jewelry. Other…

Most jewelry loses its shine within a year or two. Fine jewelry doesn’t. Solid gold, platinum, and sterling silver pieces can stay in rotation for years and still resell for meaningful cash later. This guide explains what fine jewelry is, how it differs from demi-fine, fashion, and pre-loved estate pieces, and why the distinction matters…

Anyone who’s shopped for a gold necklace or ring lately has likely experienced sticker shock. The number on the tag often bears little resemblance to the spot price (live trading price of raw gold). That disconnect can be confusing, especially for first-time buyers trying to figure out what’s fair.​ Why is gold jewelry expensive? It’s…