Quick answerIt depends entirely on the buyer. Some pay for diamonds, some return stones if you ask, and some keep stones without paying for them. Get the stone policy in writing before you ship, or have the stones removed first.
Published stone policies
| Buyer | Policy | What they say |
|---|---|---|
| Express Gold Cash | Pays for diamonds | Pays wholesale value for diamonds on top of the gold. Does not pay for loose colored gemstones, but may add gemstone value to the offer. Asks you to send jewelry intact. |
| DD Pawn Loans | Case by case | Stones are deducted from gold weight; diamonds may be valued separately (per their mail-in pages). |
| MailGoldOnline | Returns on request | No separate value for diamonds or gemstones, except GIA-certified natural diamonds of 0.5 ct or more (call first). You can ask for stones to be returned when you ship. |
| The Alloy Market | Keeps them, no pay | Stones are excluded from the weight. Alloy does not remove or return stones. Refers significant diamonds to Worthy. |
| GoldFellow | Returns stones | Buys diamonds of 0.25 ct or larger. Doesn't buy other gemstones, but runs a gemstone-removal program that pulls prong-set stones over 2 mm and returns them to you. |
| Cash for Gold USA | Pays for diamonds | Buys diamonds and diamond jewelry, appraised as-is. Stones aren't removed or returned separately. |
| Abe Mor | Pays for diamonds | Diamonds appraised separately from the gold |
| Offramp | Not published | Not published |
| Specialty Metals Smelters & Refiners | Not published | Not published. Pull every stone before sending; melting destroys or loses them |
| Gold Refinery of San Diego | Not published | Not published |
Taken from each buyer's own pages. Sources are on the comparison page.
Why many buyers don't pay for stones
Gold buyers price by metal weight and purity. Stones count against that weight, and Kitco notes that gemstones increase melt loss when material is refined5. Valuing a diamond takes different expertise, so many scrap operations don't do it. MailGoldOnline, for example, pays only for GIA-certified natural diamonds of 0.5 ct or more1. The Alloy Market doesn't remove or return stones and refers diamond sellers elsewhere2.
Buyers that handle stones fairly
- GoldFellow has a gemstone-removal program for prong-set stones over 2 mm and buys diamonds of 0.25 ct and up3.
- Express Gold Cash says it pays wholesale for diamonds, but not for loose colored stones4.
- Abe Mor is a diamond company that appraises diamonds separately6.
- MailGoldOnline returns stones on request1.
How to protect your stones
- Remove them first. A local jeweler can unset stones, often for a modest fee. Then sell the gold by weight.
- Or request return in writing. Put it in the packing slip, and keep a photo of each stone in its setting.
- Get large diamonds valued separately. A diamond with a grading report deserves its own quote from a diamond buyer.
- Know what's lab-grown. Lab-grown diamonds generally have little resale value, and some buyers don't buy them at all1.
Common questions
Do gold buyers pay for diamonds?
Some do. Express Gold Cash says it pays wholesale for diamonds, GoldFellow buys diamonds of 0.25 ct and up, and Cash for Gold USA and Abe Mor appraise them. Others pay nothing for stones. Always get the policy in writing.
Will a gold buyer give my stones back?
Only some will. GoldFellow removes and returns prong-set stones over 2 mm, and MailGoldOnline returns stones if you ask when you ship. The Alloy Market says it does not remove or return stones.
Do buyers pay for lab-grown diamonds?
Usually not much. MailGoldOnline, for example, says it does not buy lab-grown diamonds.