Engagement Rings
The single most common piece that comes through the door. The center stone, side stones and setting are each valued separately, halos and pavé included.
Diamond Buyer · East Village
Sell a Diamond in NYC — Certified or Not
Engagement rings, loose stones and inherited jewelry, certified or not. We grade it in front of you, explain what we’re seeing, and pay cash the same day at 39 Avenue A in the East Village.
- 4.8 on Google · 562 reviews
- Licensed · NYC DCA #2070477
- Walk-ins welcome
- Graded in front of youLoupe and testers right at the counter
- Natural or lab-grownWe test rather than assume
- Paid the same dayCash before you leave the counter
- Licensed NYC buyerDCA #2070477 · Vintage USA Inc
What We Buy
Diamonds We See Every Week
Loose stones, set stones and whole estate boxes, certified or not. Bring them in however you have them stored. No explanation required, and nobody here is going to ask for one.
Loose & Certified Diamonds
Loose stones are easier to grade accurately, since nothing is hidden by a setting. A GIA certificate makes the conversation faster, but it isn’t required.
Tennis & Diamond Bracelets
Tennis, Cuban link and bangle bracelets. Valued on total carat weight plus the quality of the individual stones, not just the piece overall.
Diamond Necklaces & Pendants
Tennis necklaces and diamond pendants. Like bracelets, they’re valued on total carat weight plus the quality of each individual stone.
Diamond Earrings & Studs
Studs, drop earrings and diamond hoops. A single diamond stud is valued on its diamond and its gold, so one earring still counts.
Tiffany, Cartier & Branded
Tiffany, Cartier, Van Cleef and similar houses carry a premium above stone value when the piece is genuine. Original boxes and papers help but aren’t required.
Inherited & Estate Jewelry
Older cuts like European, Old Mine and transitional are graded differently than modern brilliants, and we price them on their own terms. Clearing a whole box works too.
Lab-Grown Diamonds
We buy them too, though lab-grown stones resell for considerably less than natural diamonds of the same size and grade. We’ll tell you honestly which one you have.
Damaged or Dated Settings
A chipped setting or an out-of-style mount doesn’t hurt the diamond itself. The stone is usually where most of the value sits.
Also buying: Gold Platinum Silver All jewelry Watches
How It Works
How We Grade and Test Your Diamond, Right in Front of You
Nothing leaves your sight. This is the process we run on every stone, out loud, at the counter.
Free to test, no obligation to sell-
Look Under the Loupe
The stone stays on the counter where you can see it. We check it under a 10x loupe and say out loud what we’re seeing, including any chips or damage.
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Run the Diamond Testers
Diamond and moissanite testers separate a real diamond from glass, cubic zirconia, white sapphire and moissanite. You watch every reading.
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Natural or Lab-Grown?
Testers alone can’t tell natural from lab-grown, so we look closer with the loupe and UV light and read any grading report. Then we tell you honestly which one you have.
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Grade, Price & Pay
We walk you through cut, color, clarity and carat weight, value the setting on its own, and explain the number. Accept it and you’re paid before you leave.
Good To Know
You Don’t Need to Know Anything About Diamonds
Most people who sell us a diamond have never done it before, and a lot of them arrive convinced they’re about to get taken advantage of. Fair enough — the diamond trade has earned that reputation. So we do it the opposite way: the stone stays on the counter where you can see it, we say out loud what we’re looking at through the loupe, and you hear the reasoning behind the number before the number ever comes up.
If you walk out without selling, that’s a completely normal outcome and it costs you nothing. Plenty of people come in just to find out what they actually have.
How We Price It
What Actually Decides Your Number
Diamonds don’t have a spot price the way gold and silver do. Two stones of the same carat weight can be worth wildly different amounts, so every piece has to be looked at on its own.
Carat Weight
Matters, but not on a straight line. Value climbs sharply at the round numbers buyers ask for, so a stone just under 1.00ct is worth noticeably less than one just over.
Cut
The one most people underestimate. A well-cut stone returns light far better than a poorly cut one of identical weight and color, and that difference is visible across the counter.
Color & Clarity
Set the grade range. We’ll show you what we’re seeing under magnification rather than just naming a letter and expecting you to take our word for it.
Natural or Lab-Grown
Changes the answer completely. Lab-grown stones resell for a fraction of a comparable natural diamond, and we test rather than assume — sometimes that means telling someone their stone isn’t what they were originally told it was.
In Person vs. Mail-In
Why Not Just Mail It Somewhere?
Mail-in diamond buyers advertise heavily and the pitch sounds easy. Here’s the part that gets left out.
Mail-in buyer
You Ship It and Hope
You ship your ring to someone you’ve never met, wait, and then receive an offer once they already have the stone in hand. If the number comes back lower than you expected, your leverage at that point is essentially zero.
At our counter
It Never Leaves Your Sight
Selling in person removes that entire problem. You keep your ring the whole time, you watch the evaluation happen, and you can end the conversation and walk out with it at any point. If we’re not the right buyer for your piece, we’ll tell you that too.
We’re a licensed NYC dealer — DCA #2070477 — and we’ve been on Avenue A doing this for years.
Learn Before You Sell
Diamond Selling Guides From Our Counter
Straight answers to the questions we hear every day at our Avenue A counter.
How to Sell Diamonds in NYC: The Complete Guide
From grading to getting paid, step by step.
What a GIA Certificate Actually Proves
What the paperwork does and doesn’t tell a buyer.
Lab-Grown vs. Natural Diamonds
What actually holds value when you sell.
Engagement Ring Resale Value
Center stone, side stones and gold, priced separately.
How Much Is a Diamond Tennis Bracelet Worth?
Real or fake, and what drives the price.
Cluster Diamond Ring Value
Why it looks bigger than it sells.
FAQ
Selling a Diamond in NYC, Answered Straight
The questions we get asked at the counter most often, including the ones people feel awkward asking.
Where can I sell my diamond ring in NYC?
You can sell a diamond ring in person at East Village Buyers, 39 Avenue A in Manhattan's East Village. Walk in during store hours, we examine the stone in front of you, explain what we are seeing, and pay cash the same day if you accept the offer. No appointment needed and no shipping your ring off to a stranger.
Where can I sell a diamond without a GIA certificate?
Right here. A certificate makes the conversation faster, but it is not required. We grade the stone ourselves at the counter using a loupe and testing equipment, and walk you through the color, clarity, cut, and carat weight before we ever mention a number.
How much is my diamond ring actually worth?
It depends on the four Cs, carat weight, cut, color, and clarity, plus the setting metal and whether the stone is natural or lab-grown. Two rings that look identical across a counter can be worth very different amounts, which is why we examine each one individually instead of quoting from a photo.
Do you buy lab-grown diamonds?
We do, though it is worth knowing upfront that lab-grown stones resell for considerably less than natural diamonds of the same size and grade. We will tell you honestly which one you have, including in cases where the original seller was not clear about it.
Do you buy loose diamonds that are not set in jewelry?
Yes. Loose stones are actually easier to grade accurately since nothing is hidden by a setting. Bring them in however you have them stored.
Do I need the original receipt or box to sell a diamond?
No. Paperwork can help establish provenance on branded pieces like Tiffany or Cartier, but it is not required to sell. Bring a valid government-issued ID, which New York law requires for this kind of transaction.
Can I sell a diamond I inherited?
Yes, inherited jewelry is very common here. You do not need paperwork tracing it back, just a valid ID of your own. If it is part of a larger estate, text photos ahead so we can set aside enough time.
How fast do I get paid for a diamond?
Same day. Once you accept the offer, you are paid before you leave the counter, with no waiting on a wire or a check to clear.
Is it better to sell a diamond in person or online?
Online buyers require you to mail your ring away and wait for an offer from someone you cannot see, and a lowered counteroffer often arrives once they already have your stone. In person you keep possession the entire time and can walk away at any point.
Do you buy old European and Old Mine cut diamonds?
Yes, we see them every week in inherited and estate jewelry. Older cuts like European, Old Mine and transitional are graded differently than modern brilliants, and we price them on their own terms.
Does a broken or old-fashioned setting lower what my diamond is worth?
Not the diamond itself. A chipped setting or an out-of-style mount does not hurt the stone, and the stone is usually where most of the value sits. The setting is valued separately on its gold or platinum content.
Do you buy Tiffany, Cartier and other designer diamond jewelry?
Yes. Tiffany, Cartier, Van Cleef and similar houses carry a premium above stone value when the piece is genuine. Original boxes and papers help but are not required.
Is a diamond just under 1 carat worth less than a 1 carat stone?
Usually, yes. Diamond value does not climb on a straight line with carat weight. It climbs sharply at the round numbers buyers ask for, so a stone just under 1.00ct is worth noticeably less than one just over.
Can I text photos of my diamond before I come in?
Yes. Text a photo to 917-608-8939 and we'll give you a rough read before you make the trip. A final number still needs the stone in hand, because two rings that look identical can be worth very different amounts.
What if I decide not to sell after you look at it?
That is a completely normal outcome and it costs you nothing. Plenty of people come in just to find out what they actually have.
Do I need an appointment to sell a diamond?
Walk-ins are welcome during store hours. For a high-value stone or a full collection, a quick text to 917-608-8939 ahead of time helps us set aside proper time for it.
Are you licensed to buy diamonds in NYC?
Yes. NYC DCA license #2070477, Vintage USA Inc, DBA East Village Buyers.
Where are you and what are your hours?
39 Avenue A, between 2nd and 3rd Street in the East Village. Sunday 12:30 to 6 PM, Monday through Thursday 12:30 to 6:30 PM, Friday 12:30 to 4 PM, closed Saturday. The F train to 2nd Avenue and the 6 to Astor Place are a short walk, and the L at 1st Avenue is close as well.
Getting Here
Selling a Diamond From Anywhere in NYC
We’re at 39 Avenue A, between 2nd and 3rd Street in the East Village. The F train to 2nd Avenue and the 6 to Astor Place both put you a short walk away, and the L at 1st Avenue is close as well.
People come to us from the Lower East Side, Alphabet City, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown, and across Manhattan — along with Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. If you’re used to the Diamond District on 47th Street, the difference here is that you’re dealing with one shop and one offer instead of walking a block of competing booths.
- Sunday
- 12:30–6 PM
- Monday–Thursday
- 12:30–6:30 PM
- Friday
- 12:30–4 PM
- Saturday
- Closed
Walk-ins welcome. Not sure it’s worth the trip? Text a photo to 917-608-8939 and we’ll give you a rough read before you come in.