We’ve all been in a place where we’re slightly strapped for cash, especially when we’re trying to make our money last longer before payday comes around again. Sometimes we have too many birthdays in one month, or we have a special event or holiday coming up and just don’t know where to find the money to cover all the gifts we need to buy. Well, having a dig through your jewellery box can be extremely fruitful if you know what you’re looking for, and most importantly, where to sell your jewellery.

There may be a lot of items sitting in your dresser or jewellery box that are gathering dust: bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings and brooches. Pieces that may have been in there for months, perhaps even years, and ones that you know you will not wear again any time soon. So what better way to make some space at home, as well as some extra cash to go towards those extra special presents that you want to buy for loved ones, than to sell those jewellery items?

People are finding it easy to sell jewellery these days as it is sought after and it is also a fast way to make money with minimum effort. This is because there is always value in gold, gold coins, platinum, silver, diamonds and other semi-precious stones. There will always be a market for shiny pieces, so if you want to buy better gifts this year, then turn to your jewellery collection. Remember, you may have a ring that you’ve fallen out of love with, but one that could be another person’s new favourite piece!

Firstly, decide which items you want to sell and how much you hope to get for them. A great place to start is sorting out sentimental pieces from others that don’t really hold any meaning to you, or other family members. This will allow you to make a decision on the ones that you want to sell for that extra money. Good items to sell would be single earrings, as well as chains and clasps that are broken, as they don’t currently have any use and you probably won’t miss them at all.

It’s best to do your research first to ensure that the items you’re looking to part ways with have value on the market, so seeking a professional that you can trust to appraise your items is key. If you’re not even sure whether your items are actually worth anything at all, take them to a trusted expert and they will check them for you in a matter of minutes. From there they will make you an offer accordingly.

Depending on where you sell it, jewellery will always look more dazzling if it’s cleaned up first. In most cases, using warm water can help you to get that shine back, but with many gold and jewellery buyers this isn’t necessary as they accept items in whatever condition they are in.

So, instead of spending all of your hard-earned cash on average gifts, try selling your jewellery to make some extra money – to get that extra special person an extra special gift. It’s worth thinking about when it comes to birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and other special occasions. There are a few options for selling your jewellery in South Africa, but please ensure you seek expert advice before doing anything.