Written by Michael Manashirov, COO of Qollateral
Last Updated September 30, 2025 | 8-minute read
You’re looking at that stunning diamond necklace or your collection of luxury watches, and you’re wondering: could these help me access cash quickly without selling them? The answer is yes, and it’s something we help clients with every single day at Qollateral.
Diamond loans and jewelry-backed financing let you unlock the value sitting in your safe without parting with pieces you love. Whether you’re bridging a temporary cash flow gap, seizing a business opportunity, or handling an unexpected expense, your luxury assets can work for you right now.
We’ve helped thousands of clients across New York City and nationwide turn their diamonds and fine jewelry into immediate capital while keeping ownership of their treasured pieces. Let’s walk through exactly how it works.
How Do Diamond Loans and Jewelry Loans Work?
Here’s the reality: a diamond loan is a secured loan where your precious jewelry serves as collateral. Instead of selling your pieces permanently, you’re using them to secure fast funding, then getting everything back when you’ve repaid the loan.
Our collateral loan process is refreshingly straightforward:
Step 1: Professional Appraisal
Our certified appraisers evaluate your jewelry right in front of you. We look at everything: the 4Cs for diamonds (cut, color, clarity, carat weight), brand prestige, condition, and what’s happening in the current market. We’ve appraised millions of dollars’ worth of pieces, from rare colored diamonds to iconic Cartier collections.
Step 2: Immediate Loan Offer
We make you an offer based on your jewelry’s value, typically 50-70% of secondary market value for fine jewelry and diamonds. There’s no credit check. We’re focused entirely on what you’re bringing us, not your credit history or income statements.
Step 3: Secure Storage
Your jewelry stays safe in our state-of-the-art vault inside the International Gem Tower. We’re fully insured by Lloyd’s of London, giving you complete peace of mind.
Step 4: Get Funded Fast
Most of our loans are funded within 6 hours after appraisal. We can get money to you via cash, check, or wire transfer: your choice. No waiting weeks like you would with a traditional bank.
Step 5: Repayment and Return
When you’ve satisfied the loan terms, your jewelry comes right back to you in the exact condition you left it. If something comes up along the way, we’re always here to work with you.
What Jewelry Can You Use for Loans Against Diamonds and Fine Pieces?
We work with all kinds of luxury jewelry, but here’s what we see most often:
Diamond Jewelry
Rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings: if it’s quality diamonds with proper certification, we can work with it. We especially love pieces with GIA or IGI documentation.
Luxury Watches
Rolex, Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, Audemars Piguet: timepieces that hold their value and have strong secondary markets are perfect for loans against jewelry.
Precious Gemstones
Emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and other rare colored stones all work as collateral, especially when they’re properly certified.
Designer Fine Jewelry
Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, and other pieces from recognized luxury houses command some of our highest loan offers because of their brand prestige and established resale markets.
Vintage and Estate Jewelry
Antique pieces with documented provenance can be particularly valuable. We’ve worked with everything from Art Deco diamond brooches to Victorian-era statement necklaces.
The key is working with people who really understand these markets. We’ve been doing this long enough to know what holds value and what doesn’t.
Why Borrow Against Diamonds Instead of Selling?
We get asked this all the time. Here’s why our clients choose jewelry loans over selling:
You Keep Your Valuables
That diamond engagement ring or vintage Rolex isn’t just worth money; it has emotional value and might even appreciate over time. Once you sell, those benefits are gone forever.
Complete Privacy
Your business stays your business. We don’t report to credit agencies, and everything is handled with absolute discretion. No public auctions, no prying questions.
No Credit Requirements
Your credit score never enters the equation. Approval is based purely on your jewelry’s appraised value, period.
Immediate Access to Cash
Whether it’s an unexpected medical expense, a time-sensitive business opportunity, or just bridging a gap until your next big payment comes through, you get the liquidity you need on your timeline.
True Flexibility
Our loan terms give you real breathing room. You get up to 120 days (4 full months) to repay, and your loan can be renewed for additional 4-month cycles as long as you need by simply making an interest payment. There’s no maximum loan duration.
What Determines Your Jewelry’s Loan Value?
Several factors impact how much you can borrow against jewelry:
Diamond Quality
The 4Cs form the foundation of value. A 2-carat diamond with excellent cut, D color, and VVS1 clarity will command a much higher loan amount than a similar-sized stone with lower grades.
Brand and Designer
A Cartier diamond bracelet will typically secure a higher loan-to-value ratio than an unbranded piece of similar diamond quality. Brand prestige matters in the secondary market, which directly affects what we can offer.
Certification and Documentation
GIA or IGI reports significantly boost your loan value. These objective third-party certifications prove authenticity and quality, letting us make more generous offers with confidence.
Condition
Well-maintained jewelry free of damage appraises higher. Even small scratches on a watch case or loose prongs on a ring setting can reduce the offer.
Current Market Demand
Certain styles trend over time. Right now, for example, vintage Rolex sports models and rare colored diamonds are particularly hot in the secondary market.
Provenance
Jewelry with fascinating history, like pieces from notable estates or with celebrity connections, can sometimes command premium valuations.
Here’s a real example: say you’ve got a 5-carat diamond ring with GIA certification valued at $80,000. With a 60% loan-to-value ratio, you could potentially walk away with $48,000. Of course, every piece is different, and the final terms depend on the specific jewelry and current market conditions.
How Qollateral’s Terms Work: The Real Numbers
Let’s talk specifics because transparency matters.
Loan Amounts
Our jewelry and diamond loans range from $2,000 to $10,000,000. Whether you’re borrowing against a single diamond stud or an entire collection of luxury watches, we can structure something that works.
Typical Loan-to-Value Ratios
- Fine jewelry and diamonds: 50-70% of secondary market value
- Luxury watches: 60-80% of secondary market value
Loan Duration and Flexibility
You get up to 120 days (4 full months) to repay your loan. Here’s what makes us different: as we said above, your loan can be renewed for additional 4-month cycles as long as you need by simply making an interest payment. There’s no maximum loan duration, giving you true long-term flexibility.
Payment Structure
We don’t take any interest upfront, so you receive the full loan amount immediately. You won’t owe any interest until the end of your first 4-month cycle, when you can choose to either renew for another term or pay off the principal and interest to reclaim your jewelry.
No Prepayment Penalties
If you’re ready to pay early, no problem. We never charge prepayment penalties, so you’ll only pay interest for the actual time you used the loan.
The Real Talk About Our Rates
Yes, our interest rates are higher than traditional bank loans. You’re paying for convenience, speed, simplicity, and privacy. We can get you funded in hours, not weeks, and your credit score never enters the equation.
How to Maximize Your Jewelry Loan Value
Want to get the most from your diamond or jewelry loan? Here’s what we recommend:
Bring All Documentation
GIA reports, IGI certificates, original receipts, authenticity papers: anything that proves provenance and quality helps us make more generous offers.
Maintain Your Pieces
Regular professional cleaning and proper storage prevent wear that can impact loan values. A well-maintained piece always appraises higher.
Consider Market Timing
Certain brands and styles trend over time. While we always offer fair market value, some pieces might command better loan-to-value ratios when their style is particularly hot.
Work with Specialists
This is where partnering with a luxury-focused lender like Qollateral makes a real difference. We understand the nuances of high-end jewelry markets in ways that general pawn shops simply don’t.
FAQs About Loans Against Diamonds & Jewelry
How much can I borrow against my diamonds?
You can typically borrow 50-70% of your diamond jewelry’s secondary market value. For a $100,000 diamond necklace, that means a loan between $50,000-$70,000. The exact ratio depends on the quality of the diamonds, brand, condition, and current market demand.
How fast can I get funded?
Most of our loans are funded within 6 hours after appraisal. We’ve had clients walk in with a diamond bracelet in the morning and walk out with cash that same afternoon.
What happens if I can’t make a payment?
Interest payments must be made every 4 months to keep your loan active. If you run into financial trouble, call us immediately. We’d much rather work out a payment plan or extension than go through the process of liquidating someone’s treasured possession. We never want that to happen.
Is my jewelry safe during the loan?
Absolutely. Your pieces stay in our state-of-the-art vault inside the International Gem Tower, and everything is fully insured by Lloyd’s of London. We take security seriously.
Do you work with clients outside New York City?
Yes. While we’re based in NYC, we proudly serve clients nationwide. Many of our out-of-state clients ship their jewelry to us via insured carriers, and we can arrange secure shipping both ways.
Your Jewelry Can Work for You Right Now
If you own diamonds or high-end jewelry, you’re sitting on assets that can provide immediate liquidity when you need it. The secret is partnering with people who understand both the true value of what you own and the importance of handling everything with complete discretion.
That diamond tennis bracelet sitting in your safe or the vintage Cartier pieces you inherited could be exactly what you need to handle whatever life throws your way, without selling permanently, without affecting your credit, and without anyone else knowing your business.
We’ve built our reputation on fair valuations, transparent terms, and treating every client with the respect and discretion they deserve. We believe in welcoming you for an experience, not a transaction.
Ready to see what your jewelry collection could do for you? Fill out our contact form or call 212-287-5257 today for a free, no-obligation appraisal. There’s no pressure and no obligation: just helpful, friendly, and attentive service from a BBB A+ accredited business you can trust.
