USA - Sell Loose Diamonds & Melee
WE PAY MORE BECAUSE THERE'S NO MIDDLEMAN TAKING A CUT
White Pine buys loose diamonds and melee directly into our own inventory — we're not brokering your stones or passing them along for a commission. Because we buy outright, there's no extra margin eating into your offer. You get paid closer to true market value, with a fast estimate and same-day payment when you accept. There is no ceiling on the value of stone or the size of parcel we are able to purchase.
HOW TO SELL
OBTAIN YOUR ESTIMATE
Submit details of the items you are looking to sell below. We will contact you with the estimate.
SEND OR MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
We can provide a free, fully insured shipping label or you can visit us in New York City or Birmingham, UK. Brinks collection is available for higher-value stones and larger parcels.
YOUR EXPERT EVALUATION
Our experts will perform a comprehensive valuation and contact you with the offer.
RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT
Accept and get a check sent the same day, or settlement by wire transfer. No hidden costs. Decline and we return your items for free.
SELLING A LARGER OR MORE VALUABLE DIAMOND
Higher-value stones are handled differently. Large certified diamonds, fancy colors, and collections of several loose stones are reviewed directly by our VP of Diamond Operations rather than going through the standard queue — with secure collection arranged for you, confidential handling, and payment by wire on the day you accept the offer.
IMPORTANT SINGLE STONES
Large certified diamonds, fancy colors, matched pairs, and old European and old mine cuts are priced on rarity and current demand rather than off a standard price sheet. These are the stones where offers vary most between buyers, and where having a route to sell the goods makes the biggest difference to what you're paid.
SEVERAL STONES OR A FULL COLLECTION
Inherited groups of loose diamonds, the contents of a safe deposit box, or stones accumulated over many years are valued together and covered by a single offer — with an itemized written breakdown where more than one family member has an interest. We also purchase full inventory from retiring jewelers and closing stores.
ONE SENIOR BUYER THROUGHOUT
You deal with the same person from your first email to the final offer. Bill Norton has been buying diamonds at White Pine since 2011 and will walk you through how the stone was graded and how the number was arrived at — by email, by phone, or in person in New York or Birmingham.
SECURE COLLECTION AND TRANSIT
For stones above the standard insured label limit we arrange Brinks or equivalent specialist collection at our cost — from your home, your bank, or your safe deposit box. Cover runs from the moment the item leaves your hands, whether or not a sale goes ahead.
PAYMENT WITHOUT A CEILING
Wire transfer on the day you accept, at any value, with transfer fees covered on higher-value sales. We buy with our own funds — there's no third-party approval to wait on, no staged payments, and no cap on what we can settle in one transaction.
HANDLED CONFIDENTIALLY
Your stone is not listed publicly, shown around, or circulated to third-party bidders, and your name is never attached to it. If you would prefer a written confidentiality agreement in place before you send or discuss anything, just ask and we will provide one.
SPEAK TO BILL NORTON DIRECTLY
VP of Diamond Operations · Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:30 EST
TELL US ABOUT YOUR ITEMS
WHAT WE BUY
LOOSE DIAMONDS & MELEE
We purchase melee, fancy colors, and certified and uncertified diamonds of all sizes including GIA certified stones — including broken or chipped and calibrated parcels of breakout melee. Our buyers also value and offer on all diamond jewelry including engagement rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, earrings, chains, and semi-mounts.
SELLING GIA CERTIFIED DIAMONDS?
Looking to sell GIA diamonds? We recognize the value and distinction of GIA certified stones and are committed to a fair, transparent appraisal process. Simply photograph the GIA cert and send it along with your inquiry to ensure we have all the information needed to get you a great price. We buy both loose GIA diamonds and stones set in jewelry. We only purchase natural diamonds — not lab-grown or rough uncut.
THE ADVANTAGES OF SELLING TO WHITE PINE
FAIR PRICING
We use industry-standard pricing criteria, study the latest market trends, and draw from our own expertise to generate an offer. We're always transparent about our pricing so you can be confident you're receiving a competitive price for your loose diamonds and melee.
SECURE TRANSACTIONS
We only use trusted shipping and logistics companies like FedEx and Brinks, and secure payment methods to ensure your transaction is safe throughout the whole process. We also strictly adhere to our privacy policies to safeguard your data.
EASY PROCESS
Selling loose diamonds & melee doesn't have to be difficult. From sending in your items to getting an estimate to getting paid, we'll help you through every step. You'll receive full instructions on how to package your diamonds, and our expert customer support team is always on hand.
WHAT IS THE SELLING PRICE OF LOOSE DIAMONDS?
The potential earnings from your loose diamonds or melee hinge on multiple variables. Unlike precious metals — whose values are largely determined by weight and purity — a diamond's worth fluctuates based on its quality, cut, visual appeal, and market demand. Its valuation is also influenced by prevailing conditions in the global diamond wholesale market.
CARAT
A diamond's carat size is determined by its weight. Diamonds with a higher carat weight are typically considered more valuable, though all four Cs contribute to the final price.
CUT & CLARITY
A diamond's cut affects how sparkling and appealing it appears. Clarity is determined by the number and type of inclusions — the fewer and smaller the flaws, the higher the clarity grade and the greater the value.
COLOR & PROFESSIONAL APPRAISAL
Diamonds are rated D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown) — colorless stones are generally more valuable. At White Pine, all appraisals are conducted by GIA-trained experts, guaranteeing accurate assessments and optimal financial returns.
WHY SHOULD I SELL LOOSE DIAMONDS ONLINE?
Selling your loose diamonds and melee online can be a quick and easy way to earn the best return on your investment. Online selling has clear advantages over selling in person.
WIDER & MORE ACCURATE NETWORK
Local jewelry stores and pawnbrokers don't specialize in buying and lack access to national or international resale networks — which affects the price they can offer. Online diamond buyers aren't held back by these constraints and can offer more competitive and accurate prices.
EFFICIENT & TRANSPARENT PRICING
Selling online gives you the advantage of comparing offers from several buyers at once. Online diamond buyers typically provide detailed cost breakdowns, making it simple to compare and decide. Industry-standard pricing guidelines ensure fair value for sellers.
SAFE & SECURE
Insured and tracked shipment methods and secure payment options protect your diamonds throughout. Rigorous privacy policies protect your personal information, and the entire process can be completed from the comfort of your home, on your own timetable.
IS MY DIAMOND SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO SELL?
Absolutely! Diamonds hold value across various applications, enabling the sale of both small and large loose diamonds alike. While jewelers may show a preference for larger gemstones for resale, White Pine welcomes the purchase of parcels of melee and loose diamonds 1ct plus.
FIVE THINGS OUR HEAD BUYER SEES SELLERS GET WRONG
VP of Diamond Operations · GIA Diamond Grading Graduate · White Pine Diamonds since 2011
DON'T CHERRY-PICK A PARCEL BEFORE YOU SEND IT
This is the most expensive mistake I see. A seller pulls the best goods out to place separately and sends us what's left. A well-made parcel is worth more than the sum of its stones because it can go straight into production without further sorting — consistent sieve sizes, a tight color and clarity range, matched cutting. Once the top goods are gone, what remains is a remainder parcel, and it prices like one. Send the lot as it sits and let us price it whole. Sorting is our cost to carry, not yours.
MELEE IS NOT PRICED ON CARAT WEIGHT ALONE
People often expect a per-carat number before we've seen the goods, and I understand why, but two fifty-carat parcels of the same average size can be a long way apart in value. What moves the number is the makeup: how tight the sieve range is, how consistent the color and clarity are across the parcel, cut quality, and whether the goods are breakout or original. That's also why a photograph and a total weight only gets you a broad range. The parcel in hand is what produces a firm figure.
AN OLD CERTIFICATE IS A STARTING POINT, NOT A PRICE
Grading standards have tightened over the years, and some labs were never calibrated to GIA in the first place. A stone certified G VS1 by a secondary lab fifteen years ago may well grade lower against a current report. That isn't a buyer marking your stone down — it's the paper being out of date. We regrade everything in house before we offer. On larger stones I will often suggest a current GIA report before we go to a final number, because at that size the difference between two adjacent grades usually covers the cost of the report several times over.
CHIPPED AND BROKEN STONES ARE WORTH MORE THAN PEOPLE ASSUME
The assumption is that damaged means scrap. It doesn't. We run our own cutting operation, so we price a damaged stone on what it will yield after recutting rather than on what it looks like now. A chipped stone that comes back clean at a slightly lower weight can be worth considerably more than the damage suggests. Two practical points: don't discard broken goods, and don't have a stone recut locally to tidy it up before selling — an unnecessary or poorly planned recut loses weight that can't be recovered.
FANCY COLORS ARE WHERE OFFERS VARY MOST
Color-graded goods don't behave like the D-to-Z scale. Hue, saturation, tone, and how evenly the color sits across the stone all move the price, and the market for each color family is thin and specific. A generalist buyer prices a fancy conservatively because they have no reliable route to sell it, and that caution comes straight out of your offer. If you're holding fancy-colored goods, it's worth getting more than one number — the spread between buyers on these stones is wider than on anything else we handle.
SELLING LOOSE DIAMOND FAQS
WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO SELL LOOSE DIAMONDS?
Selling loose diamonds and melee online is the best option — it offers a wider audience, fair pricing, security, and convenience. Selling in person can be limiting, time-consuming, and may not provide access to as many specialist buyers.
DO YOU BUY LARGE OR UNUSUALLY VALUABLE DIAMONDS?
Yes, and there is no ceiling on the value we can pay. Large certified stones, fancy colors, and collections of several loose diamonds are reviewed directly by our VP of Diamond Operations. That route includes Brinks or equivalent collection arranged at our cost, confidential handling with a written agreement available on request, an itemized written breakdown where more than one family member has an interest, and payment by wire on the day you accept. Read more about selling a higher-value diamond.
HOW DO I ENSURE I'M GETTING A FAIR PRICE?
To ensure you're getting a fair price, understand the value of your diamonds and select a trusted buyer. Leveraging industry-accepted price standards, researching the market, and talking with experts such as a respected buyer like White Pine will help you find a ballpark range for your diamonds.
IS MY DIAMOND BIG ENOUGH TO SELL?
At White Pine, there's no diamond too big or too small to sell. While the size of a diamond doesn't determine if it can be sold, it does play a role in its value — larger diamonds tend to be worth more than smaller ones.
WHAT IF MY DIAMOND IS BROKEN OR CHIPPED?
A diamond that's broken or chipped may still be able to be sold, but its value may be affected. Because we operate our own cutting facility, damaged stones are valued on their recut yield rather than written off. Contact White Pine with any questions and our support team will be there to help.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SHIP LOOSE DIAMONDS?
The best way to ship loose diamonds and melee is to use a secure and insured shipping method with a tracking number. It's also important to package the diamonds properly and discreetly. At White Pine, we'll provide you with full instructions and a free, fully insured FedEx label to ship your items, and for goods above the standard label limit we arrange Brinks or equivalent collection at our cost. Read more on insurance and safety measures for your diamonds and jewelry.