I took my batch of surplus gold to a few places in town to get quotes, since gold is selling for such a high price. Lucine at Skyline Gallery was referred to me be several people at our church, so I took my treasures to her last. At a lot of the other places, they wouldn't even take silver, and many others weren't interested in the broken pieces (I inherited a lot, from broken stuff to heirloom-quality, in a mix of metals), but Lucine was happy to buy it all. She bought everything from my mother-in-law's broken, gem-less earring backs to my old disney silver coins and baby spoons. Plus, she recognized the stones in the more valuable pieces, unlike every single other place I took the jewelry, where only diamonds mattered. She was positively meticulous in her pricing and estimation!
Her quote for many of the items was up to four times as much as some of the other places, and fully TWICE as much as the top quotes I got from the most generous pawn shops. I couldn't believe it! Plus, Skyline Gallery is a beautiful place. When I was standing in the line at a pawn shop on First Avenue there were people with guns, a guy twitching while looking around like a lunatic, and a couple of guys smoking a joint in the parking lot, a guy with an obviously stolen car radio trying to convince them that he hadn't stolen it, and the whole scene just felt unsafe and downright scuzzy. You certainly won't find that here. It was a really clean, honest, and ethical exchange in an absolutely beautiful store, and I left feeling great.
I also have to say that their collection of jewelry and treasures is unbelievable! It's almost like a curated museum, and the owners clearly know their craft. Lucine has a metallurgy degree from the University of Arizona, if I remember correctly, and they know all the local jewelers, latest techniques, etc. I got the feeling that they were both knowledgable and passionate - a wonderful combination that makes walking into their gallery an adventure and a learning experience all in one. Plus, they aren't snobby at all. They were just as passionate about the gold-plated chain I was interested in as the solid chain, and were totally up front about the perks and drawbacks of every choice. I never felt pressured, and got the impression that they know how to work with any client, from lavish millionaires to the average Joe looking for a spectacular engagement ring on a budget.
In any event, whether you are looking to buy or sell, their obvious fairness, generosity, and ethics make this THE place to buy or sell the most precious things in your jewelry cabinet. read more