No. A pawn loan is secured by the item you bring in, not by your promise to repay — so there's no credit check when you take it out, and it is not reported to any credit bureau.
If you don't repay, we keep the item. That's the whole consequence. Nothing goes to collections, nothing appears on your report, and nobody calls you.
Selling means you hand it over and take cash — it's gone. Pawning means you borrow money against it and we hold it securely. Pay the loan back and it's yours again.
Selling generally gets you more money on the day. Pawning gets you less, but you keep the ring. We added pawn loans in 1996 for exactly this reason: people needed money but didn't want to lose the thing.
Gold jewelry, diamonds, sterling, coins, bullion, Rolex and other fine watches, and authentic designer handbags — Louis Vuitton and Chanel.
Broadly: things that hold value, that we can authenticate, and that we can store securely. If you're not sure, call before you drive.
Usually about fifteen minutes at the counter. You'll need valid ID — California law requires us to record the transaction.
Pawn loan terms and fees in California are set by state law, not by us, and they're disclosed in writing on your loan agreement before you sign anything.
Ask at the counter and we'll walk you through the exact numbers for your loan. We're a licensed California pawnbroker — our licence numbers are on the door and at the bottom of every page on this site.
It depends on purity and weight. A 14k chain is 58.3% gold — you're paid on the gold content, not the gross weight. Our melt calculator does that arithmetic against the live Kitco board, so you can work out the ceiling before you leave the house.
Every dealer buys under melt, including us. That gap covers refining, assay and the cost of keeping a counter open. Anyone promising 100% of melt is making it back somewhere you can't see.
No. Never. This is the most expensive mistake in the hobby.
That dull grey surface is decades of natural toning, and collectors pay for it. A polish or a dip can take a coin from a straight grade to a "details" holder in about four seconds, and it can't be undone. If it looks dirty, bring it dirty.
No, and plenty of people don't. A verbal appraisal at our counter is free with no obligation attached. If the answer is "keep it," that's the answer you'll get.
Please don't. People routinely bin the valuable piece and carefully carry in the worthless one — it happens constantly.
Bring the whole box, the half-empty album, the coffee can. We'll sort it with you across the counter.
We'd say so, but here's the objective difference: the pop-up buyer in a conference room leaves town on Sunday. We've been on Blackstone since 1982.
If you have a question on Monday, there's a Monday to come back to — and a licensed business with a BBB A+ rating since 1984 standing behind the number.
No — and this catches a lot of people out. What we give you at the counter is a free verbal market opinion: expert, specific, and the right tool for deciding what to do next.
A written certified appraisal is a signed document from a certified appraiser, and it's what you need for insurance, probate, divorce or tax purposes. That's a different service with a fee. Ask us and we'll tell you which one your situation actually calls for.
No, and neither will anyone else. An insurance appraisal states replacement value — what it would cost to buy that piece new at full retail. It's deliberately high, because that's what the policy has to cover.
Resale value is a different, lower number. A $6,000 appraisal document is not a $6,000 cheque, and any buyer who lets you believe otherwise is setting up a disappointment.
No — PCGS and NGC grade coins, and no honest dealer would claim otherwise. We're an authorized dealer for both, which means we pre-screen your coin, tell you whether it's worth the grading fee, and submit it on your behalf.
Most of the time the honest answer is that certification costs more than it would add. We'll say so and hand it back.
Yes — diamonds, sterling and flatware, platinum, Rolex and fine watches, authentic Louis Vuitton and Chanel handbags, and dental gold.
We're more than a coin gallery, which is a line we've been using for a reason.
No. Walk in. If you're bringing a large collection or a serious bullion position, call ahead — we'll have the time and the cash ready.
Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm, Saturday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, closed Sunday. Same hours at all three locations.
North Fresno (4616 N Blackstone) is the main site — the Showroom and the Pawn Shop are separate buildings there, and it's where the jeweler's bench and the full coin inventory live.
Downtown Fresno (2016 Tulare St) and Visalia (1615 S Mooney Blvd) are quick counters for selling and pawning without the drive north.
Sí. Página en Español.
Nobody here works on commission, and there's no wrong question. Call the counter and a person will pick up.
