You have a diamond that’s no longer part of your life — an engagement ring from a relationship that ended, a loose stone inherited from a grandparent, a pair of earrings that haven’t left the box in years. Whatever the piece, whatever the reason: if it’s a real diamond, it has real market value, and you deserve to know exactly what that is before making any decision.
At Benadato, we’ve been buying diamonds and fine jewelry in Denver for over 30 years. We evaluate every diamond on its individual merits — cut, color, clarity, carat weight, certification, and current market demand — and we explain our reasoning clearly before making any offer. No pressure, no obligation, no mystery.
What Diamonds We Buy
We purchase diamonds across every category. Whether you have a single stone or a full estate collection, each piece is evaluated individually.
- Loose diamonds — GIA-certified, IGI-certified, or uncertified. Round, princess, cushion, emerald, oval, pear, marquise, and all other cuts. Any size from melee to large center stones.
- Diamond engagement rings — solitaires, three-stone settings, halo rings, vintage and estate designs. We evaluate the diamond and the setting separately.
- Diamond wedding and anniversary bands — eternity bands, channel-set, pavé, and all styles.
- Diamond earrings — studs, drops, hoops, cluster, and chandelier earrings in all sizes and metals.
- Diamond necklaces and pendants — solitaire pendants, tennis necklaces, diamond-set chains, and statement pieces.
- Diamond bracelets — tennis bracelets, bangle-style, and cuff bracelets with diamond accents.
- Fancy colored diamonds — yellow, pink, blue, green, and other natural color diamonds. Each is evaluated on color intensity, origin, and current collector demand.
- Estate diamond collections — inherited sets and mixed collections with multiple pieces. We evaluate and price each item individually, then give you a clear total with a full itemized breakdown.
Not sure whether what you have qualifies? Bring it in. We’d rather look at something and tell you honestly than have you wonder for another year.
How We Value Your Diamond — The 4Cs and Beyond
Every diamond’s value is determined by four primary factors, known as the 4Cs. These were standardized by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and are used by professional buyers and dealers worldwide. Here’s what each one means — and how it affects your offer.
| Factor | What It Measures | Impact on Value |
| Cut | How well the diamond was shaped and polished — directly controls brilliance and sparkle | Excellent/Ideal cut commands significant premium; Poor cut reduces value substantially |
| Color | Graded D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). D–F = colorless, G–J = near-colorless | Each grade step affects value; D–F stones are rarer and command premium pricing |
| Clarity | Presence, size, and type of internal inclusions. FL (flawless) to I3 (included) | VS2 and above are eye-clean; below SI2, inclusions become visible and reduce value |
| Carat | Weight of the diamond (1 carat = 0.2 grams). Larger = rarer = exponentially more valuable | Value increases non-linearly — a 2ct stone is worth much more than 2× a 1ct stone |
Beyond the 4Cs, we also factor in certification (GIA and IGI certificates add measurable value), current market conditions (diamond demand shifts, and we track it), and the setting (gold or platinum metal adds separate value priced at live spot rates).
One thing we’re always upfront about: retail appraisals are not resale prices. An appraisal is written for insurance replacement — it reflects what a jeweler would charge to replace your piece, not what the secondary market will pay. We’ll explain the difference clearly if you’ve had your diamond appraised elsewhere.
Diamond Price Guide — What to Expect
Diamond prices depend heavily on the 4Cs, certification status, and current market conditions. The ranges below reflect typical resale values for well-cut, near-colorless, eye-clean stones with GIA certification. Uncertified stones typically sell for 10–30% less; fancy colored diamonds follow entirely different pricing models.
| Carat Weight | Typical Resale Range (GIA Certified, VS–SI Clarity, G–H Color) |
| 0.50 ct | $800 – $2,500 |
| 0.75 ct | $1,500 – $4,000 |
| 1.00 ct | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| 1.50 ct | $5,000 – $14,000 |
| 2.00 ct | $9,000 – $25,000 |
| 3.00 ct | $18,000 – $55,000 |
| 4.00 ct+ | Evaluated case by case |
These are ranges, not guarantees — the actual value of your specific stone depends on its exact grading. The only way to get an accurate number is to have it evaluated in person. That evaluation is free and carries no obligation.
Does My Diamond Need to Be GIA Certified?
No. We buy certified and uncertified diamonds. A GIA or IGI certificate does add value — it confirms the grading independently and makes the stone easier to price accurately. If you have a certificate, bring it. If you don’t, we evaluate the stone ourselves using professional equipment.
What we don’t do is penalize you heavily for not having a certificate. We test and grade the stone on-site, show you our findings, and base our offer on what the stone actually is — not on assumptions. If the stone grades well, you’ll see it in the offer.
How to Sell Your Diamonds to Benadato
The process is straightforward. Here’s what to expect from first contact to payment.
- Contact us or walk in — Walk-ins are welcome at our Denver office during business hours. Calling ahead gets you dedicated time without a wait. For large collections or high-value stones, we strongly recommend scheduling in advance. Outside Colorado? We have a secure, insured mail-in process used by clients from every US state — contact us first, before shipping anything.
- We evaluate each diamond and explain everything — Every stone is examined under magnification, graded for cut, color, and clarity, and weighed precisely. We’ll tell you what we found before making any offer. If you have a GIA certificate, we’ll compare our grading to theirs. You’re welcome to ask questions — we want you to understand your diamond’s characteristics regardless of whether you sell.
- You receive a clear offer — with no pressure to decide — Our offer is based on current market conditions, the actual grading of your stone, and any additional value from the setting or certification. If you accept, you leave with payment the same day — cash, check, or bank transfer. If you want time to think or get a second opinion, that’s completely fine. There’s no expiring deadline.
Why Sell Your Diamonds to Benadato
- Over 30 years buying diamonds in Denver — Yossi Benadato is a second-generation dealer who grew up in the diamond trade in Israel. He’s been buying diamonds and fine jewelry in Denver since the 1990s. You’re talking directly to the buyer — not a floor associate who’ll relay an offer from a back office.
- We grade your diamond ourselves, on-site — We don’t estimate or guess. We examine every stone under magnification and tell you what we see. You’ll know your diamond’s characteristics before we make any offer.
- Transparent pricing based on current market data — Our offers reflect where the diamond market actually is today, not a fixed internal price sheet. We’ll explain how we arrived at the number.
- No middleman, no commission — You’re dealing directly with the buyer. No auction house taking 20–40%, no broker, no consignment model where you wait months and pay fees. What we offer is what you receive.
- No obligation evaluation — Our assessment is free. If our offer doesn’t work for you, you leave with your diamond. We’ve had clients come back six months later — the process is the same.
- Same-day payment — Accept the offer and you leave with cash, a check, or a bank transfer that day. No waiting, no processing delays.
- Nationwide service — Based in Denver, but we work with sellers across the US via our secure, insured mail-in process. Contact us before shipping; we’ll walk you through every step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you determine the value of my diamond?
We evaluate every stone on the 4Cs — cut, color, clarity, and carat weight — along with its certification status, setting (if any), and current market demand. We explain our findings before making any offer. If you have a GIA or IGI certificate, we reference it; if not, we grade the stone ourselves on-site.
What if my diamond isn’t GIA certified?
We buy certified and uncertified diamonds. A GIA certificate adds value because it confirms grading independently. Without one, we test and grade the stone ourselves and base the offer on our findings. You won’t receive a zero offer for lacking a certificate — but a certified stone of equal quality will typically command a higher price.
My retail appraisal is much higher than your offer. Why?
Retail appraisals are designed for insurance purposes — they reflect what a jeweler would charge to replace your piece with something comparable. Resale prices are always lower than replacement prices. This is true across the entire industry. We’ll walk through the difference clearly when you come in.
Can I sell a diamond that’s still in its setting?
Yes. We evaluate the diamond and the setting separately. The stone is assessed on its own grading; the metal (gold, platinum) is weighed and priced at live market rates. You’ll receive a single combined offer with a clear breakdown of each component.
Do you buy fancy colored diamonds?
Yes. Yellow, pink, blue, green, and other natural color diamonds are evaluated on color intensity, secondary hues, origin, and current collector market demand. Colored diamond pricing is more specialized than white diamond pricing — we’ll explain the relevant factors for your specific stone.
Is there a minimum size you’ll buy?
No. We buy diamonds of any size, from small accent stones to large center diamonds. Very small stones (under 0.10ct) have limited resale value, which we’ll be upfront about — but there’s no minimum size requirement to come in.
Can I sell just one piece, or do I need a full collection?
One piece is fine. One loose diamond, one ring, one pair of earrings — each is evaluated individually. No minimum, no collection requirement.
Do you work with sellers outside of Colorado?
Yes. We have a secure, insured mail-in process used by clients from every US state. Contact us before shipping anything — we’ll explain how to package and insure your shipment. Do not ship without speaking with us first.
Browse Diamond Selling Categories
Looking for information specific to your type of diamond jewelry? Each category below has dedicated pricing detail and what to expect.
- Sell Loose Diamonds — GIA-certified and uncertified. All shapes and sizes.
- Sell Engagement Ring — Solitaires, halo, three-stone, vintage, and all settings.
- Sell Wedding Ring — Eternity bands, pavé, channel-set, and anniversary rings.
- Sell Diamond Earrings — Studs, drops, hoops, cluster, and chandelier styles.
- Sell Diamond Bracelet — Tennis bracelets, bangles, and diamond-set cuffs.
- Sell Diamond Necklace — Solitaire pendants, tennis necklaces, and statement pieces.
Ready to find out what your diamond is worth? Contact us to schedule a free evaluation →
