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Don’t get overcharged for jewelry. Why do we pay so much for jewelry? Because we think the precious metals and precious stones justify the expense, and because jewelry is a “luxury” item. But jewelry doesn’t need to be nearly as expensive as it is. In fact, most of the cost of a piece of jewelry is profit for the jeweler because it’s sold at “retail price.”

The typical markup for jewelry, especially at the mall, is 10-20 times the base price. There’s no doubt that gold is valuable (at the time of writing, gold is worth more than $1339 per ounce). But the value of the materials, and even the skilled labor involved in making jewelry, doesn’t come close to justifying the cost. If you buy a ring at a jeweler in the mall, you aren’t just adding a ring to the family jewelry collection – you’re probably adding an extra “0” to the price tag, too!

Buy quality jewelry from an upstanding business man. At Paul Albarian & Associates, we pride ourselves on excellent customer service and honest, expert advice. We will guide you through the process of selecting and buying a piece of jewelry, and making sure that you have a piece you’re happy with at a fair price. Just as buying a piece of jewelry for a loved one is an investment in your relationship, we consider selling jewelry an investment in our relationship with our clients.

We sell estate jewelry at great discounts – including Cartier, Tiffany, and Rolex. We maintain an inventory of brand-name and bespoke jewelry, which we can sell to you at a great price. Moreover, we acquire most of our jewelry through estate sales and we have a broad inventory selection than most stores. This can help you focus on a fashion that suits you the best. Our inventory includes classic and elegant pieces over the years – providing you with options you may not be able to find at most jewelry stores.

We can have new jewelry made for you based on a picture or sketch, again at a great discount. Not satisfied with what you can find in the stores, or want a piece of jewelry made to particular specifications? We can help! Bring us a photo or sketch of your desired piece, and we will work local artisans to create a custom piece of jewelry for you. And even for custom pieces, our prices will beat retail jewelry stores by a wide margin.

Getting ready to propose, or want to commemorate a special occasion? Please call us today at (818) 827 – 7152 to schedule an appointment to learn more about how you can save money on jewelry with Paul Albarian & Associates.

Gold is widely considered a good investment to protect against inflation. But has gold really kept up with inflation, in terms of purchasing power? In 1932, 1 ounce of gold was worth about $20. At the time of writing in 2014, 1 ounce of gold is worth approximately $1,260. How does that translate into goods and services?

In the 1930’s, you could buy the best quality men’s suit for $20 – about 1 ounce of gold. Today, you can buy a high-quality suit for about $1,000 – still about 1 ounce of gold.

In the 1960’s, the average rent in Burbank, California for a single person was about $60-$75 per month. Today, the average rent in Burbank, California is about $1,600 per month – about 3 ounces of gold then, and 1.5 ounces of gold now. Gold still keeps up with inflation.

Today, 3 ounces of gold will buy you a “fully-loaded” Mackbook Pro. Unfortunately, you couldn’t buy a Macbook Pro in the 1930’s. However, you could buy a Remington Portable Typewriter for $60 dollars – or about 3 ounces of gold.

While inflation has greatly weakened the purchasing power of the US Dollar over time, gold has maintained its value, and purchasing power.

Are you, or someone you know, interested in diversifying their investment portfolio? Many financial advisors recommend their clients invest 5% to 15% of their investment portfolio in rare coins, and precious metals as a hedge against the weakening of the United States Dollar, inflation, and world instability. We also offer up to 15% commission on jewelry sales when you refer your friends or family. Please call Paul Albarian today at (818) 827-7152 to set up an appointment and get free information.

Are you selling jewelry or rare coins at your garage sale? Watch out for that undercover dealer who will try to underpay you. Unscrupulous (sometimes weekend) gold and other dealers often frequent garage sales looking for items for which the seller may not know the true value. While there is nothing illegal about this, it is a dishonest practice that tries to take advantage of people’s lack of information and knowledge.

Many times these dealers do not own businesses and try to buy things cheap from unsuspecting people who do not know the real price. Even a small gold chain may be worth up to $150 or more but the seller may be offered only $10 for the piece in a box of other worthless pieces, because the seller may think it is not gold. Sometimes, the dealer will justify the lower price because of some minor flaw or the condition of the metal. However, the item is often worth far more than their offer based on the weight of metal, alone!

They may give you the impression they are going to use the item, when in fact they are just reselling it. Whether or not the buyer intends to use or resell the item, you deserve a fair price. And the dealer needs to identify himself as a dealer to you. A deep discounted price is a sign of dishonesty, and you should hold off because you can get a better price from an honest dealer.

I identify myself as a dealer, because I have a reputation to uphold. I am not a random individual, touring garage sales. I am a business owner and a member of the many organizations (e.g., Burbank Chamber of Commerce) and I have an A rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). I take pride in my reputation as an upstanding businessman, but don’t take my word for it; see what my customers say about me on Yelp.

Come in for a free verbal appraisal to know your item’s true worth. Bring your items to our office, and I will appraise them in person. I’ll walk you through the process; explaining how and why the item is worth what it is. Then, if you’re satisfied with my appraisal, I will buy the item(s) from you, and you will be offered a no obligation fair price.

Are you, or someone you know, interested in selling old jewelry or rare coins? We also offer up to 15% commission on jewelry sales when you refer your friends and family. Please call Paul Albarian today at (818) 827-7152 to set up an appointment and get a free evaluation.

Precious metal prices usually increase alongside inflation, meaning inflation does not reduce the value of the precious metals. Inflation lowers the value of the US Dollar (and most world currencies), meaning it gradually takes more money to buy the same thing. Precious metal prices usually adjust for inflation. This means one ounce of gold can still buy pretty much the same quality and quantity of things it could buy over 100 years ago.

Precious metals are part of a balanced investment portfolio; most financial advisors suggest that their clients put 5 to 15 percent of their investment portfolio in precious metals. Stocks, bonds, real estate, and other investment vehicles are all subject to different market forces and world events. Putting too much of your money into one investment type can put your wealth at risk. But dividing your portfolio between different investment types limits your exposure to risk.

Precious metals are investments that protect against inflation, the devaluation of the US Dollar, and world instability. If you had $10,000 in an investment account in 1960, you were doing pretty well. A single family home in Burbank, California cost about $22,000 – a ratio of 2.2 times the value of your $10,000. If you had $10,000 of gold (approx. 283.5oz) in 1960 , the same amount of gold today would be worth approximately $373,725.50 – a much better nest egg! And that single family home is worth less than $600,000 today; a lot less than $822,196.10 (2.2 times $373,725.50).

Paul Albarian has over 23 years experience helping our clients select the best precious metal investments. In the past 23 years our clients’ portfolio from their investment in rare coins and precious metals has increased five to ten times. Their investment had increased more in 2011 when gold went to an all time high of $1920 per ounce. We believe in honest customer service and transparent pricing. We work with you to identify the best investment for your particular situation. Many gold dealers just want to make as much money as possible but we believe in building relationships with our clients, which means we always offer fair prices and keep your long-term interests in mind. After all, customer satisfaction is our highest priority.

Our prices are available on our website, and we will beat any verifiable price from a competitor. Visit our website to see the current prices for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Please click the refresh button to update the prices; every five minutes. We are confident they represent the best prices on the market. If you find a better price from a verified gold dealer, contact us and we will beat that price!

Want to learn more about investing in precious metals? Give us a call at (818) 827-7152.

Did you know you can save thousands of dollars on an engagement ring by NOT going to a major jewelry store? At Paul Albarian & Associates, you can avoid the mark-ups jewelry stores place on their rings, and your ring will also be custom made!

Jewelry stores mark-up their ring prices, well above the cost of the gold and diamonds. A reasonable price mark-up is to be expected, but most jewelry stores often mark-up their prices by 500%, with some increasing their prices by as much as 1,000% or more! Many people accept this mark-up because they believe they “have to spend three month’s salary” on an engagement ring. But that doesn’t need to be the case, at all.

Avoid retail prices with a custom-made engagement ring. At Paul Albarian & Associates, we can help you get a custom-made engagement ring at a fraction of the cost of what retail jewelers charge. We will help you choose a design, select the gem(s) and metals you want to use, and we have a jeweler who will create the ring especially for you.

A custom-made ring adds a personal touch. An engagement ring is one of the most significant and meaningful purchases you’ll make in your life. It signals your devotion and commitment to the love of your life. Wouldn’t you rather have a ring that you helped design, rather than something directly from a display case? The extra thought that goes into a custom-made ring makes it truly special, personal, and perhaps a family heirloom for the next generation.

Bring us a photo of the ring with which you’d like to propose. You don’t have to design the ring from scratch. Just find a photo of the ring you’d like, and bring the photo to us. You’ll buy the stone(s) and precious metal(s) directly from us, and we have an artisan to create the ring just as it looks in the photograph.

We sell diamonds, gold, platinum, and more! We have a selection of diamonds and other gems, as well as the precious metals you might want to include in your ring. We’ll make sure you have exactly what you’re looking for, and provide you a fair price on the gems, metals, and labor required to craft that very special ring.

Getting ready to propose, or know somebody who is? Please call us today at (818) 827-7152 to schedule an appointment to learn more about how you can save money on your engagement ring with Paul Albarian & Associates.

Raise money for a cause with a jewelry party! Do you and your friends or co-workers have jewelry, coins, watches, etc. gathering dust at home? Organize a group, and reserve a time for everyone to bring their items to the office of Paul Albarian & Associates. Everyone will receive a free on-the-spot appraisal for what they bring, and we’ll donate up to 15% of the jewelry purchases to an organization of your choice.

Receive free and honest verbal appraisals. When you bring your jewelry, watches, coins, or precious metals to Paul Albarian & Associates, we provide honest, up-front appraisals of the value of what you’ve brought. We believe in straightforward, honest business, and will give you a fair and balanced assessment. And, we will buy the jewelry from you the same day.

We’ll donate up to 15% of the jewelry purchases to your organization. If you schedule a jewelry party as a fundraiser for your favorite organization, we will donate up to 15% of the total purchase on your behalf. Scheduling a jewelry party is a great way to raise money for a cause you believe in. If your friend cannot make it to the party, we can still help them at another date and make them part of the commission to you or your organization.

We buy a range of items. We buy rare coins, precious metals, and jewelry. We also buy watches, diamonds, dental gold, sterling silver flatware, vintage paper currency, fountain pens, other antique collectibles, and more! If you have an item you would like to sell but are not sure of the market value, give us a call today at (818) 827-7152 to schedule an appointment to appraise the item.

Call us today at (818) 827-7152 to book your next jewelry party!

Silver, one of the very valuable precious metals, has many important uses in our everyday lives. The most common applications of silver are found in currency and investments, such as silver bars and coins, as well as in jewelry. However, there are various industrial and technological uses of silver that aren’t as obvious.

Silver is a superior conductor of electricity. Silver is widely used in electronics because of its non-corrosiveness, high tolerance to heat and also because it is an excellent electrical conductor. Its high conductivity produces better sound quality for sound equipment and is used in circuit boards, switches, TV, computer screens and microchips. Silver also has the ability to withstand arching and is used in high voltage electronics.

Silver is used for making mirrors. Silver is used as a backing for mirrors to provides clear, crisp images and great durability; commonly found in specialized equipment such as solar reflectors. Silver reflects visible light and is often found in mirrors that need superior reflectivity for light.

Silver had an important role in photography. Though not as common as it once was due to digital photography, silver was often used in film photography. Film that incorporates silver produces sharper images when exposed.

Are you a grandparent and are looking to make a future investment for your grandchildren? Many financial advisors recommend their clients invest 5% to 15% of their investment portfolio in rare coins, and precious metals as a hedge against the weakening of the United States Dollar, inflation, and world instability. We also offer up to 15% commission on jewelry sales when you refer your friends or family. Please call Paul Albarian today at (818) 827-7152 to set up an appointment and get free information.

Investing in gold can help diversify one’s investment portfolio and may protect an investor from some of the impact of a market collapse. Gold’s value and demand is increasing as available resources are becoming more limited.

Gold may be used as a hedge against inflation. Gold prices tend to move in the opposite direction of stocks and bonds. Gold prices should increase when inflation increases. Therefore, gold may be a sound investment as a protection against economic instability.

Gold withstands weakening currencies. Gold can be used as a hedge against fiat currencies — paper money declared by a government to be legal tender. When the US dollar weakens, the price of gold often increases. The more paper money that gets printed, the less valuable the currency becomes. But there is a limited amount of gold, and more cannot simply be “printed.”

Gold can be used anywhere! Gold is the global standard and has been widely used for different currencies throughout the world. It is considered an efficient indirect monetary exchange, and the demand for gold is increasing especially quickly in countries such as China and India.

Are you concerned about the reckless and rapid pace that our government is printing money, and the growing United States debt? This can cause the US dollar to weaken, thus creating hyper-inflation in the future. Many financial advisors recommend their clients invest 5% to 15% of their investment portfolio in rare coins, and precious metals as a hedge against the weakening of the United States Dollar, inflation, and world instability. We also offer up to 15% commission on jewelry sales when you refer your friends or family. Please call Paul Albarian today at (818) 827-7152 to set up an appointment and get free information.

The decision to invest in rare coins depends on what exactly you’re looking for when making the purchase. Some people want to buy with the purpose of capital appreciation, while others want to buy for the sake of collecting alone. Certain coins are beneficial to add to your investment portfolio as a way to hold value with the potential of increasing in value. Whereas other coins are simply rare and exist for the sake of collecting (e.g., souvenirs); with very little or no potential for appreciation. As rare coins are becoming more scarce, the demand and value for them increases. There are correct and incorrect methods for buying rare coins and precious metals. Your best start is to meet with a qualified dealer like Paul Albarian with over 23 years of experience for a free consultation. He will listen to your goals and can tailor a purchase to your specific needs.

Rare coins don’t necessarily increase in value. While some rare coins increase in demand, not all rare coins appreciate in value over time. Some are simply beneficial to those who are looking to collect coins for their artistic value and are not interested in capitalization. Paul Albarian would be happy to provide you with free advice on investing or just collecting as a hobby.

For a collector’s item, choose a coin with the best price. Certain coins are exceptionally rare and make great additions to a collector’s display. When searching for these types of rare coins, try to find the best deal possible because your intention is to not profit from the coin but rather to have it as a keepsake. Many coin grading services help to establish the value of specific and authentic rare coins.

Is your rare coin expected to appreciate in value? Most rare coins appreciate in value over time and can be worth more in the future than the amount you initially paid for it. These coins can be an excellent way to make a small investment. To find the true value of your coin, it’s important to do research and find out whether the rare coin you are looking to purchase will actually have some increased value over the years.

Are you, or someone you know, interested in diversifying their investment portfolio? Many financial advisors recommend their clients invest 5% to 15% of their investment portfolio in rare coins, and precious metals as a hedge against the weakening of the United States Dollar, inflation, and world instability. We also offer up to 15% commission on jewelry sales when you refer your friends or family. Please call Paul Albarian today at (818) 827-7152 to set up an appointment and get free information.

Many people need money but do not know where to go with their unwanted jewelry items. With the accumulation of everyday expenses, people are often looking for ways to earn some money. If you’re someone who has unwanted jewelry that’s collecting dust in the drawers, consider turning them into cash rather than having them sit around. You may be surprised by the value of your unwanted jewelry. Whether your jewelry is in new or damaged condition, we’ll be more than happy to offer you money for it.

Don’t send it in the mail and lose complete control of the value. Over the past few years, the number of TV and internet advertisements that focus on turning your jewelry into cash have become increasingly more prevalent. To ensure that you don’t fall for any scams, avoid anything that requires you to mail your jewelry items before you know the true value of it. After it’s sent out, you no longer have control over what happens next, and you could potentially be missing out on some great value.

Don’t go to an inexperienced fly­-by­-night vendor. Often found in temporary locations, these vendors may be looking to take advantage of inexperienced collectors or sellers. In other instances, if the buyer is new and hasn’t had a lot of experience or knowledge about this field, you may be less likely to get a good appraisal for your precious metals or jewelry.

Paul Albarian has over 23 years of experience helping people maximize the value of their jewelry. I have been at this business for decades and have the knowledge, experience, and resources to help you get the most value out of your items. I am a reputable gold dealer and always strive to provide my clients with the most honest advice when it comes to their jewelry, rare coins, or precious (bullion) metals.

We belong to various organizations (e.g., BBB, Burbank Chamber of Commerce). We are members of several organizations including: The American Numismatic Association, The Better Business Bureau, Professional Coin Grading Services, and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. You can check out our ratings to confirm that we’re a trustworthy organization with an excellent track record when it comes to dealing with our clients. After all, we are committed to seeing you happy and satisfied with the result of your jewelry sale. Ask our customers on Yelp.

Call us today at (818) 827-7152 to get a free, no obligation appraisal on your jewelry, rare coins, and precious (bullion) metals.