should i take the stones out of the jewlery and then sell the gold scrap?

or sell it for jewlery value? i have almost 1.5 ounzes of it. or take the stones out sell the gold scrap and sell the stones seperatly? are there a market for valuable minerals? sell it on ebay or sell it to a gold buyer?

or sell it for jewlery value? i have almost 1.5 ounzes of it. or take the stones out sell the gold scrap and sell the stones seperatly? are there a market for valuable minerals? sell it on ebay or sell it to a gold buyer?

The refinery that I use removes the stones as they process it (chemically, not by fire) then they return the stones to you. The also put the stones in some kind of acid bath. All CZ gets frosted and all diamonds dont change. I just got a nice check yesterday with a little paper that had over a dozen diamonds in it, all sparkly. But each diamond is the size of an ant's head. They do not charge extra for this.

To answer your other question, I do not think there is much of a demand for loose stones. Try selling on ebay, no gold buyer will touch it. When I buy gold I always tell them I do not pay for stones.

Typically ex jewelry stones are damaged if they are color or CZ.  Diamonds are worth pulling depending on size. Diamond market is Weak right now....very week. I have buyers but I am holding out. I do stone return if its just a few. Expect anywhere from $10 to $40 per karat on junk diamonds from wholesalers.
Most of them get sent back to India where kids chained to benches sort them back into salable lots in order to pay for there $15-$50 in vaccination or medical debts, Typically this debt may take a year or two to pay off. The diamonds are then sent to china, reset into rings, and over priced sold on home shopping network to rednecks only to be scrapped out a few months later at %10 on the dollar at cash for gold to buy cigarettes....repeat process...no I am not kidding.

Chemical getting the stones out is the safest way, I have seen more things damaged by people trying to grind, cut etc, Plus they lose gold grinding, to remove stones. When most refiners do stone return for free if you ask, or charge a very small fee.

Obviously prongs can be pulled back. But channel set stones, pressure set etc. safest way to extract them...Full chemical assay.

I've been thinking of buying loose gemstones. As was said, the market is weak; for right now. So, you should be able to get them fairly cheap...? I like diamonds, most beryl, and even the soft opals. I especially like Mexican Opals. I'm not particular of the cut, either brilliant, marquise or whatever. I do demand undamaged....
How would someone get the best deal?
I sometimes make jewelry for gifts and to make a little side money.
Thanks.

Scott

part of the problems is the guys who buy it want 5 years ago prices for what they have. Demand is down, but like anything, the people who can afford it, or who get it for free. are just holding it and hording.
I have pulled so many quarter to half karat stones out of $40 gold mountings and just handed the stones back to people simply because they cant believe I wont pay money for them....And I wont, I have so many and no where to go with them at my asking price....less than wholesalers charge

Kind of like with gold, so many people have always said, if you get nice things Id like to buy off the scale. I say sure...at spot...99% of the time the price is just to expensive. So you can imagine what this is doing to regular jewelry sales