The testers, scales, loupes, cleaners, cases and security gear you need to evaluate, store and sell jewelry — and how to record every test in PawnSmarts.
Pawn jewelry supplies are the physical tools and equipment a pawn shop uses to authenticate, weigh, clean, store, display and secure jewelry — gold and diamond testers, precision scales, loupes and microscopes, ultrasonic cleaners, locking showcases, safes and surveillance. Jewelry is one of the most valuable and complex categories a shop handles, and unlike electronics or tools it takes specialized gear to evaluate accurately, store securely and sell profitably; without the right equipment a shop risks accepting counterfeits, undervaluing genuine pieces or losing inventory to theft. The software that records every test result and ties it to the item — PawnSmarts — starts at $89/month with no contract.
Electronic gold testers (fast, non-destructive conductivity readings), acid testing kits for backup verification, XRF analyzers for precise composition, and precision scales accurate to 0.01g for weighing precious metals and calculating scrap value.
Diamond testers to separate real stones from cubic zirconia, moissanite testers for that specific simulant, UV lights for fluorescence, and refractometers for identifying gemstone types by refraction.
10x jeweler's loupes for hallmarks, stamps and settings; bench microscopes (20–40x) for grading and flaw detection; and bright LED lighting for accurate color assessment.
Ultrasonic cleaners to lift dirt from settings, jewelry steamers for sanitizing, polishing cloths for gold, silver and platinum, and specialized chemical solutions — clean pieces sell faster and for more.
Locking glass showcases with LED lighting, organized ring and necklace trays, and a fire-rated, burglar-resistant safe or vault for overnight and high-value storage.
HD surveillance over all display and transaction areas, alarms with glass-break sensors, security cables on high-value pieces, and controlled key/vault access.
Jewelry often constitutes the highest-value category in your inventory, and the right tools to authenticate, evaluate, protect and present these items separate successful shops from struggling ones. These supplies work alongside your point-of-sale system and pawn shop software to ensure accurate appraisals and proper tracking from intake through sale.
An electronic gold tester is the most critical piece — it quickly and non-destructively verifies karat purity, protecting you from accepting fake or plated pieces. A quality diamond tester is a close second for distinguishing real diamonds from simulants like cubic zirconia.
Electronic gold testers measure electrical conductivity to determine karat purity without damaging the item — faster and cleaner than acid testing, ideal for customer-facing transactions. Acid testing remains valuable as backup verification on questionable pieces, since it can detect certain plating or fraud electronic testers might miss.
Locking display cases with tempered or laminated glass, a high-quality safe or vault for overnight storage, surveillance covering all jewelry areas, security cables on display pieces, alarms with glass-break sensors, and controlled access. Your pawn software should track every piece's location at all times.
Cleaning improves appearance and perceived value, helping items sell faster and for more. An ultrasonic cleaner is the most effective tool for safely removing dirt from settings; supplement with a steamer for sanitizing and polishing cloths for final shine.
PawnSmarts lets you document all testing results in each item's record. When you test a piece, enter the karat weight, stone authenticity results, total weight from your scale and a detailed description, then add the inspection photos. This creates a complete digital record linked to the physical item tag for accurate inventory tracking and valuation.
Cleaning solutions and ultrasonic maintenance, polishing cloths and packaging, replacement batteries, acid testing solutions, scale calibration, equipment repairs and replacements, and security monitoring fees. Set aside funds for periodic equipment upgrades as your business grows.
Pawn software that records jewelry test results, karat, weight, photos and barbell labels is typically a monthly subscription. PawnSmarts is $89/month for the Essential plan, which already includes the jewelry fields, barbell label printing and LEADS Online police reporting, or $129/month for Professional, with no contract; Professional is also $2,995 to own outright.
Open the live demo and record a jewelry appraisal. If it looks right, sign up and we'll move your data for $395.
Questions? [email protected] · 800-710-6184