Watches in Tarzana, CA

“Thank you Gg for your kind help, she absolutely loves the bracelet…the color, the feel, the weight, the size, the diamond's oh my. You have been our jeweler for years and we hope you keep us. We value your good advise and making us feel not only like customers but also like family”

“When my dentist replaced a gold filling that had fallen out of a molar, she insisted that I take it and sell it.

“Gold is worth a LOT right now. Seriously!” she said. “Just take it to a jeweler.”

This seemed kind of bizarre to me. I pictured myself strolling into a store full of pretty, sparkly things and presenting this lump of gold mineral that had lived in my mouth for decades. There was the ick factor..

So, the gold filling rested in my purse for several months until I read somewhere about the price of gold skyrocketing.

I hope my experience will assist you if you find yourself with the same task on your ‘to do’ list.

After an internet search of stores — jewelry stores, coin shops, pawn shops and gold shops — I made a list of likely buyers from Burbank to Tarzana (California).

Shop one was Magnolia Coin Company in Burbank. The young guy did some tests on the gold with a couple of impressive machines, then offered me $60 and I thanked him for the offer, and told him that I’d think it over. $60? I was imagining more like $400!

Next, Paul Albarian & Associates in Burbank. After parking and riding up the elevator into a spookily empty high-rise, I was told Paul was not in. I asked for one of his associates. I was told that there were no ‘associates,’ so I continued on my way.

Next, I popped into Burbank VIP Jewelers. The guy there turned up his nose at me and said that they don’t bother with a single gold filling. I had no intention of calling friends and family to gather up a pile of old gold fillings to satisfy this guy, so I crossed him off my list.

A little further north in Burbank was Gold Union on San Fernando Boulevard. The very young employee pulled himself away from his conversation at the curb and had a look at my gold. He was quite friendly and wanted to chat. He asked me if I’d ever seen gold tested. I said ‘yes.’ He proceeded to display his skill at rubbing my filling along a piece of black material, then weighing it. “$16,” he offered. Yeah, no, I said.

You’ve no doubt seen my next stop, Continental Coin & Jewelry in Sherman Oaks. You see it whenever you exit the 405 to go to Costco on Sepulveda. They’ve got a big parking lot, but they certainly were not the friendliest bunch. Few words were spoken besides “$40,” and my “No, thank you.”

Finally, I landed in Tarzana at A Coin Exchange on Ventura Boulevard. After some trouble getting in, I was greeted by a pair of very friendly people. I told them why I was there, and the gentleman said that he’d beat any price I’d been offered, then asked me how much the highest offer was. I said $300. We both knew I was lying, but he went ahead and weighed the little gold bit and said his blind offer would be about $40. I admitted that my highest offer had actually been $60, and, because he’d made that promise, he paid me $62. He kept his word!

Before receiving 3 twenties and two singles, I had to be fingerprinted and have my driver’s license registered. They explained that this is to reduce nefarious crimes, such as undertakers pulling gold fillings out of dead people and selling them. Gruesome.”

“Oscar is the best! Very quick /efficient and does top notch work!! Fixed my Rolex in 24 hours for a VERY affordable price! Definitely coming back whenever I have watch issues”