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San Francisco Provident Loan Association
Category: Shopping Jewelry Jewelry [Edit]
932 Mission St(between 5th St & 6th St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 982-4400
Announcement
Happy Valentine's Day Sale:
http://www.sanfrancisc...
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 5 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Parking:
- Street
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
58 reviews for San Francisco Provident Loan Association
Review Highlights
"I give Ben my highest recommendation."
(in 43 reviews)
"I bought an engagement ring here from Ben this spring."
(in 14 reviews)
"My appraisal was painless and educational."
(in 16 reviews)
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58 reviews in English
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Review from grace h.
New York, NY
1/27/2012
Ben was great, went in for an appraisal on some jewelry to confirm purchase. He was professional and took time to explain things to me - showed me inclusions and even cleaned up my rings.
Highly recommend him! -
Review from Ann P.
Redwood City, CA
12/6/2011
This place has a large selection of jewelry to sell that is well priced and of good quality. My husband ran into this place by accident- looking online for jewelry that didn't look like it came from Macy's and wasn't 10K gold or gold- plated. They have a lot of stuff online to browse and when you go in you bring the item #. Ben, the proprietor, brought out earrings that I had asked about and even some other ones that weren't online, but of similar type. My husband originally bought a beautiful ring that another jeweler told me was probably made in 1880's and is a good quality. I think it is beautiful and probably 1/2 to 1/3 retail price. This is our regular place now that we have shopped around and found that other places have an incredible markup. Definitely recommend. Parking is close by on the corner too.
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Review from Heather S.
Emeryville, CA
11/20/2011
We were looking for an engagement ring. We decided to call at the last minute on a Saturday to see about making an appointment. Ben answered and was willing to open up for us in an hour. We explained what our desired price and style of ring was and he brought out some beautiful rings to select from. He was informative and very patient explaining everything about the rings. I wouldn't hesitate to return.
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Review from Zack K.
San Francisco, CA
3/8/2011
I've got an older Rolex that I needed to get appraised for insurance purposes. Picked this place more or less at random and that was lucky for me.
Ben couldn't have been nicer. He walked me through what he was doing, explained where he was getting his numbers from, and taught me a few things about my watch. Turns out my Rolex wasn't worth as much as I thought, but that's not his fault.
I was charged exactly what they said they'd charge me and actually had a really good time chatting with Ben. I'd definitely go back.
Also: this is the place (under a different name) that Sam Spade sends Brigid to in the Maltese Falcon. A little SF history for you...
UPDATE: After I got home from SFPLA, my insurance agent changed his mind and decided I also needed to get a ring appraised. Ben let me come back down and he added the ring to my appraisal with no hassle, no additional charge, and lots of good humor. I'm really sort of amazed anyone has given this place less than a 5-star review. -
Review from Alison V.
Alameda, CA
2/4/2009
I came here after finding it on Yelp and seeing that every single person gave it 5 stars.
I followed the directions on their website and called to make an appointment. I met with Ben. He was very helpful and sympathetic to my situation. Funny too.
He gave me a fair offer for my engagement ring after completely explaining why he offered the price he did. He told me to hold on to my wedding ring for now because he couldn't give me a fair offer.
Ironically, I now have the money to pay for my divorce... from my wedding rings. -
Review from Angie R.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2007
Being that I am neither a drug addict nor the descendant of bejeweled rich people, I don't have much experience with hocking my my bling. I was a little skeezed out by the whole process, smacking, as it does of, well, smack, and other shady business. But I heard good things about this place, so I made an appointment and went on down.
I met with Ben, who kindly walked me through the process and advised me on the worth of my jewelry, even though he decided from the get go that he himself didn't have a market for it. He was really nice and all he asked for in exchange for his time was some good word of mouth, so here it is. I had a really positive experience even though I didn't end up selling my stuff, and I walked out with the knowledge I need to sell it through other channels.
Speaking of which, anybody interested in buying a sapphire and diamond engagement and wedding ring set? -
Review from Patricia H.
CA
2/10/2009
I finally stopped in here to get rid of some gold jewelry I haven't worn in years and years - odds and ends of neck chains, a stray earring, couple of bangle bracelets, a pin that my former boss gave me (Max, why did you ever think I would wear a circle pin with diamonds?) - that kind of stuff that's been accumulating in my various jewelry boxes. The nice lady put it all in a tray, we chatted about what I had, and I waited while she checked it out.
As other Yelpers have mentioned, the building is a gem - very very high ceilings, beautiful molding, smoked glass teller windows - a piece of old San Francisco. I checked out the jewelry in the display case and was most taken by a GIANT cross with a long, thick chain that appeared to be platinum and diamonds. It looked very similar to the stuff the rappers my hon of hons husband used to work with in our home studio in the Mission. I couldn't remember if it was Tupac or 2 $hort that wore one just like it - wonder if it belonged to one of them?
In any event, the nice lady gave me a very fair price for my odds and ends. She suggested that I keep the pin Max gave me since they could only offer me the price for the weight of the gold, and she thought I could get more from a consignment store. To tell the truth, I had felt kind of bad about selling it in the first place since it is a nice piece, and I agreed with her and kept it.
I walked away with several large bills and had a nice Blue Bottle Coffee after I left.
Check it out - you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Lawrence K.
San Francisco, CA
4/22/2009
Shenanigans. I bought an engagement ring here from Ben this spring. Very unimpressed by my treatment & feel oddly disappointed given the rave reviews here on yelp. Sort of like I didn't get the PLA A-game.
Here is the story:
a. Chose my ring & diamond. Picked a delivery date. Ring was not available. They did not build it. Arranged new date.
b. Next time I called, was given new date.
c. Called ahead & went and got ring, different diamond - roughly equivalent, but still ...
d. Called ahead ,went in to get it re-sized, was handled promptly. Thank you. Was told I had a refund coming due to overcharge. I indicated we would handle it later b/c Ben was with a customer.
Moved in with now-fiance in East Bay from San Francisco. Lost job, so I transit the bridge much less often.
So I was gone for a month, but called ahead to address the refund next time I was in SF (for my smog test @ 401 Potrero, who get 5stars btw). Was told that what was actually offered was a good deal on wedding bands "so I could get ahead that way."
Why am I trying to get ahead exactly?
Keeping in mind that Ben actually request he be reviewed by yelpers & that I am overly generous with 5 star reviews ... I consider this joint average at best given the dinero you plan to spend. Future shoppers would be wise to take notes on your conversations here. Lest you find yourself misunderstanding a little too often to be comfortable.
Anywhoo, given the unanimous 5-star reviews I am inclined to believe the claims of review manipulation by yelp staff. PLA is clearly a yelp sponsor. Additionally Ben is the first to review his own business & give it a 5 star ... isn't that against the review guidelines?
in b4 404 -
Review from Seong P.
6/16/2010
Ben was awesome. He started our appraisal right when we got there even though we were a bit early. He was pleasant and informative throughout and let us look through the microscope(?) to see what made our possession "unique."
The appraisal fee of $65 was very fair compared to other jewelers we called and we were satisfied with the final appraisal. The layout of the place was bright and airy, with high ceilings and a security guard. Several of the items on display were lovely so I should probably stay out of here for a while. Then again, I have a $65 credit to use on future purchases... -
Review from i t.
Fairfax, CA
9/22/2009
I just left SFPLA and am thoroughly pleased with my experience. The person I made the appointment with, Ben, was knowledgeable, personable and honest.
My appraisal was painless and educational. I'm not a bling girl so I don't know much about diamonds and jewels and whatnot, but I inherited a ring from my sweet mother and needed it looked at for insurance purposes.
It wasn't like an antique roadshow moment or anything, but I was happy to see that the ring has some value beyond sentiment.
Since I have toothpick fingers, I'll have to have the ring sized and I won't hesitate to bring it back and have it sized by San Francisco Provident Loan Association. And, when I find the need for a wedding band, I'll definitely be back here. What a great local business! -
Review from Katherine s.
Corte Madera, CA
7/8/2007
This store is such a great find! I had some old jewelry sitting in my box for years that I had been thinking about selling but of course had no idea where. I contemplated Ebay or CL but then I would have to get appraisals which are pricey and deal with all the other hassles, so decided to look for a place that bought jewelry. Of course my first thought was to look on Yelp so I just typed in selling jewelry and Provident Loan popped up. I called and made an appointment with Ben for the next day.
This was my first time selling any jewelry so it was a little intimidating walking in there but Ben instantly put me at ease. He thoroughly examined my pieces, explaining their value and I felt very comfortable with the offer he made me.
Overall, a very professional business with extremely knowledgable staff and I will definitely be back, but next time to buy some jewelry! -
Review from ryan v.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2011
I went in to sell a ring. The woman told me the price of what they would offer me and then the weight of the gold. The ring had 3 small D diamonds in it. She told me maybe I could ask her boss if they would raise the offer, but I'd have to wait. I sat down, looked up the price of gold and realized they offered me $135 for a ring that was worth $201 in gold plus 3 .15 carat diamonds. I kind of felt sh**y after she tried to cheat me. I mean come on. The manager never came out. I waited for 20 minutes, then left.
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Review from Orlando D.
San Francisco, CA
9/14/2007
My Wife and I had an excellent experience doing business with the San Francisco Provident Loan company. We needed to get an appraisal for my wife's engagement ring for insurance purposes and have checked out several local jewelry appraisers. All of their estimates were at least 3 times the cost of SF Provident Loan's estimate.
The service that we received was outstanding. We have never done this before so he explained everything very thoroughly. He took the time to show us what was involved with appraisals which made us feel really comfortable with our decision to go with SFPL.
My Wife and I highly recommend speaking to SFPL first before going to any other jewelry appraiser. -
Review from char s.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2010
I needed to sell a piece of jewelry, and these guys are great. I walked in and spoke to Joey. He was very professional, straightforward and a pleasure to deal with. He offered me a fair price for the piece, took my information, and I walked away with a check about 20 minutes later. I would absolutely go back to this place to buy or sell.
Thank you Joey! -
Review from Jean K.
3/6/2008
Jewelry is the hardest thing to buy for a woman. Every woman is picky no matter what she might say about herself. Therefore, it's no surprise that women have received jewelry as gifts that they would never buy for themselves. Luckily, SF Provident Loan Association is there for all those times you aren't able to regift that awful necklace from your ex-boyfriend.
Ben is great to work with. He's up front about the value of your jewelry and why. He'll also suggest places you can take it to try and get more money for them. He even told me I was better off re-gifting a pearl necklace since it wouldn't be worth anything on the open market.
All prices he quotes are good for 30 days so you have time to shop around.
Bike Parking: designated bike racks in Mint Plaza.Listed in: Services Rendered
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Review from Jay H.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2008
Ben is the man. Cool peoples.
Gave me a great deal for my engagement ring. Very honest. Gave him a stone that's been in my family for years and he made sure I got back the same exact rock.
Real funny dude too. -
Review from F S.
Alamo, CA
12/6/2007
That was the most pleasant experience I've ever had in a jewelry store! Ben is honest and handsome too. Ladies, he's engaged, but worth going in just to take a look! He was professional, friendly, down to earth and fair. The 'boss' came in sealed the deal and I was done. No pressure. No questions. No judgement. So easy.
The building is gorgeous. The interior is charming and when you enter, you'll feel like you went back in time to the 20's .
The best place in the bay area for jewelery! Buying or Selling. Very easy to get there too. Powell St Bart right around the corner.
Thanks again Ben and 'Boss'! -
Review from Joe A.
San Francisco, CA
5/16/2007
I was looking to buy something for a lady friend and was told that they were a reputable place to visit. As I found out for myself they were very helpful and knowledgable. They took the time to explain to me any question I had about jewlery. I ended up buying a NEW diamond bracelet for a fraction of what the shopping mall chain jewlery stores charges, and it was better looking. They have a customer for life now.
Ok so I went back last week (01/15/08) and bought something for myself. I got a GREAT DEAL for a mans diamond ring. I will have to peek in every now and then to see what else they have. -
Review from Eric B.
Alameda, CA
9/29/2008
Five stars across the board. Why? Because they deserve it. Thanks to Yelp I found this place. It lived up to the hype, yes sir.
I was able to sell the ex-wife's diamond & platinum setting along with my cheap-ass gold band and feel damn good about it. Did I work with Ben? Yes I did. Was he awesome? Yes he was! Go ahead and read the other yelpers' reviews and you'll see what the deal is. First class service at this place, no doubt about it! -
Review from Matthew B.
San Francisco, CA
9/2/2010
I picked up an engagement ring from Provident and I am very pleased. I saw it on the website and purchased the ring on the same day. Great value and an easy transaction. They even sized it for free.
San Francisco Provident Loan Association is awesome. -
Review from Tim M.
San Francisco, CA
5/19/2011
The positive reviews are justified. The building is in a nice safe location, less then a block away from the Westfield Mall. They offer some of the best prices in town for your scrap gold. Avoid the malls and hotels this is the place to sell your scrap gold. No appointment was needed.
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Review from Miranda E.
Oakland, CA
6/10/2009
I saw someone call shenanigans on this place but let me tell you, Ben did not ask for this review and I was, in fact, moved to even review something on Yelp (a rare occasion for me) because I was so impressed.
My husband (what?! weird! we've been married for a week now) and I have been to just about every pawn shop north of 25th Street and found nada. Well, we found my ring, but he was QUITE picky. It's got to be silver in color, not too shiny, not comfort-fit, preferably used.
Well, that's just not the style I guess, so after 1 pawn shop ring, eleventy billion store visits, FOUR rings ordered and returned online (AND we did the deed with a stainless steel ring, which we're going to keep, just not on his finger) I suggested we go to Provident.
Ben was helpful, gracious, and NO PRESSURE. We wanted used, yes, so we went to pawn shops, but of course service was often lacking. And we were scared to death of "real" jewelry stores that would try to push or up sell. Ben sussed out what my husband (weird!!!) really wanted, found it, ordered it to have delivered the NEXT DAY with no charge, and we loved it. My husband is totally happy with his ring, and Ben wrote on the receipt and promised free resizing and matte finishing (the ring came out shiny, but husband is going to see if he doesn't like it first) if he wears it for awhile and doesn't like it.
We asked about fusing my rings together and he gave us a straightforward answer, which was basically, wait and see. He could have sold us something there but didn't. I respect that.
In short, great. If I were the type to wear extra jewelry, or if I were shopping for a ring again for some reason, I would come here again in a heartbeat. This is a gem of the city. This is why you should be glad you live in San Francisco, and not some endless mall-scarred wasteland. -
Review from JR L.
San Francisco, CA
11/8/2010
I had a pile of tangled jewelry - lone earrings, loose pendants, random chains, rings etc of unknown value. Most were gifts that were not to my taste and never would be. I started losing pieces, so I collected it all and made an appt with Ben.
The place is not pretty, but it's next to Blue Bottle and Thermidor, across from the SF Chronicle. While I had my coffee, Ben spent over an hour, looking at over 15 pieces. He gave me a free itemized appraisal and said I could mull it over for 2 weeks.
None of my stuff was extraordinary. but mostly gold, yellow and white. and I walked away with 10x the cash I thought it was worth. That stuff has been rolling around my drawer for years!
Ben did reject metal stud earrings and 2 watches, one cheapo and one authentic gucci. but who knew - I thought the gucci would bring in more than the rest!
definitely worth the trip! -
Review from Steve B.
San Francisco, CA
3/16/2010
I bought my girlfriend (sorry, fiance) her engagement ring a few weeks ago from SF Provident, and I have to say, it was a pretty cool experience.
First off, I didn't want to deal with a bunch of pushy salespeople at several different stores. I'm a guy. I don't want to go "shopping" if I have no intention of buying something, so I did a TON of internet research, learned the "4 C's" and all that, and after checking out SFPLA's ring selection online and the reviews on Yelp figured I should check it out.
Everything said about Ben was true. Even though I thought I knew a lot (well, more than before, anyway), he taught me more about the ring-buying process, and even gave me a great deal on an engagement set I had seen on their website that I thought was out of my budget.
(BTW, Jewelry stores that don't show rings online and instead just say "make an appointment" ... you are only pissing off guys like us who are afraid of getting swindled, pressured or intimidated by outrageous pricing ... it's 2010, we know you have a digital camera, put the rings on your sites and tell us how much they cost!)
The rings were cleaned and sized in a short period of time, and my fiance is really happy to have an antique (and unique) ring. And really, that's all you can ask for when you go through this process. -
Review from jen w.
San Francisco, CA
3/6/2009
I needed to have my wedding ring appraised for insurance reasons, and looked on yelp for reviews of appraisers. I was pretty skeptical about a place that received 5 stars from every single person who reveiwed it...how could it possibly be that good? Plus, the location gave me a slight pause - at 5th and mission.
As it turns out, the neighborhood was not all that bad (only one skanky ho followed me and tried to sell me some ratty necklace). And I am yet another yelper jumping on the Ben bandwagon. He was extremely competent, and NICE - he explained all about diamonds to me and what all the ratings on my certificate meant, and showed me how to look at it through a jeweler's loop. He also showed me how he was deriving the appraisal amount that he gave me, which I really appreciated....and then cleaned my ring for me, which i appreciated even more.
I had also brought along a family ring, for which I didn't need a formal appraisal; I just wanted to know what it might bring if I needed to sell it someday, 'just in case'. He gave me a ballpark estimate on what he could probably give me for it, and actually advised me to go with an auction house instead. Then he refused to charge me for the second appraisal, even though I actually encouraged him to do so!
Ben was straightforward, honest, friendly, and competent. Who knew there were still people like that around these days?
Ben, I can see from the list that you already have a large fan club. But if I ever run into in a bar or restaurant, I'm buying you a beer! -
Review from Jessica N.
San Francisco, CA
8/20/2008
Wow, Ben did an amazing job helping my fiancee find the exact right engagement ring and making sure everything was completely perfect about it. It was so nice to have someone we can absolutely trust working with us on such an important thing. And the ring that he helped my fiancee pick out (with my rubber stamp) is simply the most unique and beautiful thing I have ever seen. I was worried that my boyfriend would go somewhere boring like a department store jewelry store or "the Shane co." or something and get me something run of the mill, so imagine how pleased I was with my REAL antique, completely special, absolutely unique and breathtaking ring. I've only had it two days and I've already gotten so many compliments on it, it's crazy.
Ben could not have been more awesome to work with. He worked very hard with us to find exactly the right stone for our budget and made sure that everything we got was just what we wanted. I could not recommend him and Provident more. It seems like a strange place at first glance, but for SF history buffs like me, it is part of the fun just to go in there. The building itself is a real antique. Don't go anywhere else to buy really great jewelry, this is the place, and Ben is the man! -
Review from Jonathan F.
San Francisco, CA
10/1/2008
Finding the perfect engagement ring seemed like it would be the most daunting experience of my life. I knew I wanted something unique and an antique setting, but beyond that I was completely new to the world of diamonds, fine jewelry, etc.
I went to see Ben at SF Provident Loan on the recommendation of a friend. Working with Ben was a blessing for me. He spent time teaching me about stones, settings, and styles. When it was time for me to decide, I felt that I wanted to include my fiance-to-be in the process. Looking through all the antique settings was very exciting but I wanted to make sure she got exactly what she wanted. The setting we picked was stunning but needed a very specific size and style of stone. Ben worked hard finding the perfect stone for my budget. When it was time to re-size, set, and clean the ring he was a perfectionist.
I would strongly suggest working with someone you can trust if you are looking for an engagement ring or any unique jewelry. I give Ben my highest recommendation. -
Review from carey e.
Alameda, CA
6/27/2009
I had some rings to sell and didn't want to go through the usual pawn shop/jewlery shop senanigans and came across Provident on Yelp. The reviewers are not lying one bit. I called and made an appointment with Ben for the next morning. I arrived about a 1/2 hour early and he was happy to help me. Ben was no joke. He did't sit there and berate the jewelry even though some were shabby. He offered a great price and put three rings to the side that he was happy to send me to a competitor for a higher sell price.
From start to end everything was sized, weighed and each ring (13 in all) were given a very detailed explanation of the worth.
So in all, if you want great customer service, like being treated with respect and being spoken to honestly, then come see Ben.
Thanks! -
Review from Taryn S.
San Francisco, CA
7/17/2009
I have never trusted a jeweler as much as I trust Ben. He is the real deal. Don't go anywhere else in SF to buy/sell jewelry!
I had an engagement ring from a friend to sell, and not only did Ben give me an honest estimate, but directed me to other places in the city where he thought I might be able to get more for it. Even better? He cleaned all my jewelry for free! -
Review from Jen L.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2010
I tagged along with a friend today while she was getting an appraisal. Ben is super cool. I decided to have my ring appraised, too, for kicks. He spent a great deal of time with us, and even took the time to educate us about diamonds.
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Review from Samee M.
San Francisco, CA
8/20/2010
Disclosure: I met Ben, one of the owners two years ago when i was an employee at Yelp. He came to talk about his success with finding new, interesting customers by advertising on Yelp. I left Yelp two years ago and no longer have any association with the company.
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My boyfriend bought me a white gold and pink topaz ring for our anniversary at another store in 888 Brannan. After 8 months I found that the ring looked to have a chip or something wrong with the stone. It had lost it's luster and I felt like I should see a clear spot through the ring. I started to wonder if the ring (which I have come to love) was genuine. I started looking for jewelery appraisers near my office in SoMa. When I searched on Yelp I came across the Provident Loan Association. I remembered my meeting with Ben, although not his name or anything much about him and called them. They told me they had an opening right away and if I could jump into a cab and be down there within 15 minutes they could spend some time with me. As I sat down at the desk I realized the person sitting on the other side I had met before, it was Ben, one of the owners of the store. It took me sometime to place how I knew him.
I told him my concerns, and how much I loved the ring and wanted it to ge perfect, because I know my boyfriend had dropped a bunch of money on it. He spent a while looking at the ring, the quality and a number of other things to determine how he felt. He even cleaned the ring in this super powered thing which made my ring SO shiny. He was very thorough in explain to me my options about the ring. It turns out the setting was a bit funny and so the light was showing through. I left feeling very confident that I had great service.
This feels like the kind of place where no matter who you are, they will treat you like family. I highly recommend coming here if you are looking for high quality jewelery and great customer service. I know I'll come back for my next purchase.
Thanks again! -
Review from Jill D.
1/23/2008
Ben helped me get rid of some jewelry today that didn't have any sentimental value.
He was honest and gave me a decent price on the items that were pretty worthless to me.
I watched him interact with a woman who tearfully regaled him with a story about how her son was a good kid but he stole all her rent money for drugs and she needed that money or she and her kids were going to be on the streets and couldn't he please give her $400 for the crappy lead filled gold plated medallion that was her mother's and the gold watch with diamonds that Ben told me wasn't worth more than $275 and she promised that she would be back by the first of the month for them after she got her next check and presumably if her son didn't rip her off again?
Ben came through for her because he obviously felt horrible for her. I saw the crap she was offloading. It wasn't worth much and that was even if you were generous. That kind of compassion really made me more than willing to deal with him and let him give me whatever he wanted for the items I had.
So hopefully I didn't just unleash a bunch of people with mediocre jewelry and sob stories on this man. Sorry Ben! -
Review from Renee S.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2010
Ben is awesome...He was extreemly knowlegable and fair. I had brought in a diamond ring I inherited and he gave me a complete appraisal.
I also sold a gold ring to him and he was very fair. I would totally recommend him and will go back again if I have more jewerly to sell. -
Review from Elaine W.
7/6/2010
A quietly run, but very trustful business. Come here for all your jewelry needs whether it be to buy, sell, or get them appraised. They've been around since 1912, and by the excellence of their staff it's easy to see why. I highly recommend making an appointment with Ben for the most personal service. Among the three other staff who helped me on previous visits, Ben was the most thorough with his explanations as well as sitting me down in his office vs. just waiting on the benches. I like when it comes to selling jewelry here, there's no obligation to seal the deal on the same day. They'll give you the estimate and breakdown on paper and you have the opportunity to get a second opinion elsewhere. They do take walk-ins, but definitely call and set up an appointment so your wait time is minimized.
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Review from Rick G.
South San Francisco, CA
12/31/2007
I went here to sell some jewelry that I hadn't used in a while. They were extremely nice and gave me an honest appraisal. I think his name was Joe, told me that it would be better for me to sell the items myself. Very professional.
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Review from Linda L.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2008
I was shopping around for a place to have my engagement ring appraised and re-sized. I knew practically nothing about my ring except what was the GIA form said. This place was exactly what I needed. The service was friendly, honest and very professional....and they were inexpensive.
Ben, who appraised the ring, answered all of my naive questions and he even showed me how to find the tiny imperfections in my ring were so that I will always know that its my ring. That gave me such a peace of mind.
While I was sitting at Ben's desk, the big boss 'Joey' came in and asked to look at my ring. He wanted to find the flaws in them just for the heck of it. He was able to spot them in 5 seconds, without knowing anything else about it....just by looking at it through the eye magnifier (and these were really small flaws to) I just thought that was impressive. -
Review from David Y.
San Francisco, CA
5/1/2010
Ben could not have been more thorough or more professional during our jewelry appraisal. He answered all of our questions (since we are newbies to the jewelry insurance game), showing his expertise and true passion for shiny objects.
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Review from jane l.
San Francisco, CA
5/23/2011
Ben was very thorough and extremely patient in explaining things to me about my diamond. He is very knowledgeable and resourceful. Thanks Ben! You are awesome!
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Review from Stefanie L.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2010
I found this place after calling about 10 others, all with limited interest in the jewelry I was trying to sell, but all sharing the suggestion that I try Provident. And thank goodness I did. Ben was incredibly nice! He came in on a Saturday, since I was unable to make it during regular business hours, and gave everything a very thorough inspection. He ended up buying some of it, and the rest he offered to keep for a week to research further -- free of charge, I might add -- and see if it'd be better suited for Provident or for an auction house. I'm sad to say the latter was true, because I wish I could have sold to him! But he said I'd probably make more money elsewhere. Doesn't get much more honest than that.
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Review from Tara T.
San Francisco, CA
5/23/2009
ben is fantastic.
i was on a time limit to get an engagement ring approved, saw the good reviews of this place on yelp, and quickly hopped on the #14 to come here. i didn't know i needed an appointment, but when i asked if it was possible to be squeezed in, ben quickly looked at my ring and graciously complied.
he was so sweet and sensitive before he gave me the value price, just in case i might have overpaid. how it turned out was that i got a great price for my ring, a lot of history about where each piece came from, and a great boost to my ring confidence when he told me how beautiful it was.
ben was great. his price was more than reasonable; his demeanor was so nice, friendly, sweet, and professional; and he even offered to give my (now) fiancee a speech about how to take care of the diamond!
i highly recommend him and the provident loan association.
