Miami is home to the second-largest diamond and jewelry center in the country, a Customs district that recorded $137 billion in trade in 2023, and a Foreign Trade Zone at its international airport dedicated to precious metals and gems. That concentration of infrastructure means the collateral we see here is both varied and well-documented.
The Seybold Jewelry Building at 36 NE 1st St. downtown is a 166,000-square-foot structure on the National Register of Historic Places. With more than 300 jewelers spread across 10 floors, it describes itself as the second-largest diamond and jewelry center in the United States — outranked nationally only by New York's Diamond District. The first three floors were completed in 1921; seven additional stories were added in 1925.
The building's present tenant profile was shaped substantially by Cuban emigrés. Martha Camero, a co-owner of Mario's Casting — a second-generation jewelry manufacturing firm whose family immigrated in 1969 — described the era directly: "In the 1970s, a lot of Cubans were coming over and making a home for their jewelry business in downtown Miami." That influx, continuing through the 1980s, is the primary reason the Seybold became the largest jewelry building in Florida. Today the majority of tenants remain jewelry and watch merchants, diamond cutters, repair shops, and specialty gem dealers.
Miami's position as a connector between the United States and Latin America is not incidental to its jewelry market — it defines it. The downtown jewelry district is built largely around imports and exports to Latin American buyers and sellers. Miami International Airport holds the top national ranking for international freight, according to the 2024 MIA Economic Impact Study conducted by Martin Associates. In 2023, the Miami Customs District recorded $137 billion in total trade, accounting for more than two-thirds of Florida's two-way trade. Gold, jewelry, and high-end consumer goods are explicitly cited among the airport's major import categories.
The logistics infrastructure reflects that volume. In 2016, Brink's Global Services USA signed a letter of intent for a long-term lease in a Foreign Trade Zone at MIA, specifically to store and process precious metals, diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry under airport security. Foreign Trade Zone status gives merchandise the same Customs treatment as if it were outside the United States — no duties, no ad valorem taxes — an arrangement that exists because the commodity flows here justify it.
Pawnbroking in Florida is governed by Florida Statute 539.001, the Florida Pawnbroking Act. The statute caps the pawn service charge — inclusive of the interest component — at 25 percent of the amount financed for each 30-day period, with a minimum charge of $5 per 30-day period. The pledgor has 60 days from the date of the pawn to redeem the item by tendering principal and the accumulated finance charge.
A separate statute, Florida Statute 538.06, applies to secondhand dealers handling precious metals, gemstones, and jewelry. Those goods may not be sold, exchanged, altered, or otherwise disposed of within 30 calendar days of acquisition — double the 15-calendar-day hold that applies to non-jewelry secondhand goods. The extended period reflects the legislature's judgment that jewelry transactions warrant additional time for ownership questions to surface.
We evaluate fine jewelry across most categories — signed designer pieces, loose diamonds, vintage and estate items, and quality watches. The valuation guide explains how we assess collateral value and what factors matter most. The process overview covers what to expect from inquiry through funding. Our FAQ addresses redemption timing, extensions, and what occurs if a loan is not renewed. For pieces with secondary-market significance, the vintage and estate page details the condition and documentation factors that affect our assessment.
All loans are originated by licensed lender partners. Rates, terms, and illustrative figures shown on this site are general guidance and do not constitute a loan offer or commitment to lend. Full terms appear in our disclosures.
Loans are originated by licensed lender partners. Loan offers, terms, rates and final decisions are made by the originating licensed lender at appraisal — figures shown here are general guidance, not loan offers.
Last reviewed August 27, 2026.
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