Philadelphia's Jewelers' Row has operated as the oldest diamond district in the United States since 1851, giving the city an unusually deep market for valuing fine jewelry. That depth informs every asset-backed loan we facilitate here, where Pennsylvania law sets clear, statutory limits on what a lender may charge.
Jewelers' Row is the oldest diamond district in the United States, established in 1851 and second in size only to the district in New York City. Its physical footprint is compact and well-defined: Sansom Street between Seventh and Eighth Streets, and Eighth Street between Chestnut and Walnut Streets, where more than 300 retailers, wholesalers, and craftsmen operate side by side. Many of those businesses have passed through the same families for five generations—an unusual concentration of institutional knowledge in grading, appraising, and trading fine jewelry.
The street itself has a documented origin. After Founding Father Robert Morris went bankrupt, a large lot he owned in Philadelphia was sold at a sheriff's sale and purchased by developer William Sansom, who split the parcel with a new street and built a set of townhouses designed by builder and architect Thomas Carstairs around 1799. That block, known as Carstairs Row, became the physical foundation of what the Row is today. Today the district is part of the East Center City Commercial Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
For a borrower, this history has a direct practical implication. Philadelphia has a continuous, documented market for fine jewelry spanning more than 170 years. Valuations drawn from that environment reflect real, verifiable market activity rather than abstract estimates. When a piece is reviewed by an appraiser who knows this market, the resulting figure carries weight that matters when loan terms are being set.
Asset-backed loans through this service are secured by physical jewelry held as collateral—not sold. Commonly accepted assets include:
The how much for jewelry page explains what drives a valuation—metal spot price, stone quality grades, maker attribution, and condition—without offering a figure before a piece is reviewed.
Pennsylvania's pawnbroker industry is governed by the Pawnbrokers License Act (63 P.S. § 281-1 through 281-32). Under § 281-12, interest is capped at 2½% per month on the unpaid principal balance. A pawnbroker may also charge up to $1.00 per pledge to cover governmental reporting requirements; no additional charges are permitted under this section.
Pennsylvania Code § 63.1 sets a ceiling on total charges—interest plus all fees combined—at an aggregate rate of 3% per month on the unpaid principal balance, which annualizes to approximately 36%.
Pennsylvania Code § 63.4 establishes a hard stop on charge accrual: charges on a loan may not accrue after the expiration of a 12-month period from the due date of the loan, for purposes of renewal or redemption of the pledge.
For context, Pennsylvania's Loan Interest and Protection Law (41 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 201) prohibits unlicensed lenders from charging more than 6% per annum on loans under $50,000. Separately, under 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 911(h)(1)(iv), charging 25% or more annually triggers the state's racketeering statute, with potential first-degree felony consequences. These provisions define what any lender may legally charge in Pennsylvania and are worth understanding before you sign anything.
The figures above reflect published statutory ceilings and are provided as general guidance only. They are not a loan offer, and actual terms depend on the collateral reviewed and the policies of the originating lender. All loans through this service are originated by licensed lender partners. Full disclosure language is on the disclosures page.
Valuation comes first. You provide photographs and a description of the piece; a licensed partner reviews it and returns a preliminary loan figure. If you accept, the collateral is transferred via insured carrier or in person, depending on the arrangement. The loan is disbursed, and your jewelry is stored securely for the duration of the term—not liquidated. Repayment of principal and accrued charges returns the piece to you. The how it works page covers each step in the sequence.
Before completing any transaction, confirm that the lender holds a current Pennsylvania pawnbroker license issued under the Pawnbrokers License Act.
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 September 3, 2026.
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