If you are thinking about treating yourself to a nice piece of jewelry or if you are shopping for an important piece like an engagement ring, you might assume that your only option is to shop at a local jewelry store. However, you do have another option: going to a pawn shop. These are a few signs that this might be the best place for you to take your jewelry budget.

1. You're on a Limited Budget

If you don't have much money, you might think that you are going to have to settle for costume jewelry in order to stay within your budget. This does not have to be the case, however. Pawn shops often sell real jewelry for a fraction of what you would pay for it at a jewelry store. This means that you can get real pieces for not much more than you would spend on costume pieces. For someone who is on a budget but who has nice taste, a pawn shop can be the perfect compromise.

2. You Have an Open Mind

Some people don't like the idea of shopping for jewelry at a pawn shop. For example, some people think that it's bad luck to buy an engagement ring used. However, a lot of people find these types of superstitions to be silly. If you have an open mind, you might find that shopping for jewelry at a pawn shop is a surprisingly positive and fun experience, even if you are going to be buying your pieces used.

3. You're Looking for Obscure Pieces

One thing that you might have noticed when shopping for jewelry at regular jewelry stores is the fact that many of them have a lot of the exact same pieces. If you are looking for trendy, common pieces from certain name brands, a jewelry store might be your best choice. If you are looking for more obscure pieces, however -- such as something that has been discontinued or an antique piece -- you are sure to have more luck in finding what you are looking for by shopping at a pawn shop instead of a jewelry store. You never know what you might find in a pawn shop, after all.

As you can see, there are various scenarios in which it can be smart to shop for your jewelry at a pawn shop. If you head to a local pawn shop like Wilmington Jewelry & Loan to check out the selection, you might be surprised by what you can find!