Where the lots come from
Under Article D514-3 of the Code monétaire et financier, an item that is neither redeemed nor renewed at maturity is sold. The lots offered to buyers are therefore pledges deposited by private individuals with a Crédit Municipal, not unsold shop stock.
A minority of the items deposited
Crédit Municipal de Paris states that around 10% of pledged items end up at auction. The vast majority are recovered by borrowers, which explains a steady but limited volume of lots at each sale session.
Buyer or borrower: two points of view
From the borrower's side, the seizure procedure, fees and surplus are explained on the page about the auction of pledged items. Here, the angle is that of the public wishing to bid, compare catalogues and buy a lot.
A busy schedule at the Paris Hôtel des ventes
Crédit Municipal de Paris announces around 80 public sales a year at its Hôtel des ventes. Enthusiasts who follow the Paris Mont-de-Piété thus have many opportunities during the year to spot jewellery, watches, wines and works of art.
Bordeaux and the regional institutions
Crédit Municipal de Bordeaux also publishes its auctions online, and the page on the Bordeaux Mont-de-Piété presents this institution. For other cities, consult the institution's own website directly: calendars and procedures are not harmonised nationally.
A sale decided under judicial supervision
The Paris general terms as at 1 May 2026 specify that the sale is decided by the chief executive and made enforceable by order of the president of the tribunal judiciaire. Buyers therefore take part in a regulated public sale, not a private transaction.
Announced at least ten days ahead
Again according to these terms, each sale is announced at least ten days in advance, on the website and on site. This lead time leaves room to study the catalogue, find out about a lot and prepare your bidding budget.
Lots that may vanish from the catalogue
A borrower can still withdraw their item by paying at least fifteen days before the sale, subject to a withdrawal fee of 5% of the valuation at Crédit Municipal de Paris. A lot spotted early is therefore never guaranteed to be offered on the day.
What kinds of items to expect
The lots reflect the list of items accepted as pledges: jewellery, gold, watches, silverware, paintings, fine wines, luxury leather goods, instruments, and more recently graded Pokémon cards or vintage consoles. The page on items accepted as pledges in France details this list.
What you will not see in the saleroom
Crédit Municipal de Paris refuses furs and items containing ivory or elephant hair as pledges. These goods cannot therefore appear in its sales arising from pawn loans, unlike some general auctions.
Valuations made by commissaires-priseurs
Each item was valued at deposit by a court-appointed commissaire-priseur, in accordance with Article D514-2. This valuation, based on the public auction market, provides a useful benchmark, but the hammer price depends solely on the bids actually made on the day of the sale.
The price paid sometimes funds a surplus
When the hammer price exceeds the debt, the excess goes to the owner of the pledge as a surplus (boni): Crédit Municipal de Paris generated 7.2 million euros of it in 2025. A high bid therefore also benefits the borrower who was unable to repay.
Institutions that publish their sales
- Crédit Municipal de Paris: Holds around 80 public sales a year at its Hôtel des ventes and publishes a guide for buyers.
- Crédit Municipal de Bordeaux: Gironde institution that presents its auctions of unredeemed pledged items online.
Bidding on a lot, from preparation to the hammer
- Check the calendar published by the institution, each sale being announced at least ten days ahead on its website and on site.
- Browse the catalogue and note the lots of interest, bearing in mind that a borrower can still withdraw their item.
- Read the institution's guide and conditions of sale to learn about buyer's fees, registration and payment.
- Examine the items at the viewing arranged by the institution, where it holds one before the sale session.
- Set a maximum price for each lot, starting from the valuation and adding the fees shown in the conditions.
- Bid in the room or through the channel offered, then pay for and collect the lot within the deadlines set by the institution.
Key figures for buyers
| Point | Published figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Number of sales in Paris | Around 80 a year | Crédit Municipal de Paris, 2026 |
| Share of pledges sold | Around 10% of items | Crédit Municipal de Paris |
| Notice period | At least 10 days before the sale | General terms as at 01/05/2026 |
| Withdrawal of a lot by the borrower | Payment at least 15 days before, fee of 5% of the valuation | General terms as at 01/05/2026 |
| Fees payable by the buyer | Per the institution's conditions of sale | Guide published by each institution |
What to bring to buy
- Valid identity document
- Annotated sale catalogue
- The institution's conditions of sale
- A means of payment accepted by the institution
- Suitable packaging to take the lot away
Buyer mistakes to avoid
- Confusing Crédit Municipal sales with those of a consignment shop or a private lender: only the institutions legally carry out pawn lending.
- Forgetting to add the buyer's fees to the hammer price, even though they appear in each institution's own conditions of sale.
- Travelling for a single lot without checking the day before that its owner has not withdrawn it.
- Treating the deposit valuation as a guarantee of price or authenticity instead of reading the catalogue description and reservations.
- Waiting for a sale of furs or ivory, when Crédit Municipal de Paris does not accept these items as pledges.
Buying at a Mont-de-Piété auction
Who can buy at Crédit Municipal auctions?
The sales are public: they are announced at least ten days ahead on the website and on site, and Crédit Municipal de Paris publishes a guide for buyers online. For registration and payment, ask the institution organising the sale.
Where can I find the Crédit Municipal de Paris sale calendar?
On the Crédit Municipal de Paris website, which publishes a sales catalogue and a guide for bidders. Around eighty public sales take place each year at its Hôtel des ventes, announced at least ten days in advance.
Are items sold by the Mont-de-Piété cheaper?
Nothing guarantees a low price: the hammer price depends on the bidding. The items were, however, valued at deposit by a court-appointed commissaire-priseur on the basis of the auction market, which provides a benchmark before bidding.
Why is a catalogue lot not sold on the day of the sale?
Its owner may have withdrawn it by paying what they owe at least fifteen days before the sale, with a withdrawal fee of 5% of the valuation in Paris. The lot then leaves the catalogue without being sold.
Official sources
Crédit Municipal de Paris : catalogue des ventescreditmunicipal.fr
Crédit Municipal de Paris : conditions générales du prêt sur gagecreditmunicipal.fr
Crédit Municipal de Paris : obtenir mon bonicreditmunicipal.fr
General information, up to date as of October 2026 and non-contractual: always check the terms with the Crédit Municipal or the institution concerned.