How the Brussels appraisers value your pledge

The appraisers, in-house experts

Valuation is entrusted to the appraisers, the name given to the institution's expert valuers. They are not looking for a shop price but for the value the item would fetch at the public sales held by the Mont-de-Piété itself, thirty to thirty-five times a year.

Free, without appointment, without commitment

Turning up at the counter of the Brussels Mont-de-Piété in Rue Saint-Ghislain is all it takes: the appraisal costs nothing and commits you to nothing. If the offer does not suit you, the item is returned free of charge, leaving you time to think.

How long does the appraisal take?

Where possible, the item is examined on the spot and the loan granted in under 30 minutes, depending on its nature. A piece that needs a more thorough assessment may be left on deposit, as may happen when the counter is busy.

Preliminary valuation by photo or phone

Before travelling, you can submit photos through the online valuation form or call the appraisers on 02/545 77 12. The institution recommends this prior contact, all the more so as it publishes no list of refused items.

From estimated value to amount lent

The loan generally represents 50 to 70% of the estimated resale value, the proportion depending on the nature of the item. A piece valued at €1,000 at public auction can therefore secure between €500 and €700, paid immediately.

The gold scale per gram

For gold, the valuation follows an indicative scale recorded on 9 October 2026: €40 lent per gram for 18-carat, €31 for 14-carat. It moves with the market price, as explained on the page on pawning jewellery in Belgium.

Certificates that determine the valuation

Some items are only valued with their papers: an HRD, GIA or IGI certificate for a diamond of at least 0.75 carat, a certificate of authenticity for a work worth more than €2,500. Stones have their own page on pawning diamonds.

Any doubt about authenticity rules an item out

For luxury brands, the rule is strict: at the slightest doubt on the appraisers' part, the item is refused, for a loan as for a sale. Counterfeits are rejected even when made of gold, which makes invoices and certificates valuable.

What pushes a valuation up

For a watch, the box and certificate of origin increase the amount offered; age and movement also count. Jewellery with closed settings must be opened so the stones can be tested, and a quartz watch not made of gold must have a charged battery.

File fee calculated on the valuation

The valuation also serves as the basis for the file-opening fee: 3.5% of the estimated resale value, capped at €60, deducted once from the sum lent. Reviewing a pledge already deposited costs €5 per item, up to a maximum of €20.

Revaluing during the loan

Renewal offers the chance of a new valuation, agreed with the appraisers: the amount can be revised upwards, for example for gold after a strong rise in its price, or downwards. The contract then restarts for 180 days.

What French law provides

In France, Article D514-8 of the Code monétaire et financier limits the loan to four-fifths of the valuation for gold, silver or platinum, and to two-thirds for other items. See our guide to valuing a pawned item in France.

Who values your item

• Mont-de-Piété de la Ville de Bruxelles: Brussels public institution whose appraisers value pledged items free of charge, on site or through a preliminary valuation.

Getting an item valued, from first contact to offer

1. Photograph the item from several angles and send it through the online valuation, or call the appraisers for an initial opinion.
2. Gather the invoice, certificate of authenticity, diamond certificate or CITES certificate depending on the item to be valued.
3. Prepare the item: open closed settings if needed, check the battery of a quartz watch, include the box and papers.
4. Go to the counter during opening hours, without an appointment, and hand the item to the appraisers.
5. Review the offer: estimated public auction value, percentage lent and file fee deducted.
6. Accept and sign, or leave with the item at no cost if the offer does not suit you.

What a valuation costs and yields

Papers that make the appraisal easier

• Valid identification showing an address in the European Union
• Purchase invoice for the item, required for luxury leather goods
• HRD, GIA or IGI certificate for a diamond of 0.75 carat or more
• Certificate of authenticity for a work valued above €2,500
• Box and certificate of origin for a branded watch
• CITES certificate for an item in crocodile leather

Mistakes that distort the valuation

• Confusing the insurance value or purchase price with the public auction value, the only basis used by the appraisers.
• Arriving with a quartz watch whose battery is flat, a situation the institution's terms ask you to avoid.
• Presenting a diamond over 0.75 carat without an HRD, GIA or IGI certificate, which blocks its valuation.
• Bringing a branded item whose authenticity cannot be established: the appraisers' slightest doubt leads to refusal.
• Forgetting that a sharp rise in gold justifies asking for a renewal to have pledged jewellery revalued.

General information, up to date as of October 2026 and non-contractual: always check the terms with the Crédit Municipal or the institution concerned.