Cut diamonds and set rings: pawning in Brussels

Diamonds in the fine jewellery category

At the Mont-de-Piété of the City of Brussels, diamonds fall under the jewellery and fine jewellery category, one of the 17 families of accepted items. The appraisers examine loose stones and set jewellery according to rules published on the dedicated page.

Loose stones: a 0.50 carat threshold

An unmounted cut diamond is accepted only from 0.50 carat. Smaller stones presented on their own do not appear in the published conditions; set in a gold piece, they follow the general rule that accepts all gold jewellery.

Certificate compulsory from 0.75 carat

For any stone of at least 0.75 carat, mounted or not, an HRD, GIA or IGI certificate is required. Without this document, the diamond does not meet the conditions displayed on the institution's jewellery and fine jewellery page.

HRD, GIA, IGI: three named laboratories

The institution names these three laboratories, and no others, in its published conditions. Their report describes the stone and serves as the starting point for the appraisers' examination; the appraisers then set the public auction value themselves.

Opening closed settings

A ring or pendant with a closed setting must be opened so the stones can be tested. Having a jeweller do this before the deposit avoids a return trip to Rue Saint-Ghislain and speeds up the appraisal.

Amount lent on a stone

As with any pledge, the loan generally corresponds to 50 to 70% of the estimated public auction value. The file-opening fee, at 3.5% of that value, is capped at €60, a ceiling reached once the valuation exceeds about €1,715.

The mount counts too

In a ring, the gold mount is part of the overall assessment of the piece; the indicative October 2026 scale lends, for example, €40 per gram of 18-carat gold. The breakdown by fineness is on the page on pawning jewellery in Belgium.

Signed fine jewellery and authenticity

A ring signed Cartier, Tiffany & Co or Van Cleef & Arpels is accepted, but the slightest doubt about its authenticity leads to refusal. A purchase invoice and certificate of origin then strengthen the file presented to the appraisers.

Getting a preliminary valuation before travelling

The appraisers can be reached on 02/545 77 12 and the online valuation page accepts photos. For a diamond, attaching the laboratory report gives a firmer basis, following the approach described for valuing a pawned item in Brussels.

Term and cost of a diamond loan

The loan runs for 180 days at an annual rate of 6.5%, counted per fortnight, then at 10.5% from the first extension. A stone can stay pledged for several successive periods, provided interest and fees are paid at each maturity.

Diamonds dispersed at auction

If the loan is not repaid, the diamond joins one of the 30 to 35 catalogued sales held each year by the Mont-de-Piété. Any surplus goes to the depositor, while an insufficient price leaves the balance of the debt for them to pay.

Brussels and the French institutions

In Bordeaux, the Crédit Municipal accepts diamonds mounted in jewellery or under seal, with a laboratory certificate. Our page on pawning diamonds in France presents these rules, to be compared with those of the Brussels Mont-de-Piété.

Where to deposit a diamond in Belgium

• Mont-de-Piété de la Ville de Bruxelles: Public pawnbroker that accepts cut diamonds from 0.50 carat and requires a certificate from 0.75 carat.

Pawning a diamond without unpleasant surprises

1. Find the stone's HRD, GIA or IGI report, essential from 0.75 carat.
2. Check the weight: a loose stone under 0.50 carat does not fall within the published conditions.
3. Have a jeweller open any closed setting so the appraisers can test the stone.
4. Send photos and the certificate for a preliminary valuation, or call the appraisal department.
5. Deposit the diamond at the Rue Saint-Ghislain counter with valid identification and sign the contract.
6. Keep the contract safe and note the 180-day maturity date to repay or extend.

Rules in figures for diamonds

File for a diamond to be pawned

• HRD, GIA or IGI laboratory certificate
• Identification and, if needed, proof of address in the European Union
• Purchase invoice for the jewellery or stone
• Certificate of origin for a signed piece of fine jewellery
• Legalised power of attorney for a diamond belonging to a relative

What stops a diamond at the counter

• Turning up with a 0.80 carat stone without a laboratory certificate, when one is required from 0.75 carat.
• Leaving a stone in a closed setting: it must be freed so the appraisers can test it.
• Assuming a certificate from any laboratory will do, when the published conditions name HRD, GIA and IGI.
• Estimating your loan from a jeweller's retail price, when the reference is the public auction value.
• Forgetting that extensions raise the annual rate to 10.5%, a significant gap on a large loan held for a long time.

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