Pledging a diamond: what the Crédits Municipaux require

A stone, not a metal: the legal rule

Article D514-8 of the Code monétaire et financier allows a loan of up to four fifths of the value for gold, silver or platinum valued by weight. A precious stone falls into the category of other goods, limited to two thirds.

Mounted or sealed: the Bordeaux requirement

The Crédit Municipal de Bordeaux accepts diamonds only if they are mounted in jewellery or kept under seal, and always accompanied by a laboratory certificate. A loose stone without paperwork will therefore be refused at 29 rue du Mirail.

The position of the Crédit Municipal de Paris

The Paris list of accepted items does not name diamonds: it covers jewellery in gold, platinum or signed silver and designer jewellery. A set ring is therefore examined as jewellery, with the stone assessed by the appraisers.

Why the online simulator falls short

The CMP simulator only calculates from the weight of gold and its carat content. For the value of stones, the institution refers to a valuation carried out on the premises by its experts: no reliable amount can be obtained remotely.

Gemmologists at the counter

In Paris, the team of assessors is led by Agnès Bieder-Verdenne, auctioneer and gemmologist, who has been with the house for twenty-eight years. Articles D514-2 onwards entrust valuation to judicial auctioneers known as appraisers.

Gem tester and refractometer

Bordeaux describes an equipped appraisal: a gem tester to tell a diamond from an imitation, a refractometer to identify the gem. The laboratory certificate completes this examination, since it records characteristics the appraiser cannot measure at the counter.

Indicative calculation for a ring

If a gold ring set with a diamond is valued at €3,000 for the stone, the two-thirds ceiling limits that portion to €2,000. The metal, valued by weight, follows its own rule, explained in the guide to a pawn loan on gold.

What a diamond-backed loan costs

The Crédit Municipal de Paris displays an APR of 9.90% from €501 to €6,000 and 5.30% above that. In November 2022, Bordeaux published APRs of 14.81%, 9.85% and then 5.10% depending on the band.

Contract term and revaluation

Bordeaux grants six months, extendable by half-yearly periods up to twenty-four months. Paris lends for one renewable year but may revalue the pledge on renewal: if the value has fallen, the borrower repays the difference, see renewing a pawn loan.

Stones in the public sales

An unredeemed diamond is sold along with the jewellery. In Paris, the general terms of 1 May 2026 impose 15% in sale fees and 5% of the valuation for withdrawal from a sale already announced at least ten days in advance.

Nîmes and requests for certificates

The Crédit Municipal de Nîmes specifies that appraisal certificates may be required for certain items. For a significant stone, it is best to call the branch before travelling and ask which documents it considers essential to value the diamond.

Diamonds in Belgium and elsewhere

The rules differ outside France: Antwerp and Brussels come under Belgian law, set out in the guide to pawning diamonds in Belgium. In France, only a Crédit Municipal may legally lend against a physical pledge.

Useful institutions and texts for a diamond

• Crédit Municipal de Bordeaux: Requires a mounted or sealed diamond with a laboratory certificate and examines it with a refractometer.
• Crédit Municipal de Paris: Values stones on site; assessors led by an auctioneer who is also a gemmologist.
• Crédit Municipal de Nîmes: May ask for appraisal certificates for certain items deposited as a pledge.
• Légifrance: Publishes the chapter of the Code monétaire et financier devoted to municipal pawnbroking institutions.

Having a stone valued and pledged

1. Find the diamond's laboratory certificate and the invoice for the piece, then check that the stone is mounted or sealed.
2. Phone the institution to find out whether a stone expert is present and whether an appointment is needed.
3. At the counter, let the appraiser examine the stone with the gem tester and refractometer, then compare the findings with the certificate.
4. Accept or decline the amount offered, which cannot exceed two thirds of the stone's valuation.
5. Keep the pawn ticket and the certificate somewhere safe until repayment or renewal.
6. Repay before the due date to collect the piece, or request an extension within the limit set by the institution.

Key figures for a pledged diamond

Documents to gather for a stone

• Laboratory certificate for the diamond
• Invoice for the set piece
• Photo identification
• Recent proof of address
• Bank details in your name
• Proof of income for a large loan

Costly mistakes with a pledged diamond

• Presenting a loose stone without a laboratory certificate: in Bordeaux, a diamond that is neither mounted nor sealed is not accepted.
• Relying on the Paris simulator, which only takes the weight of gold into account and entirely ignores the value of set stones.
• Hoping for four fifths of the value as with gold, when the stone is capped at two thirds of its valuation.
• Turning to a private lender offering a loan on a diamond: in France, lending against a physical pledge belongs solely to the municipal pawnbroking institutions.
• Mislaying the pawn ticket or the certificate during the loan, which complicates collecting the piece and any later resale.

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