5 Best Pawn Shops in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Talise Sterling, Goods and Shopping · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

Selling gold or borrowing against a watch in New York usually comes down to trust fast, since you're handing over something valuable to a stranger behind a counter. GEM Pawnbrokers alone has logged 2,256 Google reviews at a 4.9 average, more than double the next closest pawn shop on this page, and that gap is the first thing worth knowing before you walk into any of them.

Short answer: GEM Pawnbrokers in Brooklyn leads with a 4.9 average across 2,256 reviews, the deepest track record on this page by a wide margin. New York One Pawn near Times Square is close behind at a perfect 5.0 across 983 reviews, and East Village Buyers rounds out the top tier at 4.8 from 553 reviews. These pawn shops all buy and lend against gold, jewelry, watches, and electronics, so the real differences come down to specialty and location.

Jump to a business

1. GEM Pawnbrokers
2. New York One Pawn
3. East Village Buyers
4. LoansRus Pawnshop
5. H. Schoenberg
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How New York's pawn shops stack up

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	GEM Pawnbrokers	4.9 ★	2,256	Overall / gold and jewelry loans	View ›
2	New York One Pawn - Gold Buyer, Jewelry Buyer, Rolex Buyer, Diamond Buyer	5.0 ★	983	Jewelry and diamond buying, Midtown	View ›
3	East Village Buyers	4.8 ★	553	Sneakers, streetwear, and designer goods	View ›
4	LoansRus Pawnshop	4.6 ★	496	General pawning and electronics, East Harlem	View ›
5	H. Schoenberg	4.6 ★	336	Musical instruments and vintage jewelry, Jersey City	View ›

The shortlist, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

GEM Pawnbrokers

4.92,256 Google reviews

GEM Pawnbrokers is a family-run pawnbroking business with roots going back more than seven decades, founded by watchmaker Martin Kaminsky after his WWII service and now run by the Kaminsky family across multiple NYC locations. The Flatbush Avenue shop handles gold, diamonds, jewelry, electronics, and musical instruments, offering both cash loans against collateral and outright purchases. It's a certified pawnbroker with a large staff and a reputation built on decades of continuous operation in Brooklyn.

What people praise

Staff repeatedly praised by name for clear, patient explanations of the appraisal process
Customers say offers on gold and jewelry feel fair and competitive
Described as transparent and discreet for larger transactions
Reviewers call the team knowledgeable and professional across multiple visits

Worth knowing

A large, busy shop, so expect to wait during peak hours

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume2,256 · 97th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown96% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The review volume here isn't close: over 2,200 ratings at a near-perfect average is a track record almost no competitor in the city can match, which is exactly why it tops this list.

Website +1718-360-2316 Directions

230 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

#2🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

New York One Pawn - Gold Buyer, Jewelry Buyer, Rolex Buyer, Diamond Buyer

5.0983 Google reviews

New York One Pawn operates out of the Diamond District on West 47th Street, specializing in buying and lending against gold, jewelry, diamonds, and Rolex watches. As a jewelry buyer first and a pawnbroker second, it's positioned for customers with fine jewelry or luxury watches rather than general merchandise. The shop has built a strong reputation among Midtown shoppers looking to sell or borrow against higher-value pieces.

What people praise

Reviewers highlight a fast, professional process for selling gold and jewelry
Staff named repeatedly for treating customers with respect and clear explanations
Clean, organized shop noted by multiple reviewers
A perfect 5.0 average across nearly a thousand reviews

Worth knowing

The building has no elevator or escalator, which one reviewer flagged as a real accessibility issue
One reviewer felt the offer was lower than expected compared to other boroughs

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating5 / 5

Review volume983 · 92nd

Confidencevery high

Recency8 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown99% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A perfect average on 983 reviews is rare for any business, and this one earns it specifically for jewelry and diamond transactions rather than general pawning.

Website +1212-278-8282 Directions

67 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

#3🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

East Village Buyers

4.8553 Google reviews

East Village Buyers is a buy-sell-trade shop on Avenue A that leans heavily into streetwear, sneakers, designer handbags, and electronics alongside the gold and jewelry that pawn shops traditionally handle. It's a newer, more retail-forward operation than a classic pawnbroker, with an online store and eBay listings supplementing the physical shop. The website lists specific brands they buy, including Cartier, Rolex, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton.

What people praise

Reviewers say pricing is reasonable and staff are willing to negotiate
Praised for a wide selection spanning sneakers, jewelry, and designer bags
Multiple reviewers call the process smooth and fast
Popular with a younger customer base looking to buy or sell hype items

Worth knowing

Fewer reviews than the top two shops on this page, so the track record is thinner

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume553 · 86th

Confidencehigh

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown95% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: If you're selling sneakers or streetwear rather than fine jewelry, this is the one shop here actually set up for that, and the reviews back up the specialty.

Website +1917-608-8939 Directions

39 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

#4🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

LoansRus Pawnshop

4.6496 Google reviews

LoansRus Pawnshop in East Harlem buys and lends against gold, silver, coins, collectibles, and electronics, positioning itself as a convenient neighborhood pawn shop rather than a jewelry specialist. It handles a broader mix of merchandise than some competitors on this list, from gaming systems to bikes and scooters, based on what customers describe buying and selling there.

What people praise

Reviewers describe staff as consistently helpful and going out of their way
Praised for a wide range of merchandise, from electronics to bikes
Fast turnaround noted on several transactions

Worth knowing

Multiple reviewers describe the shop as selective about what it buys, particularly sneakers and electronics
At least one reviewer disputed a restocking fee on a returned item

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume496 · 81st

Confidencehigh

Recency2 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown86% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Solid for general pawning and cash loans, but reviews suggest calling ahead if you're trying to sell a specific item type since acceptance seems inconsistent.

Website +1212-996-2675 Directions

2158 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10035

#5🕑 Open 6 days/wk

H. Schoenberg

4.6336 Google reviews

H. Schoenberg is the oldest pawn shop in Jersey City, open since 1895 and currently run by an owner with more than 35 years of experience. It's a full-service pawnbroker and jeweler that also buys, sells, and repairs used musical instruments, alongside standard loans against gold and jewelry. The shop offers 4-month loans at a set interest rate, renewable if needed.

What people praise

Long-tenured staff member Wendy singled out by name for exceptional service
Praised as a reliable source for guitars, bass, and other instruments
Clean, well-organized shop noted by several reviewers
125-plus years in continuous operation

Worth knowing

Multiple reviewers describe inconsistent customer service depending on which staff member helps them
One reviewer disputed the accuracy of a gem and metal appraisal

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume336 · 75th

Confidencehigh

Recency7 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown86% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The history and instrument specialty are real strengths, but the mixed service reviews put it at the bottom of this list even with a solid 4.6 average.

Website +1201-333-8991 Directions

744 Bergen Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306

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How we score

Rating is each shop’s live Google average. Review volume measures how many customers actually left a rating, ranked against the others on this page. Confidence weights the rating by that volume, since 4.9 from 2,256 people means more than 4.9 from 20. Recency checks how recently people are still reviewing. No business can pay to change any of these numbers.

How pawn loans and gold sales actually work in New York (2026)

Every shop on this page sets its own offer based on the daily market value of gold, the specific piece, and current demand, so there’s no fixed city-wide rate we can publish. What we can say from the data: reviewers at GEM Pawnbrokers describe gold offers as fair and competitive, H. Schoenberg’s loans run for a 4-month term at a set interest rate with the option to renew, and multiple shops mention same-day cash for straightforward sales. Get more than one quote before committing, especially for anything beyond scrap gold.

Serving all of New York

This list spans Brooklyn (GEM Pawnbrokers), Midtown Manhattan’s Diamond District (New York One Pawn), the East Village (East Village Buyers), East Harlem (LoansRus), and Jersey City just across the Hudson (H. Schoenberg). Whichever neighborhood you’re in, at least one of these pawn shops near you should be a reasonable trip, and several offer text-in quotes if you’d rather not travel with valuables until you have a number in hand.

What to ask before you pawn or sell

Is this a loan against my item or an outright purchase?
What’s the loan term, and what happens if I can’t repay in time?
How is the value calculated, by weight, by market price, or by appraisal?
Is there a restocking or handling fee if I return a purchased item?
Do you buy this specific category of item, or only certain brands?
Can I get a text or photo quote before bringing the item in?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these pawn shops?

We pulled real Google Business Profiles for pawn shops, jewelry buyers, and gold dealers across New York and ranked them by live rating and review volume, weighted for confidence.

What’s the difference between pawning and selling?

Pawning means the shop lends you cash against your item as collateral, and you can reclaim it by repaying the loan within the term. Selling means you hand over the item permanently for a one-time cash payment.

Do New York pawn shops buy electronics and sneakers, not just jewelry?

Some do. LoansRus and East Village Buyers both buy electronics, sneakers, and other merchandise, while New York One Pawn and GEM focus more heavily on gold, jewelry, and watches.

How often is this updated?

We refresh ratings and review counts periodically. This page reflects data verified in August 2026.

The bottom line

GEM Pawnbrokers is the safe default here, with a review count and rating that dwarf the competition. If you’re selling fine jewelry or a luxury watch specifically, New York One Pawn’s perfect average makes it worth a second quote before you commit. Either way, get more than one offer before you sell anything valuable.

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