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COHEN BROTHERSPawnshop · Est. 1955

Learning Center

Know what you've got before you walk in

Seventy years at the counter taught us that informed customers make the best deals — for both sides. These guides tell you what we'd tell you in person: straight, plain, and useful.

Pile of gold bangles, chains, rings and earrings on a light table
4 min read

What does 14k gold actually mean? The karat system in plain English

24k, 18k, 14k, 10k — what karat numbers really tell you, how to read the stamps on your jewelry, and what it all means for cash value.

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Diamond halo engagement ring resting on deep red satin
5 min read

How to tell what your diamond is worth (the 4 Cs without the jargon)

Carat, cut, color, clarity — what actually moves the price of a diamond, why retail and resale are different worlds, and how to get a real number.

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Scott Cohen studying a diamond solitaire ring through a jeweler's loupe, gold jewelry on the tray below
3 min read

Is dental gold worth money? (Yes — here's how it works)

Gold crowns, bridges, and caps have real precious-metal value. What dental gold is made of, what it's worth, and how selling it works.

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Fanned-out hundred-dollar bills on the shop counter
4 min read

Sterling, coin, and scrap: a plain-English silver guide

How to tell sterling from plate, why pre-1965 US coins are 90% silver, and what flatware, tea sets, and silver bars are actually worth.

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Scott Cohen in a sport coat examining a watch bracelet over a case of gold and steel watches
5 min read

How a pawn loan works in Illinois (regulated, no credit check, no credit impact)

Illinois pawn loans explained: how the state regulates pawnbrokers, what you need, what it costs, renewals, and what happens if you don't repay.

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Round neon 'open' sign glowing in a dark shop window
4 min read

Selling vs. pawning: which puts more cash in your pocket?

Same counter, same appraisal, two different deals. When selling outright beats a pawn loan, when it doesn't, and how to decide in 30 seconds.

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Reading is free. So are estimates.

The fastest way to know what your item is worth is to bring it to the counter — we'll test, weigh, and explain it in front of you.

(708) 933-0264
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