Two companies that buy gold, jewelry and collectibles from the public have joined forces in Hawaii, which is good news for people sitting on unused valuables while gold prices are near record highs.

• Secured Gold Buyers and Place Vendôme have merged permanently, combining their buying teams.
• The tie-up adds specialists in art, fine jewelry, colored gemstones and furs to a team that mostly handled gold, silver, diamonds and Rolex watches.
• Buying events run this week at three Oahu locations: the Ala Moana Hotel, Pearl Country Club and Embassy Suites in Kapolei.
• With gold prices so high, even scrap pieces and single earrings can be worth real money — sellers are often getting back what they originally paid or more.
• Anyone unsure about parting with a family heirloom is told to go home and think it over rather than sell on the spot.

Outlook: Expect more of these public buying events as long as gold stays expensive, with the combined team rolling the model out to other markets.