Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange Cos. Inc., which wholesales, retails and auctions fine watches, jewelry, diamonds, precious metal and rare coin products via traditional and Internet channels, reported triple-digit growth for its first-quarter of 2008.

The Dallas-based company’s income rose 162% to $477,255 this quarter, which ended March 31, compared to $182,415 for the same period last year. Its revenue jumped 222% to $32.7 million versus $10.2 million in first-quarter 2007.

DGSE (AMEX: DGC) affiliates are purchasing scrap jewelry, rare coins and bullion products in record amounts. In the first quarter, DGSE operations purchased more than $17 million, compared to $4.8 million for the same period last year.

Its Euless/Fort Worth operation, which was acquired as Euless Gold & Silver Exchange in the first half of 2007, produced more than $4 million in revenue the first quarter - a 20-year record for DGSE.

The pawn business remains strong, increasing 130% this quarter to $258,242. DGSE has two pawn locations in Dallas.