Guide · Selling
How to sell gold jewelry for a fair price
A step-by-step plan for selling rings, chains and broken jewelry, from sorting by karat to comparing written offers.
Last updated October 2, 2026
Most people sell gold jewelry once or twice in their life. The buyer does it every day. This guide closes that gap in about an hour of work.
1. Sort your pieces by karat
Look for a small stamp inside a ring band or near a clasp. Use a magnifying glass or your phone camera zoomed in.
| Stamp | Karat | Pure gold |
|---|---|---|
| 10K, 417 | 10 karat | 41.7% |
| 14K, 585 | 14 karat | 58.3% |
| 18K, 750 | 18 karat | 75.0% |
| 22K, 916 | 22 karat | 91.7% |
| 24K, 999 | 24 karat | 99.9% |
Put each karat in its own bag. A buyer who weighs everything together may price the whole pile at the lowest karat.
Stamps that mean plated, not solid: GF (gold filled), GP (gold plated), GEP, HGE, RGP, or “1/20 12K”. These pieces have very little gold. See our hallmark reference.
2. Weigh each bag
A kitchen scale that reads in grams to 0.1 g is good enough for a first estimate. Remove stones if they are loose or cheap: a buyer will not pay gold prices for them, and many will deduct an estimate for their weight.
3. Work out the melt value
Melt value is weight × purity × today’s gold price. Our calculator does the math. This number is your yardstick. No buyer can pay full melt and stay in business, but you now know what “fair” looks like.
4. Get at least two written offers
- Visit two or three buyers. Our directory lists shops near you, and you can check a dealer’s licence first.
- Ask for the offer in writing, broken down by karat and weight.
- Ask which gold price they used, and when it was set.
- Ask about any testing or “appraisal” fee, especially one that only applies if you say no.
5. Compare offers as a percent of melt
A raw dollar figure hides a lot. Type each offer into the calculator and it shows what percent of melt you are being offered. Compare that number, not the dollar amount.
6. Keep anything that might be worth more than its metal
Signed designer pieces, antique jewelry, and pieces with real gemstones can be worth more to a jeweller or auction house than to a scrap buyer. Get one opinion from a jeweller before you sell these for melt.
Before you hand anything over
- Watch your items being weighed, on a scale you can see.
- Do not leave items “to be tested” without a signed receipt listing every piece.
- Bring a photo ID. Most states require buyers to record it.
- If you feel rushed, leave. A fair offer will still be fair tomorrow, give or take the gold price.