What it's worth · Gold
How much is a gold chain worth?
Chains sold in the US and Canada are mostly 10K or 14K. Chains bought in India or the Middle East are often 22K, which holds much more gold for the same weight. A light 18-inch chain often weighs 3 to 10 grams. Rope and Cuban link chains often weigh 20 to 100 grams or more.
What a buyer takes off
- The clasp spring, which is steel. It weighs a fraction of a gram.
- Hollow chains: they look heavy but are light, and dented hollow links are hard to repair, so they are sold for gold.
Can it be worth more than its gold?
Rarely, unless it is a signed designer piece or an antique watch chain.
Before you sell
- The stamp is usually on the clasp or on a small tag next to it.
- "GF", "GP", "HGE" or "RGP" on the clasp means gold-filled or plated, not solid gold. Gold-filled and plated chains are worth little for their gold.
The weights above are typical, not yours: weigh your own piece in grams. A kitchen scale that reads to 0.1 g is close enough for a first estimate. Then compare two or three written offers as a percent of melt. Seewhat a fair price is.
Other items
- How much is a gold class ring worth? →Women’s class rings often weigh 5 to 10 grams and men’s 10 to 25 grams.
- How much is a gold wedding band worth? →A thin band often weighs 2 to 4 grams and a wide or heavy one 6 to 15 grams.
- How much is a gold engagement ring worth? →The gold in an engagement ring setting is usually 2 to 6 grams.
- How much is a gold bracelet worth? →A light bracelet often weighs 5 to 10 grams and a heavy link or bangle 15 to 40 grams.