How Much Is My Gold Jewelry Actually Worth?
Published by The Gold Vault: Salt Lake Valley’s trusted gold buyers
Author: Jeremy Watts-Klein •
Time to read: 2 minutes
How We Calculate Your Payout
- Find karat (10K/14K/18K stamp).
- Weigh in grams.
- Calculate: grams × karat multiplier ×
today’s $/g = pure value → apply
~70–95% payout range.
Walk in for a free evaluation & same-day cash.
Karat 101: How “Pure” Is Your Gold?
Most jewelry isn’t pure gold; it’s mixed with other metals for strength and color. Karat (K) tells you the fraction that’s real gold.
- 24K (99.9%) — bright yellow, very soft; mainly bullion/coins.
- 22K (91.7%) — rich yellow; common in Indian/Middle Eastern jewelry.
- 18K (75%) — fine jewelry & luxury watches.
- 14K (58.3%) — U.S. everyday standard; best balance of value + durability.
- 10K (41.7%) — very durable; legal minimum to be called “gold” in the U.S.
Where to find stamps: inside ring bands, clasp areas, earring posts.
Look for: 10K/14K/18K/22K/24K or 417/585/750/917/999.
Heads up:
GF (gold-filled) and
GP (gold-plated) are
not solid gold.
Gold-filled (GF) jewelry has a thick gold layer bonded to base metal. It has some gold value, but much less than solid gold. Look for stamps like "1/20 14K GF."
Gold-plated (GP) jewelry has a microscopic gold layer with virtually no scrap value. These pieces aren't worth selling to gold buyers.
The Exact Formula Buyers Use
Gold value = (weight in grams) × (karat multiplier) × (today’s gold price per gram)
Estimated offer = gold value ×
payout % (varies with karat, quantity, market)
Karat multipliers
24K
1.000 | 22K
0.917 | 18K
0.750 | 14K
0.583 | 10K
0.417
Unit conversions
- 1 troy oz = 31.1035 g
- 1 pennyweight (dwt) = 1.555 g
- 1 g = 0.03215 troy oz = 0.643 dwt
Pro tip: Some places quote in dwt. Always convert to grams so you can compare apples-to-apples.
Quick Example (walk-through)
Item: 14K necklace, 10 g • $65/g today
- Pure gold:
10 × 0.583 = 5.83 g - Pure value:
5.83 × $65 = $379 - Illustrative offer (90%): $341
Why You Won’t Get 100% of Spot Price
What that “discount from spot” actually covers
Refining costs to return jewelry to pure gold
Overhead & processing (testing, staff, security)
Time & market risk while metal moves through refining
Typical fair range:
~70–95% of pure gold value (depends on karat, quantity, and market conditions)
What Really Moves Your Offer
Weight adds up. Even small pieces matter.
- Wedding band: ~3–6 g • Chain: ~5–20 g • Ring: ~4–8 g • Bracelet: ~10–30 g
Condition: For melt value, broken vs. pristine usually doesn’t matter.
Stones: Counted separately. We can return diamonds/gems to you.
Designer/Antique: Tiffany, Cartier, Art Deco, etc. may be worth more intact than melt—ask for a resale appraisal before scrapping.
Mixed karats: Legit buyers separate and price each karat group.
How We Evaluate In Front of You
Visual inspection (stamps/construction)
Testing — acid, electronic, and XRF analysis (non-destructive)
Certified weighing to 0.1 g
Transparent math you can follow: karat groups, weights, price/gram, payout %, final number
Red Flags That Cost You Money
- Won’t test in front of you
- Quotes only in dwt without gram conversion
- Refuses to separate by karat
- No written math / pressure to “decide now”
- No business license or ID requirements
Maximize Your Payout (Checklist)
- Light clean to reveal hallmarks
- Group by karat (if known)
- Remove non-gold parts only if easy (don’t force)
- Weigh at home for a ballpark
- Check today’s $/g
- Get 2–3 quotes — real offers should be close
Smart questions to ask:
What’s today’s
spot $/g? What
% of spot per karat/quantity? Can I
watch testing & weighing? Do you
separate by karat? Will you
return stones? Better
tier for larger amounts?
Special Situations
Inherited pieces — consider photos, keep one sentimental item, or repurpose into a new piece.
Dental gold — often 10K–22K; bring crowns/bridges for evaluation.
Broken/damaged — perfect for selling as scrap.
Tiny scrap — single earrings/fragments still add up.
Utah Advantages
Tax-friendly for bullion/coins. Jewelry scrap isn’t a retail purchase; ask us how Utah rules may apply to you.
Competitive local market in the Salt Lake Valley—great for comparing offers.
Why Sellers Choose The Gold Vault
- See the process — testing & math in view of you
- Highly competitive payouts (vary by karat, quantity, market)
- Pro testing: XRF + electronic + acid verification
- Same-day payment in most cases
- No pressure. Education first—your choice, your timeline.
Next step: Browse Gold & Silver Jewelry or Coins & Bullion to see exactly what we buy.
Real-World Examples (Corrected Math)
Example 1 — Mixed jewelry (assume $65/g, 90% payout):
- 14K total
17 g →
17 × 0.583 × 65 × 0.90 = $579.79 - 18K
8 g →
$351.00 - 10K
6 g →
$146.37
Estimated offer: $1,077.16
Example 2 — Single high-karat piece:
- 22K necklace
25 g →
25 × 0.917 × 65 × 0.90 = $1,337.63
Illustrative only; live price/gram and your payout tier change numbers.
Gold Jewelry Value Calculator
Estimate your piece’s melt value and an illustrative offer. Actual payouts depend on karat groups, quantity, and live pricing.
Conversions: 1 dwt = 1.555 g • 1 ozt = 31.1035 g
Tip: check inside the band/clasp for 10K / 14K / 18K or 417 / 585 / 750.
Typical range for jewelry scrap: ~70–95% of pure value (varies by karat, quantity, market).
Formula: (weight in g) × (karat multiplier) × (price $/g)
→ pure value • then × payout %.
FAQs:
Can I sell just one piece?
Yes, single items or whole collections.
What if I don't know the karat?
We test everything; stamps aren't required.
Do you buy white or rose gold?
Yes, it has the same value by karat/weight as yellow gold by karat.
Will you return my diamonds?
Yes, stones can be removed and returned.
How long does an evaluation take?
Most visits take about 10-20 minutes.
Visit Us Today!
Free evaluation • Transparent testing • Same-day cash
Walk-ins welcome, no appointment needed.
Riverton location • Serving Salt Lake City, Sandy, Draper, South Jordan, Herriman, and nearby areas.
The Gold Vault — where education meets fair pricing.
Ready to work with The Gold Vault?
Let's connect! We’re here to help.
Send us a message and we’ll be in touch.
Or give us a call today at 801-890-1597
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