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Sell gold jewelry for cash: what it's worth by karat
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As of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET, the gold in 14k jewelry is worth $72.70 per gram and in 10k jewelry $51.93 per gram, from gold spot $3,876.40/troy oz (gold-api.com). A buyer has to refine scrap jewelry, so cash offers come in below these figures. Use them as the ceiling when you compare offers.
All karats on one page, with a calculator: scrap gold price today.
Key facts
- 14k: $72.70/g, $113.06/dwt
- 18k: $93.47/g
- 10k: $51.93/g
- Gold spot: $3,876.40/troy oz
- Data time: Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET
Gold jewelry value by karat
| Karat | Stamp | Gold | Per gram | Per dwt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24k | 999 | 99.90% | $124.50 | $193.63 |
| 22k | 916 | 91.67% | $114.24 | $177.67 |
| 18k | 750 | 75.00% | $93.47 | $145.36 |
| 14k | 585 | 58.33% | $72.70 | $113.06 |
| 10k | 417 | 41.67% | $51.93 | $80.76 |
Other karats: 21k · white gold.
Gold jewelry melt value calculator
Melt value: $727.00
Gold content only, at spot $3,876.40/oz as of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET. Weigh without stones where you can.
Read the stamp before you weigh
The FTC explains that a karat mark tells you how much pure gold a piece has: 18K is 18 parts gold and six parts other metal, 14K is 14 parts gold and 10 parts other metal (FTC: Buying Platinum, Gold, and Silver Jewelry). Many pieces show the gold share in thousandths instead, such as 585 for 14k or 750 for 18k, the standards used under the international Hallmarking Convention. "Gold filled", "gold overlay" and "RGP" mean a layer of gold over a base metal, and vermeil is gold over sterling silver; buyers price these on their small gold layer, not as solid gold.
How to sell gold jewelry for cash
- Sort by karat. BBB tells sellers not to let different karats be weighed together, and to be wary of buyers who do that and pay the lowest karat rate.
- Weigh each pile in grams on a scale that reads to 0.1 g, and work out melt with the calculator.
- Set aside pieces that may be worth more as jewelry: signed designer pieces, antiques and good stones. BBB suggests an appraisal for high-value items.
- Get several written offers (BBB says four or five) and ask each buyer to weigh and test in front of you.
- Mailing it in? Photograph and list every piece, insure the package, and get a firm offer before anything is melted (FTC testimony on online jewelry buyers (May 13, 2010)).
Ways to sell, and what to check with each
| Where | Timing | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Coin shop or jeweler | Same visit | Ask for a written bid per item and per gram by karat; BBB says to get four or five estimates. |
| Online dealer buyback | Price locked first; paid after the item arrives and is checked | Read the lock, shipping and insurance terms on the dealer's sell page before you ship. |
| Mail-in or refiner | Days | The FTC has reported buyers that quoted only when asked or paid after melting the items. Get a firm offer before anything is melted. |
| Pawn shop | Same visit | BBB says to check whether pawn shops need a special license in your state. |
| Private sale | Varies | BBB: you may get more selling to the public, but it carries more risk. Meet safely and get paid first. |
Selling coins or bars too? See how to sell gold near me or online and the Krugerrand sell price.
Frequently asked questions
How much is 14k gold jewelry worth per gram?
The gold in it was worth $72.70 per gram as of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET (58.33% gold at spot $3,876.40/oz). Cash offers are lower because the buyer has to refine it.
Where is the best place to sell gold jewelry for cash near me?
Usually a local coin shop or an established jeweler that gives a written per-gram price by karat. Get several bids and compare each with the melt values on this page.
How do I know what karat my gold jewelry is?
Look for a stamp: 10K or 417, 14K or 585, 18K or 750, 22K or 916, 24K or 999. GF, RGP, gold overlay or vermeil mean gold over another metal, not solid gold.
Can I sell gold jewelry with diamonds in it?
Yes, but a scrap gold buyer generally pays for the gold only. Have valuable stones or designer pieces appraised separately before you sell them as scrap.
What is a pennyweight?
A pennyweight (dwt) is 1.555 grams, a unit many gold buyers quote in. The gold in 14k jewelry was worth $113.06 per dwt as of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET.