Last updated · 2026-11-01
How to sell gold jewelry
Work out what your gold is worth, then compare jewelers, pawn shops, refiners, mail-in buyers and resale sites — with the fees and red flags for each.
Gold is at $3,876.40/ozt today. Before you show your jewelry to a single buyer, work out its melt value: it is the number every offer should be measured against. 14K gold is worth $72.70/g and 10K $51.93/g in melt value.
Melt value $727.00. Likely cash offer $508.90 – $654.30.
Signed and designer pieces can sell for well above melt as whole jewelry. Check sold listings before you scrap them.
DocketYour tally
Add items to total everything you plan to sell, silver and gold together.
Step 1: sort and weigh
- Sort by karat (10K, 14K, 18K) using the stamps. Some buyers price a mixed lot at its lowest karat, so separating pays.
- Set aside anything that isn't solid gold: GF, 1/20 12K GF, RGP and plated pieces have little or no scrap value. See gold-filled vs gold-plated.
- Set aside pieces that may be worth more than their gold: signed designer jewelry, antique pieces and anything with a significant diamond.
- Weigh each group in grams. Subtract stones where you can; a one-carat stone weighs 0.2 g.
Step 2: know what a fair offer is
Buyers pay for the gold content minus their margin. As a rule of thumb, 80–90% of melt value is a good offer for scrap gold, 70–80% is common for small amounts, and anything below 70% is worth a second quote. Treat "up to" percentages in ads as ceilings, not promises.
Step 3: choose where to sell
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Local jeweler | Scrap and pieces that may be worth more whole | Offers vary a lot between shops |
| Coin shop / bullion dealer | Gold coins and bars; many also buy scrap | Ask for their % of melt |
| Pawn shop | Quick cash | Often the lowest offer |
| Refiner | Larger lots, paid on assayed content | Minimums and processing fees |
| Mail-in buyer | Convenience, free insured shipping | Payment fees, slow returns if you decline |
| Resale (eBay, consignment) | Designer, antique and diamond pieces | Seller fees of 10–18% |
Mail-in buyers: what to check
Mail-in buyers send a free insured kit, test your gold and make an offer. Before you ship:
- Confirm you can decline and get your items back free.
- Check how you'll be paid. Payment fees vary: one buyer charges $5–25 for a check by courier and passes on PayPal's 3.49% + $0.50 (Cash for Gold USA).
- Check the insurance limit against what your package is worth.
- Photograph and weigh everything before it goes in the envelope.
In a 2010 Consumer Reports test, mail-in companies offered 11–29% of market value for identical 18K jewelry, against 35–70% from local jewelers and pawnshops (AJC, 2010). That data is old, but it shows why you should always compare a mail-in offer with a local quote.
Diamonds and designer pieces
Scrap buyers usually pay for the gold only. For a ring with a large diamond or a signed piece, a resale or auction service can do far better. Worthy, for example, accepts diamonds with a center stone of at least 1 carat and named designer pieces, and charges a success fee of 18% on sales up to $5,000, falling for larger sales (Worthy). eBay's final value fee on jewelry is 15% for items up to $5,000 (eBay).
Not sure what you have? Read the hallmark guide, how to tell if gold is real, or what a 14K or 10K ring is worth.