Calculate the melt value of your 18 karat scrap gold jewelry using live spot prices. 18K gold is 75% pure — the international standard for fine jewelry in Europe, Asia, and luxury brands worldwide.
See what scrap gold buyers actually pay for your 18K gold — after deductions
18K gold typically commands higher payout percentages than lower karats because its higher purity makes refining more efficient. Refineries can extract more gold per gram of material processed, reducing their per-ounce costs.
Live 18K scrap gold price per gram, per pennyweight (DWT), and per troy ounce
18K gold (750 fineness) is the European and international standard for fine jewelry. At 75% purity, it carries significantly more gold content per gram than 14K or 10K. Select karats below to compare.
Three steps — weigh, confirm 18K purity, get your melt value
At $3,235/oz: $3,235 ÷ 31.1035 × 0.75 = $78.01 per gram of 18K gold. This is 29% more per gram than 14K ($60.67/g) and 80% more than 10K ($43.34/g).
$3,235 × 0.75 = $2,426.25 per troy ounce of 18K gold. Three-quarters of the full 24K spot price. One troy ounce = 31.1035g = 20 DWT.
18K gold is the benchmark for fine jewelry across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Italian gold (marked "750") is exported worldwide. Luxury Swiss watch brands use 18K for cases and bracelets. The 75% gold content produces a rich, warm color that's noticeably deeper than 14K — making it the preferred choice for high-end pieces.
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Understanding 18 karat gold — the international fine jewelry standard
This 18K scrap gold calculator uses live market data to calculate the melt value of your 18 karat gold items. 18K gold contains 75% pure gold (fineness 750) — three-quarters gold by weight. It's the global standard for fine jewelry and luxury watches.
18K gold is the standard for luxury brands including Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Rolex. Its 75% gold content produces a rich, deep yellow color that distinguishes it from 14K. In Europe, 18K (750) is often the minimum karat for jewelry to be considered "fine gold." Italian 18K gold jewelry is one of Italy's largest exports.
Higher purity means more efficient refining. For every gram of 18K gold processed, a refinery recovers 0.75g of pure gold vs. 0.417g from 10K. This makes 18K scrap more profitable to refine, which is why refineries often offer slightly higher payout percentages for 18K compared to lower karats.
Common 18K scrap includes Italian gold chains (10–40g), luxury watch cases (Rolex Datejust, Omega Seamaster — 15–50g), designer rings (4–12g), high-end bracelets (15–50g), and fine earrings (2–8g). Many estate and vintage pieces from Europe are 18K. Always check for the "750" hallmark.
Compare live spot prices across gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
While this calculator focuses on 18K gold scrap value, precious metals trade independently. Many luxury watches contain both 18K gold and other precious metals.
Specialized tools for every scrap gold scenario — pick the one that matches your gold item.
41.7% Pure · America's standard gold alloy
58.3% Pure · Most popular US jewelry gold
75.0% Pure · Premium luxury jewelry standard
91.7% – 99.9% Pure · High-purity coins & bullion
Grams, DWT, Troy Oz, Grains & Milligrams
Rings, chains, bracelets & damaged jewelry
Sovereigns, Eagles, Krugerrands & Maples
1/20 GF & 1/10 GF layer weight ratios
Real-time market spot rates & refiner margins
18K gold is 75% pure. At $3,235/oz: $3,235 ÷ 31.1035 × 0.75 = approximately $78.01 per gram. This is the melt value — buyers pay 70–97% depending on type.
Many European countries set 18K (750 fineness) as the minimum for "fine jewelry." Its 75% gold content produces a rich, deep color and has centuries of tradition in Italian, French, and Swiss goldsmithing. The "750" hallmark is universally recognized.
Look for "18K", "18KT", "750", or ".750" stamps. European hallmarks include eagle head (France) and star (Italy). Swiss watches stamp "750" on 18K cases. If unmarked, use an acid test or XRF analyzer.
About 29% more per gram. At $3,235/oz: 18K = $78.01/g vs 14K = $60.67/g — a difference of $17.34 per gram. For a 20g item, that's $346.80 more in melt value.
Italian gold chains (10–40g), luxury watch cases (Rolex, Omega, Cartier — 15–50g), designer rings (4–12g), high-end bracelets (15–50g), European estate jewelry, and fine earrings (2–8g).
Often yes — both in absolute value (more gold per gram) and in payout percentage. Higher-purity gold is more efficient to refine. Refineries may offer 87–97% for 18K vs 85–95% for 10K. The per-ounce refining cost is lower for higher-karat material.
Weigh in grams → divide by 31.1035 → multiply by 0.75 → multiply by spot price. Example: 25g of 18K at $3,235/oz = 0.8038 × 0.75 × $3,235 = $1,950.22 melt value.