Live Gold Price Updated

Scrap Gold Jewelry Calculator

Calculate the melt value of broken or unwanted gold rings, chains, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings using live spot rates.

Calculate Your Gold's Value

Only the net gold-alloy weight should be priced as scrap.

⚡ Live Gold Price (per Troy Oz) Live Spot
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$
Estimated Gold Jewelry Melt Value
$0.00
💰 See what buyers actually pay — after deductions →
Please enter a valid weight.
📖 Overview

What Is a Scrap Gold Jewelry Calculator?

The Gold Jewelry Value Calculator estimates melt value after accounting for gold purity and known non-gold weight such as stones or other components.

Calculate the melt value of broken or unwanted gold rings, chains, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings using live spot rates.

⚡ Live Spot Basis ⚖️ Multi-Karat 📊 Payout Modeling
Gold inspection illustration
Gold inspection illustration
🧮 Formula

Scrap Gold Jewelry Value Formula

The calculator follows this formula so the estimate stays tied to weight, purity, and the current gold spot price:

V=Wc×C×(K÷24)×P

V is estimated melt value, Wc is the net gold-alloy weight after non-gold deductions, C is the unit conversion to troy ounces, K is karat, and P is the gold spot price per troy ounce.

Calculations use standard weight and purity formulas with live market spot prices. See our Calculation & Editorial Methodology for complete formula steps and limitation disclosures.

Gross Jewelry Weight
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Subtract non-gold componentsstones / removable non-gold parts where applicable
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Estimated Gold-Bearing Weight
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Purity + Spot Price
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Estimated Melt Value

Jewelry Scrap Payout Estimator

Real-world payout estimates from refineries, pawn shops, and local gold buyers

When selling scrap jewelry, buyers usually quote a percentage of theoretical melt value, then apply their own fees or spreads. Compare several net offers instead of assuming a standard payout.

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Refineries & Smelters Terms vary by lot and process Ask for net payout after fees
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Jewelers & Dealers Can vary by item type and resale demand Check whether stones are excluded
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Pawn Shops & Kiosks Offer structure varies by buyer. Compare the final net amount after all deductions rather than relying on the headline percentage alone. Convenience may come with a bigger spread
Buyer Payout Ratio 85%
Applied buyer deduction: 15% (buyer margin) Example input — replace with the buyer's quoted payout percentage.
Melt Value
$0.00
Buyer Spread
−$0.00
Fees & Loss
−$0.00
Net Cash
$0.00

Gold Jewelry Market Rates

Live scrap rate per gram for popular jewelry purities

Rates reflect pure melt values calculated from current gold spot prices. Select a karat tier to view per-gram rates.

Per Gram
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1 gram = 0.0322 troy oz
Per Pennyweight
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1 DWT = 1.555 grams
Per Troy Ounce
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1 troy oz = 31.1035 g

How to Value Scrap Gold Jewelry

Three steps — inspect hallmarks, weigh net gold, calculate melt value

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1. Inspect Hallmarks
Locate stamps on ring shanks, chain clasps, or earring posts: 10K (417), 14K (585), 18K (750), 22K (916).
Sort jewelry into separate piles by karat hallmark before weighing.
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2. Weigh Net Gold Content
Weigh jewelry items of the same karat together on a 0.01g precision digital scale.
Deduct weight for non-gold stones, glass inserts, or watch movements.
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3. Calculate Melt Value
Select weight and karat to calculate raw melt value based on live gold spot prices.
Use the payout estimator to model expected dealer payouts, or learn how to calculate scrap gold value manually step by step.

Ring & Band Scrap Values

Ring weights vary widely by size, design, and whether stones or inserts are attached. Use the net gold-alloy weight of the actual piece instead of relying on broad averages.

Chain & Necklace Scrap Values

Chains can range from very light hollow styles to heavy solid links, so exact weight matters more than category labels. Remove non-gold pendants or clasps from the estimate when possible.

Bracelet & Earring Scrap Values

Bracelets and earrings are often overestimated because stones, springs, or steel findings add weight without adding gold value. Base your estimate on the gold-alloy portion only.

Scrap Gold Jewelry Valuation Considerations

Understanding retail markup vs. raw metal melt value

Retail jewelry pricing can include design, manufacturing, labor, and branding. A scrap evaluation commonly uses recoverable fine-gold content as its baseline, while the buyer's handling of stones, non-gold parts, testing, and fees affects the net offer.

14K
58.3% Gold

Melt Value vs. Retail Resale Value

Retail jewelry pricing can include design, labor, manufacturing, branding, and seller margin in addition to metal value. A scrap quote may focus on recoverable metal, while some branded, antique, or collectible pieces may warrant a separate resale appraisal.

Common Jewelry Alloys

Yellow gold alloys combine gold with copper and silver. White gold alloys combine gold with nickel, palladium, or zinc. Rose gold uses higher copper content. All colors of the same karat (e.g. 14K white, yellow, or rose) contain the exact same 58.3% pure gold content.

Removing Non-Gold Components

Gemstones, cubic zirconias, watch movements, and steel spring clasps do not contain gold. Removing them prior to weighing ensures accurate valuation and prevents buyers from over-estimating deductions.

Specialized Tools

Specialized Scrap Gold Calculators

Specialized tools for every scrap gold scenario — pick the one that matches your gold item.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scrap Gold Jewelry

By multiplying net gold weight in grams by purity fraction (karat ÷ 24) and the live gold spot price per troy ounce. Design, brand, and retail markup are excluded when selling for scrap.

Example using a hypothetical spot price of $3,235/oz: a 5g 14K ring has a theoretical melt value of about $303.35 before any buyer deductions. Actual offers can vary based on net gold-alloy weight, stones, testing, fees, and the buyer's terms.

Scrap offers commonly separate recoverable gold from stones and other non-gold components. Ask the buyer whether stones should be removed, returned, or included with an estimated weight deduction, and obtain a separate appraisal for stones that may have resale value.

Example using a hypothetical spot price of $3,235/oz: a 15g 14K chain has a theoretical melt value of about $910.05, while a 30g 18K chain has a theoretical melt value of about $2,340.25. Actual offers can differ after deductions and non-gold components are removed.

Any solid gold jewelry: broken chains, single lost earrings, bent rings, class rings, gold watch cases, bangles, and dental gold alloys.

Antique, vintage, or designer jewelry may have resale or collectible value above its metal value. Consider a separate appraisal when the maker, age, condition, or provenance may matter.

Check inside ring shanks, chain clasps, or earring backs for 10K (417), 14K (585), 18K (750), or 22K (916) markings.