Calculate the melt value of your 14 karat scrap gold jewelry using live spot prices. 14K gold is 58.3% pure — the most popular karat in the United States for engagement rings, wedding bands, and fine jewelry.
See what scrap gold buyers actually pay for your 14K gold — after deductions
14K gold is the most commonly recycled karat in the United States. Buyers are familiar with it and offer competitive payout ratios. Use the slider below to model what refineries, dealers, and pawn shops will actually pay you after their buyback spread and refining deductions.
Live 14K scrap gold price per gram, per pennyweight (DWT), and per troy ounce
14K gold (585 fineness) is the most widely traded karat in the US scrap gold market. The rates below show current 14K values calculated from the live gold spot price. Select different karats to compare pricing.
Three steps — weigh your 14K gold, confirm the karat, get your melt value estimate
At $3,235/oz spot: $3,235 ÷ 31.1035 × 0.583 = $60.67 per gram of 14K gold. This is the melt value — buyers pay 70–95% of this depending on the buyer type and quantity.
$3,235 × 0.583 = $1,887.08 per troy ounce of 14K gold. One troy ounce = 31.1035 grams = 20 pennyweights (DWT). This is the most common unit used in precious metal trading.
14K gold represents the sweet spot between gold content and durability. With 58.3% gold, it offers a warm yellow color that's virtually indistinguishable from 18K to the naked eye, while being significantly more scratch-resistant. It's the standard for engagement rings, wedding bands, tennis bracelets, and most fine jewelry sold in US retail stores.
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Understanding 14 karat gold — America's most popular karat for jewelry
This 14K scrap gold value calculator uses live market data to determine the melt value of your 14 karat gold. With 58.3% pure gold (fineness 585), 14K is the most popular karat in the United States and the most commonly scrapped gold purity in the American market.
14K gold (fineness 585) became the American standard because it offers the best compromise between beauty, durability, and value. At 58.3% gold, it has enough precious metal for a rich warm color while being alloyed with copper, silver, and zinc for hardness. It's the default choice for engagement rings, wedding bands, class rings, and fine jewelry chains.
14K gold dominates the US scrap market — refineries process more 14K than any other karat. This means competitive payout ratios and easy liquidity. Whether you're selling a single ring or a bag of mixed 14K jewelry, buyers know exactly what to expect and can quote quickly. The high volume of 14K recycling keeps refining costs efficient.
The most common 14K scrap items include engagement rings (3–7g), wedding bands (3–8g), chains and necklaces (8–30g), tennis bracelets (10–20g), hoop earrings (2–6g), and pendants (2–10g). Designer or branded pieces may command resale premiums, but most 14K scrap is valued purely on melt content.
Compare live spot prices across gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
While this calculator focuses on 14K gold scrap value, precious metals trade independently. The cards below show the current bid price per troy ounce for each metal.
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
14K gold is 58.3% pure. At $3,235/oz spot: $3,235 ÷ 31.1035 × 0.583 = approximately $60.67 per gram. This is the melt value — buyers pay 70–95% of this figure depending on the buyer type.
14K gold offers the ideal balance of gold content (58.3%), durability, and price. It's hard enough for daily wear, has a beautiful warm color, and costs less than 18K or 22K. This makes it the standard for engagement rings, wedding bands, and fine jewelry throughout the United States.
Look for stamps reading "14K", "14KT", "14KP", "585", or ".585". The "P" in "14KP" means "plumb" — guaranteed at least 58.3% gold. European pieces use "585". If unmarked, have it tested with an acid kit, electronic tester, or XRF analyzer.
Refineries: 85–95% of melt value. Jewelers/dealers: 80–90%. Pawn shops: 70–80%. 14K is the most liquid karat in the US scrap market, so payout ratios tend to be competitive. Always compare quotes from multiple buyers.
Depends on weight. At $3,235/oz: a 10g 14K chain ≈ $606 melt value; a 20g chain ≈ $1,212; a 30g chain ≈ $1,819. Buyers pay 70–95% of melt. Use this calculator with exact weight for a precise estimate.
For durability, yes — 14K is harder and more scratch-resistant. For gold content and color richness, 18K is superior (75% vs 58.3% gold). For scrap value per gram, 18K is worth more. The choice depends on wear patterns and budget.
1. Weigh in grams. 2. Divide by 31.1035 (troy oz). 3. Multiply by 0.583 (14K purity). 4. Multiply by spot price. Example: 15g of 14K at $3,235/oz = 0.4823 × 0.583 × $3,235 = $909.86 melt value.