Sell Gold Jewelry, Coins & Bullion | Trusted Gold Buyers
Trusted Gold Buyers Since 1946
Sell Gold Today!
Looking to sell gold? We buy gold jewelry, broken gold, scrap gold, estate pieces, dental gold, gold coins, and bullion. This page explains how gold is valued, how to tell the difference between 10k, 14k, 18k and gold-filled jewelry, what affects your payout, what to bring, and how to avoid common selling mistakes.
What Gold Items We Buy
Gold Jewelry
We buy gold chains, bracelets, rings, earrings, pendants, bangles, lockets, charms, wedding bands, class rings, religious jewelry, and mismatched pieces in all conditions.
Scrap Gold & Broken Gold
Broken clasps, damaged jewelry, tangled chains, single earrings, bent rings, unusable pieces, and scrap gold still carry value based on karat, weight, and market price.
Gold Coins & Bullion
We buy gold coins, bars, rounds, bullion, investment gold, and certain collectible pieces. Some gold coins are worth more than melt depending on rarity and demand.
Estate & Antique Gold
Older and inherited gold jewelry may have value beyond scrap because of craftsmanship, designer names, antique appeal, or diamond and gemstone content.
Designer & Signed Gold Jewelry
Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, David Yurman, Bulgari and other signed pieces can bring more than raw gold value when demand and condition are strong.
Dental Gold & Specialty Items
We also evaluate certain dental gold, gold-filled pieces, gold pocket watches, gold-framed eyewear, and mixed precious metal items.
How to Tell the Difference Between 10k, 14k, 18k and Gold-Filled Jewelry
Understanding 10k, 14k and 18k Gold
Karat measures how much pure gold is in an item. Pure gold is 24k, but most jewelry is made as an alloy so it is stronger and more wearable.
- 10k gold is 10 parts gold out of 24, or about 41.7% pure gold. It is durable, common, and often used in everyday jewelry.
- 14k gold is 14 parts gold out of 24, or about 58.5% pure gold. It is one of the most common and most desirable jewelry standards in the United States.
- 18k gold is 18 parts gold out of 24, or about 75% pure gold. It has a richer color and is common in higher-end and designer jewelry.
The higher the gold purity, the more gold content the item contains per gram. That usually means a higher melt value, assuming the weight is similar.
What Gold-Filled Means
Gold-filled jewelry is not solid gold. It has a bonded outer layer of gold over a base metal core. It is generally worth more than gold-plated jewelry, but far less than solid 10k, 14k, or 18k gold.
Gold-filled items may be marked with stamps such as 1/20 12k GF, 14/20 GF, or simply GF. These markings mean the item contains a thin bonded layer of gold, not solid karat gold throughout.
Solid gold pieces are more likely to be marked 10k, 14k, 18k, 417, 585, or 750. These marks suggest actual karat gold content, though testing is still important because markings can be worn, misleading, or fake.
Important: Stamps alone are not enough. Professional gold buyers also test color, density, magnetism, acid reaction, and in some cases XRF readings to verify gold content.
How to Sell Gold
Selling gold is simple when you work with an experienced buyer. Start by gathering the items you want evaluated. Separate obvious costume jewelry from gold items if you can, but do not worry if you are unsure what is real. A reputable buyer should test everything in front of you and explain what they are seeing.
Once your gold is evaluated, the buyer should determine the karat, weigh the item, and calculate value based on current market conditions. If the piece is designer, antique, or contains diamonds or gemstones, those factors may change the offer. After the evaluation, you should receive a clear offer with no pressure. You can accept, decline, or compare — but the process should always be transparent.
When possible, avoid mailing valuables you do not fully understand, and avoid selling blindly based only on an online quote. In-person evaluation is often the safest and most accurate route for gold jewelry, estate pieces, and mixed lots.
How Gold Pricing Works
Live Gold Market
The starting point is the current gold market price. As the market rises or falls, the base value of your gold changes too.
Karat & Purity
10k, 14k, 18k, and 22k all contain different amounts of pure gold. Higher purity usually means more gold value per gram.
Weight
Gold is commonly weighed in grams, pennyweights, or ounces. More weight means more gold content, assuming the karat is the same.
Type of Item
Scrap gold is usually priced differently from designer jewelry, investment bullion, collectible coins, or antique estate pieces.
Refining & Resale Demand
Buyers consider refining costs, market demand, resale potential, and condition when calculating an offer.
Stones, Brand & Collectibility
Diamonds, signed names, original boxes, rarity, and craftsmanship may add value above basic melt price.
What Affects the Value of Gold Jewelry
Not all gold is valued the same way. Two items with similar weight can sell for different amounts depending on what they are and how they can be resold. Basic broken scrap jewelry is often purchased mainly for its metal content, while signed designer pieces, coin jewelry, antique work, and estate items may carry additional resale value.
Condition matters, but not always in the way people expect. A broken gold chain can still have strong melt value. On the other hand, a complete designer bracelet with original packaging may be worth much more than scrap. Diamonds and gemstones can also influence the offer, though that depends on quality, size, brand, and demand. If your item is a gold coin or bullion product, value may be tied closely to metal content, but collectible premiums sometimes matter too.
In short, the main value drivers are purity, weight, live market price, design, brand, rarity, demand, and whether the item is being bought as scrap, jewelry, or a collectible.
What to Bring When You Sell Gold
Bring the Items Themselves
Bring all chains, rings, earrings, bracelets, coins, bars, and loose parts you want checked. Even broken or tangled pieces can have value.
Bring Boxes, Papers & Receipts
Original boxes, certificates, receipts, service history, appraisals, and brand paperwork can help support higher value on certain pieces.
Bring Matching Pieces
Pairs of earrings, complete necklace sets, watch links, charms, and matching components can strengthen resale value.
Bring Valid ID
Many gold transactions require identification. Bringing valid ID helps make the process smooth and compliant.
Common Gold Selling Scams and Pitfalls to Avoid
1. Selling Only by a Quick Verbal Guess
If nobody tests the item in front of you, weighs it clearly, or explains the karat, that is a red flag. You should understand how the number was reached.
2. Confusing Gold-Filled with Solid Gold
Some sellers assume a gold-filled item is the same as 14k solid gold because of the color. It is not. Good testing prevents disappointment and confusion.
3. Mailing Valuable Items Blindly
Mail-in programs can work in some cases, but many people are better served by in-person evaluation when the items are valuable, sentimental, designer, or hard to identify.
4. Ignoring Designer or Antique Value
Some buyers only pay scrap and overlook brand value, period design, diamond content, or collectible appeal. That can leave money on the table.
5. Not Comparing Professional Buyers
Pawn shops, pop-up hotel buyers, online mailers, and specialists do not all price the same way. Gold jewelry, bullion, and estate pieces often need different expertise.
6. Selling in a Rush Without Organizing
A little preparation can help. Sorting your pieces, bringing accessories, and separating obvious costume items can make your evaluation more accurate and efficient.
Designer Gold Jewelry and Brand Value Nuances
Many people assume all gold is purchased only for melt value, but that is not always true. Signed designer jewelry can command more than raw gold value when the name, model, craftsmanship, and condition are desirable. Brands like Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, David Yurman, Van Cleef & Arpels, and certain vintage luxury makers often carry a resale premium.
Estate jewelry can also be worth more than expected when it has handmade details, period styling, old-cut diamonds, collectible motifs, or strong secondary-market demand. On the other hand, some heavily worn or altered designer items may still end up being priced closer to metal value. This is why it matters to work with a buyer who understands both gold content and the resale market.
If your jewelry is signed, unusual, antique, or from a known luxury house, mention it before you sell. A proper review may increase your offer.
Sell Gold Near You
Looking for a trusted local gold buyer? Visit one of our nearby locations for in-person evaluations on gold jewelry, scrap gold, broken gold, estate gold, gold coins, and bullion. We proudly serve customers at Collectors Coins of Staten Island, Collectors Coins of Lynbrook, and Collectors Coins of Old Bridge.
New York Locations
Staten Island Gold Buyers
Lynbrook Gold Buyers
New Jersey Locations
Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Gold
How do I know if my jewelry is 10k, 14k, or 18k gold?
Look for stamps such as 10k, 14k, 18k, 417, 585, or 750. These markings can be helpful, but they are not enough on their own. A professional buyer should also test the item to confirm the metal.
Is gold-filled jewelry worth anything?
Yes, gold-filled jewelry can have value, but it is usually worth far less than solid gold jewelry because only the outer bonded layer contains gold. The value depends on the specific marking, weight, and recoverable gold content.
Do you buy broken gold chains and single earrings?
Yes. Broken chains, bent rings, damaged bracelets, and single gold earrings often still have value based on gold content and weight.
Do designer gold pieces sell for more than scrap?
Sometimes, yes. Signed luxury jewelry and certain antique pieces can sell for more than melt value when brand demand, design, condition, and resale potential are strong.
What is the best way to sell inherited gold jewelry?
The best first step is a professional evaluation. Estate jewelry may include scrap pieces, designer items, diamonds, or antique work that should not all be priced the same way.
Do I need an appointment to sell gold?
Many stores accept walk-ins, but it is smart to call ahead if you have a large collection, estate lot, or several high-value items.
What affects how much I get paid for gold?
The biggest factors are purity, weight, current market price, item type, brand, stone content, condition, and whether the piece has collectible or resale value beyond scrap.
Should I separate costume jewelry from real gold before coming in?
It can help, but it is not required. If you are unsure what is real, bring everything you want checked. A reputable buyer should help sort and identify it properly.
Ready to Sell Gold?
Bring in your gold jewelry, broken gold, estate pieces, coins, or bullion for a private evaluation. We make it easy to understand what you have, how it is priced, and what it may be worth.