How Much Is My Gold Jewelry Worth? | Gold Buyer in PA

How Much Is My Gold Jewelry Worth? A Guide to Selling Gold in Pennsylvania
If you have old gold jewelry sitting in a drawer, one of the first questions you probably have is: How much is my gold actually worth?
The answer isn't always as simple as weighing the jewelry and checking today's gold price.
Gold jewelry can have value from its precious metal content, but certain pieces may also have additional value because of their maker, age, design, gemstones, rarity or desirability in the secondary jewelry market.
At Cash for Old Jewelry in Ambler, Pennsylvania, we evaluate gold jewelry, estate jewelry, diamonds, watches, coins and other valuables for customers throughout Montgomery County, Bucks County, the Main Line and the greater Philadelphia area.
Here are the major factors that determine what your gold jewelry may be worth.
1. What Karat Is Your Gold?The karat indicates the purity of the gold.
Common gold purities include:
10K gold: approximately 41.7% pure gold
14K gold: approximately 58.5% pure gold
18K gold: 75% pure gold
22K gold: approximately 91.7% pure gold
24K gold: nearly pure gold
Generally, the greater the gold purity and weight, the greater the underlying precious-metal value.
You may find markings such as 10K, 14K, 18K or 22K stamped somewhere on a piece of jewelry.
European jewelry may instead use numerical purity markings such as:
417 = 10K
585 = 14K
750 = 18K
916 = 22K
However, a stamp alone should not be relied upon to determine value. Jewelry can be incorrectly marked, altered or composed of multiple materials. Professional testing helps determine what you're actually selling.
2. How Much Does the Jewelry Weigh?After determining purity, weight becomes extremely important.
Professional jewelry buyers frequently work with grams or pennyweights when evaluating precious metals.
There are approximately:
20 pennyweights in one troy ounce
and
31.103 grams in one troy ounce.
This is important because precious metals are quoted using troy ounces, not the ordinary ounces commonly used for food and household items.
For example, two bracelets that look similar may have dramatically different values if one is hollow and weighs 12 grams while another is solid and weighs 40 grams.
3. What Is the Current Gold Price?Gold is traded internationally, and its market price changes continuously.
The value of the gold contained in a piece therefore changes along with the precious-metals market.
But there is an important distinction between the spot price of pure gold and what a piece of jewelry is worth.
If gold is trading at a particular price per troy ounce, that number refers to essentially pure gold. A 14K ring contains only about 58.5% gold.
The theoretical precious-metal content must therefore be adjusted for purity.
That still doesn't necessarily tell you what someone will pay for the piece because refining costs, market conditions and other factors can affect an actual purchase offer.
4. Don't Assume Your Jewelry Should Be Sold for ScrapThis is one of the most important things to understand before selling old jewelry.
Some jewelry is worth more than its gold content.
A generic broken 14K chain may primarily be valued for its precious-metal content.
A signed vintage Cartier bracelet is an entirely different situation.
Jewelry from makers such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari and other desirable houses can potentially have significant secondary-market value.
The same can apply to:

• Antique jewelry
• Art Deco jewelry
• Victorian jewelry
• Signed jewelry
• Designer jewelry
• Rare vintage jewelry
• Fine diamond jewelry
• Certain gemstone jewelry
• Unusual or collectible pieces

This is one reason choosing a buyer who understands jewelry—not simply precious-metal refining—can be important.
5. Diamonds and Gemstones Can Add ValueIf your jewelry contains diamonds or colored gemstones, the stones should also be considered.
Depending upon their quality and size, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and other gemstones may add significant value.
A professional evaluation may consider characteristics such as:

• Gemstone type
• Carat weight
• Color
• Clarity
• Cut
• Treatment
• Origin when relevant
• Current market demand

Some stones have relatively little secondary-market value, while others can be worth considerably more than the metal surrounding them.
This is another reason you should be cautious about selling valuable jewelry strictly by weight.
6. Broken Gold Can Still Be ValuableA broken chain is still gold.
So is:

• A ring with a missing stone
• A single earring
• A damaged bracelet
• An old class ring
• A bent wedding band
• An outdated pendant
• Tangled gold chains
• Dental gold
• Jewelry you haven't worn in decades

Even if an item is no longer wearable, its precious-metal content may still have significant value.
Don't throw broken jewelry away simply because it cannot be worn.
7. White Gold, Rose Gold and Yellow Gold Can All Have ValueThe color of gold doesn't necessarily indicate its purity.
Gold is alloyed with other metals to create different colors and physical properties.
You may therefore have 14K yellow gold, 14K white gold and 14K rose gold that all contain approximately the same percentage of pure gold.
Purity and weight are generally much more important to the underlying precious-metal value than color.
8. What About Old Jewelry Appraisals?People frequently bring us jewelry accompanied by an appraisal showing a surprisingly high number.
It's important to understand what that number represents.
An insurance replacement appraisal is not necessarily an estimate of what you could sell the jewelry for today.
Insurance appraisals commonly estimate the cost of replacing an item through an appropriate retail market.
The secondary-market cash value can be very different.
That doesn't mean the appraisal is wrong—it means the appraisal was prepared for a different purpose.
9. How Can I Find Out What My Gold Is Worth?The easiest way is to have the items professionally evaluated.
At Cash for Old Jewelry, we evaluate gold jewelry along with diamonds, estate and antique jewelry, coins, watches, sterling silver, platinum and other valuables.
You are welcome to bring multiple items.
In fact, if you've inherited a jewelry box or estate collection, we generally recommend bringing everything you're uncertain about rather than attempting to determine what is valuable yourself.
Something that looks insignificant can occasionally be much more interesting than expected.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIs 14K gold valuable?Yes. Because 14K gold is approximately 58.5% pure gold, it can have substantial precious-metal value depending upon its weight and the current gold market.
Is broken gold worth money?Yes. Broken jewelry can still have value from its precious-metal content, and certain pieces may have additional jewelry or gemstone value.
Should I remove diamonds before selling gold?Usually, no. Let a knowledgeable jewelry professional evaluate the complete piece first. Removing stones unnecessarily can damage the jewelry and may eliminate potential resale value.
Does old gold become less valuable?Gold doesn't become worthless simply because it's old. In some cases, age can actually increase the desirability of antique or collectible jewelry.
Where can I sell gold near Philadelphia?Cash for Old Jewelry is located at 31 E Butler Ave, Floor 2, Ambler, PA 19002, serving customers throughout Montgomery County, Bucks County, the Main Line and the greater Philadelphia region.
Find Out What Your Gold Jewelry Is WorthBefore selling your gold simply by weight, find out exactly what you have.
At Cash for Old Jewelry, your items are evaluated by experienced jewelry professionals who understand precious metals, diamonds, gemstones, antique jewelry and the secondary jewelry market.
Our private, appointment-only office is located in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
Cash for Old Jewelry
31 E Butler Ave, Floor 2
Ambler, PA 19002
215-792-3434
Schedule a private, no-obligation evaluation to find out what your jewelry may be worth.