Scrap Gold Calculator: What Is Your Jewelry Worth?
To calculate scrap gold value, multiply the weight in grams by the karat purity (14K is 58.5% gold) and by today's gold price per gram; scrap buyers typically pay 60% to 95% of that melt value. As of November 5, 2026, 6:56 p.m. ET, gold is $4,085.93 per troy ounce, so one gram of 14K gold holds $76.85 of gold and a fair scrap offer is about $46.11 to $73.01 per gram. Melt value is only one of four values a piece of jewelry has: insurance replacement (the highest), fair market value, a dealer's offer and melt. Only a credentialed independent appraiser can value a specific piece.
Scrap Gold Calculator
Enter the metal and its weight to see the melt value and a typical scrap offer at the latest spot price. Add a stone or a price you know to see the other three values of your piece side by side.
5 g of 14K gold, no significant stones.
5 g × 58.5% gold = 2.925 g of pure gold at $4,085.93 per troy ounce ($131.37 per gram).
What is my jewelry worth? All four values
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Insurance replacementNeeds an appraisal
The cost to replace it new at retail. Set by an appraiser for your insurer.
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Fair market value (private sale)–
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Dealer or trade-in offer (cash today)–
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Melt value (metal only)–
These are educational estimates based on typical U.S. market ranges, not an appraisal, quote or offer, and not financial advice. Real offers depend on the exact piece, its condition, any grading report and the buyer. For insurance, an estate, a divorce, a donation or a sale of any significance, get a written appraisal from a credentialed independent appraiser.
Gold Melt Value by Karat (10K, 14K, 18K, 22K)
Melt value is the one figure you can calculate exactly: metal weight × purity × spot price per gram. One troy ounce is 31.1035 grams, and one pennyweight (dwt), the unit many jewelers use, is 1.555 grams. Purity comes from the stamp: 10K is 41.7% gold, 14K is 58.5% (14/24 is 58.3%; many 14K pieces are stamped 585), 18K is 75%, platinum 950 is 95% platinum and sterling silver is 92.5% silver[13]. See the 14K gold price per gram and the gold price per gram today for every karat, with 30-day charts.
| Metal | Pure metal | Stamps | Per gram | Per pennyweight | Per troy ounce | 5 grams | Scrap offer per gram |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10K gold | 41.7% | 10K, 417 | $54.78 | $85.19 | $1,703.83 | $273.90 | $32.87 to $52.04 |
| 14K gold | 58.5% | 14K, 585 | $76.85 | $119.51 | $2,390.27 | $384.24 | $46.11 to $73.01 |
| 18K gold | 75.0% | 18K, 750 | $98.52 | $153.22 | $3,064.45 | $492.62 | $59.11 to $93.60 |
| 22K gold | 91.6% | 22K, 916 | $120.33 | $187.13 | $3,742.71 | $601.65 | $72.20 to $114.31 |
| 24K gold | 99.9% | 24K, 999 | $131.23 | $204.09 | $4,081.84 | $656.17 | $78.74 to $124.67 |
| Platinum 950 | 95.0% | PT950, PLAT | $46.17 | $71.80 | $1,436.02 | $230.85 | $27.70 to $43.86 |
| Platinum 900 | 90.0% | PT900 | $43.74 | $68.02 | $1,360.44 | $218.70 | $26.24 to $41.55 |
| Sterling silver | 92.5% | 925, STER | $1.54 | $2.39 | $47.83 | $7.69 | $0.92 to $1.46 |
Worked example: 10 grams of 14K gold contains 5.85 grams of pure gold. At $4,085.93 per troy ounce ($131.37 per gram), the melt value is about $768.49, and a fair scrap offer would be roughly $461.09 to $730.06.
What Is My Jewelry Worth? The Four Values
If a ring appraised at $6,000 draws a $1,500 offer, neither figure is wrong: they answer different questions. Retail prices include design, labor, a storefront and a margin that a second buyer will not pay again. What keeps a hard, liquid value is the material: the metal and, for natural stones, the gems.
| Value | What it means | Who uses it | Typical level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance replacement | The cost to buy a comparable new piece at retail today. | Insurers, and the appraisal they require. | The highest figure: full retail. |
| Fair market value | The price a willing buyer and a willing seller would agree on, neither required to act and both reasonably informed (IRS definition)[6]. | Estates, donations, divisions of property, private sales. | Natural diamond jewelry: about 25% to 50% of retail overall[4]; we model 35% to 50% for private sales. |
| Liquidation or dealer offer | What a jeweler, pawnshop or buyer pays for a quick sale, leaving room to resell at a profit. | Anyone selling quickly or trading in. | Natural diamond jewelry: about 25% to 50% of retail overall[4]; we model 25% to 35% for dealer offers. |
| Melt value | The pure precious metal in the piece at today's spot price. Stones are excluded. | Refiners and gold buyers. | Fair scrap offers: about 60% to 95% of melt[2]. |
What Scrap Buyers and Pawn Shops Pay
Where you sell moves the number more than almost anything except the stone itself. These are typical ranges from published sources, not quotes. Refiners and gold buyers pay for metal only; pawn shops and jewelers also have to cover the cost and risk of reselling, so their offers usually sit lower in the range.
| Where you sell | Typical offer | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Refiner or gold buyer (scrap) | 60% to 95% of melt value | Pays for the metal only. Get several quotes and know the day's spot price.[2] |
| Jeweler, dealer or pawnshop | Natural diamond jewelry: about 25% to 35% of retail | Fast cash. The buyer must resell at a profit, so offers sit at the low end.[4] |
| Consignment, auction or private sale | Natural diamond jewelry: about 35% to 50% of retail | Slower, with fees or effort, but usually the highest realistic price.[4] |
| Any buyer, lab-grown diamond | About the value of the metal | Lab-grown diamonds have little or no resale value; buyers pay for the setting's metal.[3] |
Natural and lab-grown diamonds
Natural diamonds keep some resale value, but well below what was paid: offers typically run about 25% to 50% of the original retail price[4], and natural diamond prices fell about 11.5% between March 2025 and March 2026, according to research by 77 Diamonds[5]. Lab-grown diamonds have little or no resale value: resale options remain limited while lab-grown retail prices fell roughly 80% in five years[4], and JCK reported in August 2026 that one wholesale price index is down 96% since 2018, quoting a dealer who said there is no resale value for lab-grown diamonds[3].
How to get the best price for scrap gold
- Check the spot price the day you sell, and know your piece's melt value before you get offers.
- Get several quotes, and do not feel pressured to accept the first one[2].
- Ask buyers to weigh and test the piece in front of you, and to separate pieces by karat.
- Keep grading reports, receipts and original boxes: they help a buyer price natural stones and signed pieces.
- If the piece is valuable, get an independent appraisal before you sell, from someone who is not bidding on it.
Jewelry Appraisal: Cost and When You Need One
A calculator sets expectations. A written appraisal from a qualified, independent appraiser is what insurers, courts, estates and the IRS rely on. Get one when you insure a piece, settle an estate, divide property, donate jewelry, or sell anything of significant value.
What an appraisal costs: reputable appraisers charge a flat fee per item or an hourly rate and quote it before they start. A fee based on a percentage of the appraised value is considered unethical, because it rewards a higher number[7].
How to choose an appraiser
- Gemological training. A GIA Graduate Gemologist (GG) diploma or an equivalent qualification shows the appraiser can identify and grade stones[11].
- Appraisal accreditation. Look for credentials from the American Society of Appraisers[8], the American Gem Society[10] or the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers[9].
- Professional standards. Ask whether the report follows the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP)[12].
- Independence. The appraiser should not be the person hoping to buy your piece.
A good appraisal names the type of value it states, describes the metal, stones and measurements, includes photos, and is dated and signed. Before your appointment, clean the piece so stones can be examined: see how to clean jewelry safely at home.
Jewelry Value FAQ
How do I calculate the value of scrap gold?
Multiply the weight in grams by the karat purity and by the gold price per gram. 14K gold is 58.5% gold, so at the latest spot price of $4,085.93 per troy ounce (November 5, 2026, 6:56 p.m. ET), one gram of 14K gold is worth $76.85 in gold content. Scrap buyers typically pay 60% to 95% of that melt value, or about $46.11 to $73.01 per gram of 14K.
How much is my gold worth?
Weigh it, find the karat stamp (10K, 14K, 18K or 585, 750), then multiply weight × purity × the gold price per gram. As of November 5, 2026, gold is worth $54.78 per gram in 10K, $76.85 in 14K, $98.52 in 18K and $131.23 in 24K. That is the melt value; a buyer pays less, typically 60% to 95% of it.
How much is my ring worth?
A plain gold or platinum ring is worth roughly its melt value: for example, a 4-gram 14K band holds about $307.40 of gold as of November 5, 2026. A ring with a natural diamond can be worth more, usually about 25% to 50% of its original retail price on resale, while lab-grown diamonds add little beyond the metal. For a specific ring, only an appraiser who examines it can say.
How do I find out what my jewelry is worth?
Decide which value you need first. For insurance you need a replacement value; for selling, estate or tax purposes you need fair market value; for a quick sale, expect a dealer or liquidation offer; and for scrap, the melt value of the metal sets the floor. A calculator gives you a range, but only a qualified independent appraiser who examines the piece can value it.
How much does a jewelry appraisal cost?
Reputable appraisers charge a flat fee per item or an hourly rate, and should quote it before they start. GemGuide notes that a fee based on a percentage of the appraised value is considered unethical, because it rewards a higher number. Expect to pay more for complex pieces or written reports for insurance, estates or court.
Why will a jeweler pay so much less than my appraisal?
An insurance appraisal states what it would cost to replace the piece new at retail, so it is deliberately the highest figure. A buyer has to resell the piece at a profit, so a dealer offer reflects resale value instead. The two numbers answer different questions, and neither means the other is wrong.
Do lab-grown diamonds have resale value?
Little or none. Resale options for lab-grown diamonds remain limited, and JCK reported in August 2026 that one wholesale price index for lab-grown diamonds is down 96% since 2018, quoting a dealer who said there is no resale value for lab-grown diamonds. In practice a buyer usually pays only for the precious metal in the setting.
Is white gold worth less than yellow gold?
Not for its gold content. Karat measures purity, not color, so 14K white, yellow and rose gold all contain the same share of pure gold and have the same melt value at the same weight. Any difference in price comes from design, brand or the other metals in the alloy.
Does Diamond & Sapphire buy or appraise jewelry?
No. We do not buy, sell back or appraise jewelry. This free calculator is for education only, and its figures are not an offer, a quote, an appraisal or financial advice. For a real valuation, see a credentialed independent appraiser.
Methodology and Sources
Melt value is metal weight × purity × spot price ÷ 31.1035 grams per troy ounce. The default spot prices are the latest daily capture (November 5, 2026, 6:56 p.m. ET, from metals.dev), refreshed automatically once each US trading day in the late afternoon, Eastern time (not on weekends or NYSE/COMEX holidays); they are indicative mid-market snapshots, and the calculator always uses the price you enter. Figures are computed from the displayed spot and rounded once. Scrap offers use the published fair range of 60% to 95% of metal value. Natural diamond jewelry uses the published resale range of about 25% to 50% of the original retail price, which we split into a dealer range (25% to 35%) and a private-sale range (35% to 50%); this split is our modeling assumption. Pieces without significant stones, with lab-grown diamonds or with stones of unknown identity are modeled at their metal value, with private sales at 90% to 100% of melt (our assumption). Natural colored gemstones vary too widely to model, so only the metal floor is shown. Resale ranges are never set below the metal's scrap value. Diamond & Sapphire does not buy, sell back or appraise jewelry; these figures are not offers and not financial advice. Content checked November 2026.
- metals.dev: precious-metal spot prices in US dollars per troy ounce, captured November 5, 2026, 6:56 p.m. ET
- 6abc Action News: What to know before cashing in on the gold and silver price boom (January 28, 2026; NerdWallet and dealers cite fair offers of 60% to 95% of spot value)
- JCK: Lab-Grown Diamond Wholesale Prices Are in Freefall; Retail Margins May Be Next (August 10, 2026)
- Whiteflash: Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Hold Their Value Over Time? (February 23, 2026; natural diamonds typically resell for about 25% to 50% of the original retail price; lab-grown resale options remain limited and lab-grown prices fell about 80% in five years)
- Jewellery Focus: Natural diamond prices fall 11.5% over 12 months (77 Diamonds research, March 2025 to March 2026)
- IRS Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property (definition of fair market value)
- GemGuide (Gemworld International): Appraisal fees (percentage-of-value fees are considered unethical)
- American Society of Appraisers (ASA): gems and jewelry appraisal accreditation
- National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA)
- American Gem Society (AGS): credentialed jewelers and appraisers
- GIA: Graduate Gemologist (GG) diploma program
- The Appraisal Foundation: Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP)
- US Code of Federal Regulations, 16 CFR Part 23 (FTC Jewelry Guides: karat and platinum marking)
Cite this calculator
Free to reference with a link to Diamond & Sapphire.
Diamond & Sapphire. "Scrap Gold Calculator: What Is Your Jewelry Worth?" Spot prices as of November 5, 2026. https://diamondandsapphire.com/pages/scrap-gold-calculator