About

Selling gold jewelry requires understanding the distinction between market spot price and the actual melt value. Most jewelry is not pure gold; it is an alloy mixed with base metals for durability. For instance, 14K gold contains only 58.3% actual gold. This tool calculates the precise pure gold content of your items and applies the current market rate. Crucially, it includes a "Dealer Spread" adjustment, allowing sellers to estimate the actual offer they might receive from a pawn broker or refinery, which typically ranges from 10% to 30% below spot.

Formulas

The value V is derived from the weight w, the purity factor f (derived from Karat k / 24), the current spot price P, and the dealer spread s (percentage deducted).

V = w × k24 × P_{(per gram)} × (1 - s)

Reference Data

Karat (K)	Gold Content (%)	Fineness (millesimal)	Common Usage	Value Factor (vs 24K)
24K	99.9%	.999	Bullion, Investment	1.000
22K	91.6%	.916	Indian/Asian Jewelry	0.916
18K	75.0%	.750	High-End Jewelry	0.750
14K	58.3%	.583/.585	US Standard Jewelry	0.583
10K	41.7%	.417	Durable/Budget	0.417
9K	37.5%	.375	UK/Antique	0.375
8K	33.3%	.333	Dental/Industrial	0.333
1oz (troy)	N/A	N/A	Unit of Measure	31.1035 grams

Frequently Asked Questions

Spot price represents the value of pure gold traded on global exchanges. Dealers must refine the gold (costing money) and make a profit. They typically pay 60-80% of the melt value (spot price) to account for refining fees, overhead, and risk. Use the "Spread" slider to account for this.

Mathematically, 14 divided by 24 is 0.58333... However, European jewelry is often stamped "585", indicating 58.5% purity, which is slightly higher. This tool uses the mathematical standard of 0.5833.

Gold is priced in Troy Ounces (oz t) on the market. One Troy Ounce equals approximately 31.1035 grams. A standard kitchen ounce (avoirdupois) is only 28.35 grams. Using the wrong unit can lead to significant valuation errors.

Dental gold varies widely, often between 10K and 20K equivalents, but may contain other precious metals like palladium. A specific assay is usually required, but you can estimate using the 16K-18K settings if the quality is known.