How much you’ll receive depends on two numbers: spot price and melt value.

Spot price is the current market price of pure gold (24k). Your item is usually not pure, so buyers use spot price to calculate its melt value—the value of the gold content if the item were melted down. Melt value is based on weight × purity (karat) × spot price. It does not include design, brand, or sentimental value.

Most buyers then pay you a percentage of melt value, not the full amount, because they have costs for testing, refining, overhead, and profit.

In general:

+ Scrap gold jewelry (10k–18k): often about 70%–85% of melt value, depending on quality and quantity. Any diamonds are evaluated cut, color and clarity.
+ Gold coins and bullion bars: usually much closer to spot, often around 90%–100%.

So the best way to estimate your payout is: calculate melt value first, then apply the typical percentage for what you’re selling.

Reputable jewelers and local coin shops are generally the most trustworthy places to sell gold because their business depends on long-term trust and transparency, not one-time transactions.

These businesses rely on repeat customers, referrals, and public reviews, which gives them strong incentives to offer fair pricing and explain how offers are calculated. They typically price gold based on the current spot price, clearly stating the percentage of spot or melt value they pay. Testing and weighing are usually done in front of the customer, reducing the risk of manipulation or hidden deductions.

Jewelers and coin shops are also licensed, regulated, and locally established, making them easier to hold accountable than pop-up buyers, hotel gold events, or some pawn shops. Their staff generally have the expertise to recognize differences between scrap gold, bullion, and collectible or numismatic items, helping sellers avoid accidentally underselling valuable pieces.

Compared with pawn shops or transient buyers, reputable jewelers and local coin shops consistently offer prices closer to fair market value and use lower-pressure sales tactics. Their visible reputation, permanent location, and transparent process combine to make them structurally more trustworthy options for selling gold.

Selling gold to buyers other than reputable jewelers carries several risks, most of which involve lower payouts and reduced transparency.

Pawn shops often offer significantly less than melt value, sometimes as low as 30–50%, because their business model is based on short-term resale and lending rather than fair market pricing. Many do not quote prices relative to spot, making it difficult to judge whether an offer is fair.

Online gold-buying services can be legitimate, but risks include shipping loss or disputes, delayed payments, and offers that change after the gold is received. Some rely on sellers’ inability to contest the final price once items are mailed.

Hotel-buying events and pop-up buyers pose the highest risk. These buyers are often temporary, use high-pressure tactics, and may offer very low prices while discouraging comparison shopping. Once the event ends, accountability is minimal.

Across all these alternatives, common warning signs include refusal to test or weigh gold in front of you, unclear pricing, pressure to sell immediately, and limited recourse if something goes wrong.

Well-known gold coins—such as American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, and Krugerrands—are widely recognized and trusted for their gold purity. Bullion bars are also generally easy to sell, especially when they come from reputable mints. If a mint is less familiar, or if a bar is older, it may require additional verification. But in both cases, the value ultimately comes from the gold’s purity—not the name on the coin or bar.

All amounts of gold are valuable. Ranch Road Jewelry does evaluations of any amount you bring into the store free-of-charge.