Scrap Gold Melt Value Guide: What Broken Jewelry Is Really Worth
Published June 19, 2026 · updated June 19, 2026
Broken chains, single earrings, bent rings, and old class rings still hold real value because gold is gold, regardless of condition. Scrap gold is priced purely on its melt value — the worth of the metal if it were refined back to pure gold. Here’s how to figure out what your scrap is worth.
What “scrap gold” really means
In the trade, scrap is any gold bought for its metal content rather than resale as jewelry. A tangled kinked chain, a ring missing stones, dental gold, or an out-of-style bracelet all qualify. The buyer will send it to a refiner, so they pay based on weight and purity, not brand or condition.
Step 1: Sort by karat
Separate everything by karat stamp first. Mixing 10k and 18k in one lot is the fastest way to get paid the lowest rate for all of it. Look for stamps like 10K, 14K, 18K, .585, .750, or .416. If a piece has no stamp, set it aside for acid testing — guessing purity can cost you 30% or more.
Step 2: Weigh accurately in grams
Use a digital scale that reads to at least 0.1 gram, ideally 0.01 g. Kitchen scales and postage scales are usually not precise enough for small pieces. Weigh each karat group separately and write the totals down.
Step 3: Apply the melt formula
Spot price per gram × purity × weight = melt value
Remember purity decimals: 24k = 0.999, 22k = 0.9167, 18k = 0.75, 14k = 0.585, 10k = 0.4167. Spot price per gram is the per-ounce price divided by 31.1034768 (one troy ounce in grams).
Example: 20 grams of 14k scrap at a $2,400 spot price:
- $2,400 ÷ 31.1034768 = $77.15 per gram
- $77.15 × 0.585 = $45.13 per gram of 14k
- $45.13 × 20 g = $902.60 melt value
What buyers actually pay
Melt value is the ceiling, not the offer. Reputable gold buyers and refiners typically pay 80–90% of melt for clean, sorted lots. Pawn shops and mail-in services often land at 60–75%. Some charge a refining fee per lot. Always get quotes from at least two buyers before selling.
Red flags to avoid
- Buyers who refuse to show the spot price they’re using.
- Quotes in pennyweight without also giving the gram weight and unit.
- “We pay top dollar” advertising with no posted rates.
- Mail-in offers with short windows to decline.
Run your own numbers with the gold calculator before walking into a buyer, and compare against the live 14K gold price per gram rate so you know exactly what a fair offer looks like.
Frequently asked questions
- Is dental gold worth selling? Yes. Dental gold is often 10k–16k alloy, but it can include platinum-group metals. Ask a refiner who assays it rather than a pawn shop.
- Should I remove gemstones first? Usually yes, unless the buyer values them. Many charge a removal fee, and stones are worth more sold separately to a jeweler.
- Does gold plating count as scrap? No. Gold-filled and plated items contain too little gold to be worth refining for an individual seller. Stick to solid karat pieces.