How to sell gold jewelry safely

Know what you are selling

Most gold jewelry is bought for its metal content, so the two numbers that matter most are purity (karat) and weight. Sort your pieces by karat stamp before you visit a buyer — mixing 10k and 18k in one pile makes it harder to check the offer.

Pieces with designer signatures, antique value, or significant gemstones may be worth more than their melt value. Ask whether the buyer is quoting scrap value or resale value, and consider a separate appraisal for anything special.

Check the day’s gold price

Gold is priced per troy ounce (31.1 grams). Look up the current spot price before you go so you have a reference point. Buyers pay a percentage of melt value to cover refining and their margin — that is normal, but the percentage should be explained, not hidden.

Watch the weighing

• Ask for your items to be weighed in front of you, on a scale you can see.
• In the US, scales used for trade are certified by state weights-and-measures offices; in the UK, Trading Standards oversees them. It is fine to ask whether the scale is certified.
• Confirm the unit being used — grams, pennyweight (dwt, about 1.555 g), or troy ounces.

Get more than one quote

Offers for the same items can vary widely. A reputable buyer will tell you the weight, karat, and price per unit so you can compare quotes like-for-like. Ask for the offer in writing and take your time — you are never obliged to sell on the spot.

Red flags

• Pressure to decide immediately, or an offer that changes once you agree.
• Refusing to show the scale or explain how the price was calculated.
• Mail-in schemes with no clear return policy if you reject the offer.
• Requests for bank login details or card numbers. You should only ever share what is needed to pay you.