Gold and silver: why they go to a jeweler
Precious metals sell by the gram and need testing. A scrap yard won't give you a fair price, but a jeweler with the right tools will.
Look for the stamp
Use your phone's zoom on clasps, inside rings and on the backs of pieces.
- Gold: 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, or 417, 585, 750, 916.
- Silver: 925, Sterling, 800.
- Platinum: PT950, PLAT.
Stamps that mean plated
GP, GF, HGE, RGP and 'gold filled' mean a thin layer over cheaper metal. EPNS, 'silver plate' and 'nickel silver' have little or no silver. These are worth far less than solid metal.
Quick clues
Gold doesn't tarnish; brass turns brown or green. Real silver tarnishes grey-black. Neither gold nor silver sticks to a magnet, so a piece that sticks is plated or fake.
Don't scratch it
Filing or scratching jewelry to test it lowers its resale value. Leave testing to a jeweler with an XRF analyzer or an acid kit.
Getting paid
- Get at least two quotes.
- Ask what percent of melt value they pay, based on today's spot price.
- Watch them weigh it, in grams or pennyweight.
Let MetalMint do the sortingSnap a photo, tap your magnet and scratch results, and MetalMint gives you the grade, the weight and today's price. Free to start, in English and Spanish.Try MetalMint free