What Should You Get

What Should You Get

This will give you the market scrap value of the metal. Now go out and shop your gold among several buyers and try to get a price as close to that value as you can. You should expect to get somewhere between 50 80% of the scrap value.

The Detailed Answer1. First, you need to calculate how much pure gold you have by looking at the karats of your pieces. 14K, etc. stamped directly on the gold piece. If it is gold from a tooth or an electronic component, you may have to do a bit of research. 24K is considered 100% pure gold, so 14K would contain 58.3% pure gold content since 14 divided by 24 is 58.3%. Most jewelry pieces are either 10K, 14K, or 18K.10K = 41.6% pure gold14K = 58.3% pure gold18K = 75.0% pure gold2. Next, you need to weigh your gold pieces with a precision scale. If you dont have a fancy scale, you can either buy one, borrow one from a friend, or trust the buyers scale. If you have access to a postal scale, that could also work. So, now you should have your scrap items sorted by karats and weighed in grams. You are almost there. 3. Next, you need to know the current price of gold per gram. At the time of this article, it was about $60 per gram, but this value fluctuates daily, so your best bet is to do a web search for current gold price in grams to get an updated listing. For your convenience, the chart below is dynamically updated daily.

Your result is the market scrap value of your gold, but you will be unlikely to find a buyer willing to pay this much. The buyer will have to take your material, then pay a smelter to melt and refine the metal. These cost, plus the need for the buyer to ultimately make a profit, is why youll have trouble getting the full market scrap value. A realistic price might be 50 80% of the scrap value, depending on market dynamics.

5. Now, you need to find a buyer. You can try pawn shops, eBay, online buyers, or even mail order buyers. A savvy seller will try at least three buyers to see who will offer the most. Beware not to fall victim to any scams. A good practice is to check the reputation of your buyer before engaging in a transaction. The Better Business Bureau is a good place to start.

Note: Remember that this article is about scrap gold, which will ultimately be melted down and resold as a raw material back into the market. To get the pure gold content, we multiply 10g by 58.3%, which equates to 8.162 grams. Lets assume the current market price is $60/gram check the table above for the actual current price. Our 8.162 grams X $60 = $489.72. Thats the scrap market price, remember. We are likely to get anywhere from 50% of that $245 to 80% $392 from a typical buyer.