The value equation
What is scrap gold worth?
The honest answer begins with three facts: how much pure gold an item contains, what it weighs, and the market price when it is assessed.
Request an assessmentCarat tells us the gold content
Gold carat is a measure of purity, not weight. In the UK, 9ct gold is 37.5% pure gold, 14ct is 58.5%, 18ct is 75% and 22ct is 91.6%. Two chains of the same weight can therefore have very different intrinsic values.
Hallmarks are a useful first clue, but worn, imported or older pieces may need testing. A professional assessment confirms the metal before a final offer is made.
Weight and the live gold price
Gold is traded internationally and its price moves throughout the day. Buyers usually work from the fine-gold content: gross weight multiplied by purity, then valued against the relevant market rate.
Stones, steel watch parts, clasps containing springs and other non-gold elements may be excluded from the payable weight. A clear quote should explain the tested carat, eligible weight and final amount rather than relying on a headline “per gram” claim.
Why offers differ between buyers
A buyer must allow for verification, processing, refining and market movement. Those costs create the difference between the theoretical metal value and a purchase offer. Compare the final amount you receive, not an advertised rate that may apply only to a narrow purity or volume.
Some jewellery is worth more intact. Signed pieces, antique jewellery, quality gemstones and wearable designer designs should be checked for resale value before being treated as scrap. EncoreLuxe assesses that possibility first.
Questions, answered
Before you
send it in.
How much is 9ct gold worth per gram?
The amount changes with the gold market and the buyer’s terms. A reliable quote uses the item’s confirmed purity and eligible weight at the time of assessment.
Does a hallmark guarantee the value?
A hallmark helps identify fineness, but weight, non-gold components, condition and whether the piece has resale value also matter.
Are gemstones included in scrap value?
Not usually in a metal-only calculation. Valuable stones may merit separate assessment, while low-value or damaged stones may need removing before the gold is weighed.