How do I prepare my items for sale?

Ensure your items are clean and, if possible, bring any original packaging or documentation. This often enhances the value of high-end watches and diamonds. No special preparation is required — our experts handle the rest.

How does Cash 4 Gold & Diamonds set its prices?

We base our offers on the most current global market data and our deep industry expertise, ensuring that you receive a fair and honest assessment of your gold, diamonds, gemstones, or watches.

Can I sell jewelry or gold items bought in another country?

Absolutely. We handle items from all over the world. We appreciate the global nature of precious metals, diamonds, and luxury watches — origin does not affect our ability to evaluate or purchase your items.

Is my transaction confidential?

Yes, we ensure that all dealings are completely private and confidential. Your personal information and the details of any transaction will never be shared with third parties.

Do you charge for jewelry evaluations or appraisals?

No, our evaluations are completely free and carry no obligation. Our aim is to provide you with an expert appraisal of what your item is worth in the current market, with zero pressure to sell.

Where are you located in Los Angeles?

We are located in the Downtown Los Angeles Jewelry District at 617 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014, inside the California Jewelry Mart. Call us at 310-663-1340 to schedule an appointment.

How quickly will I get paid after selling my jewelry?

We offer same-day cash payments. Once you accept our offer, we finalize the deal with immediate payment. You can choose your preferred method — cash, bank transfer, or check.

Can I sell inherited or estate jewelry?

Yes. We specialize in evaluating inherited and estate jewelry. Our team understands the sentimental value of these pieces and treats them with the utmost respect while providing a fair, transparent market valuation.

How Jewelry Buyers Determine Gold Value: The Real Process

When you walk in with a gold ring, necklace, or bracelet, the buyer doesn’t just glance at it and throw out a number. There’s a real process behind how jewelry buyers determine gold value, and understanding it helps you feel confident about the offer you get.

The truth is, gold value comes down to two primary factors: weight and purity. Everything else—the design, the brand, the condition—matters way less than these two things. Once a professional appraiser knows how much gold you actually have and how pure it is, they can calculate your offer in minutes.

Weight Is Step One: How Much Gold Do You Actually Have?

The first thing any jewelry buyer does is weigh your item. But here’s the thing—they’re not weighing the entire piece. They’re weighing just the gold.

If your ring has diamonds or gemstones, those get weighed separately. The buyer uses a precision scale to measure the gold-only weight, usually in grams. Sometimes older buyers still use pennyweights (1 pennyweight equals about 1.55 grams), but most modern shops work in grams now.

A 14K gold ring might weigh 5 grams total, but not all of that is pure gold. That’s where purity comes in.

Purity: Confirming What You Really Have

Your gold isn’t pure gold. Most gold jewelry is an alloy—meaning it’s mixed with other metals like copper, silver, or nickel. The purity mark tells you how much actual gold is in the piece.

You’ll see stamps like 10K, 14K, 18K, or 22K on your jewelry. These numbers represent the percentage of pure gold:

10K gold = 41.7% pure gold
14K gold = 58.3% pure gold
18K gold = 75% pure gold
22K gold = 91.7% pure gold

Professional buyers verify this purity using specialized tests. They might use an acid test, an electronic tester, or X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to confirm the stamp is accurate. Some pieces have no stamp at all—or the stamp is worn off—which is why independent verification matters.

If your 5-gram ring is stamped 14K, the buyer now knows it contains 2.92 grams of pure gold (5 grams × 58.3%). This is the number that actually determines your payout.

The Math: Converting Weight to Cash Value

Once the buyer knows the pure gold weight, they apply the current market price for gold. Gold is traded on global commodity markets, and the price changes daily. As of 2026, the price per gram fluctuates based on market conditions, economic factors, and supply and demand.

Here’s the simple math:

Pure gold weight (grams) × Current market price per gram = Raw gold value

If you have 2.92 grams of pure gold and the market price is $65 per gram, your raw gold value is about $190. But that’s not the final offer you’ll receive.

Reputable buyers like Cash 4 Gold & Diamonds are transparent about how they calculate offers. Most buyers factor in a margin—they’re buying from you below spot price because they need to resell the gold and cover their operating costs. A fair offer is typically 70-90% of the raw gold value, depending on the buyer’s business model and current market conditions.

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Market Rates: Why Price Varies by Day

how do jewelry buyers determine gold value

Gold is a commodity, which means its price is set by global supply and demand, not by individual buyers. The London Bullion Market sets the standard gold price that most professional buyers reference.

This price changes constantly. Your gold ring might be worth $190 one day and $185 the next, just based on market movement. That’s why timing matters a little, but honestly—if you need cash today, the difference between today’s price and tomorrow’s is usually small.

Transparent buyers always tell you the current market rate they’re using and explain their margin. If a buyer can’t clearly explain how they got to their offer number, that’s a red flag.

What Doesn’t Determine Gold Value (But People Think It Does)

Here’s what doesn’t really matter when determining gold value:

The brand. A Cartier 14K gold bracelet and an unmarked 14K gold bracelet of the same weight and purity have the same gold value. (The brand matters for resale value if you’re selling the bracelet as jewelry, but if you’re selling for gold scrap, it’s irrelevant.)
The design or style. Whether your ring is vintage, modern, or has intricate details—the gold value is the same.
The condition. Scratched, dented, or broken gold is worth the same as pristine gold, weight for weight.
Diamonds or gemstones. These are valued separately based on the 4 Cs (cut, color, clarity, carat). They don’t affect the gold value calculation.

That said, some buyers specialize in estate jewelry and vintage pieces where the item’s overall value (beyond just gold) might be higher. But the gold-only appraisal process is always the same: weight and purity.

How Professional Buyers Stay Honest

When you’re choosing where to sell your gold, look for buyers who explain their process upfront. Cash 4 Gold & Diamonds and other reputable buyers walk you through each step: weighing, purity testing, market rate calculation, and their margin.

A trustworthy buyer will:

Weigh your item in front of you
Show you the purity test results
Tell you the current market rate
Explain their calculation clearly
Give you an offer in writing before you decide
Never pressure you to sell on the spot

If a buyer rushes you, won’t show their work, or offers wildly different numbers than other buyers, keep shopping. The gold value doesn’t vary that much from buyer to buyer. If it does, someone’s being dishonest.

Estate and Inherited Jewelry: Same Process, Extra Value

how do jewelry buyers determine gold value

If you inherited gold jewelry or you’re settling an estate, the gold value calculation is identical. The purity stamp and current market rate are what matter. However, some pieces might have collector value or historical significance beyond the gold itself. A professional appraisal can identify if your inherited piece is worth more as an heirloom than as scrap gold.

Why You Should Work With a Local, Transparent Buyer

Selling gold online or to mail-in services adds risk. You’re shipping your items and trusting that their scale is accurate and their offer is fair. In person, you can watch the entire process.

When you visit Cash 4 Gold & Diamonds in Downtown Los Angeles, you see the scale, you see the test results, and you get a same-day offer with no pressure. That transparency is worth the trip if you’re in the area.

What happens if my gold has no purity stamp?

A professional buyer will test it using acid, electronic, or XRF methods to determine the actual purity. Unmarked gold is more common than you’d think, especially with vintage or handmade pieces. The testing process takes just a few minutes and doesn’t damage your item.

Does the design or brand of my gold jewelry affect its value?

Not for gold-only value. A Tiffany ring and a generic ring of the same weight and karat will have the same gold value. However, if you’re selling to a buyer who specializes in designer jewelry, they might offer more for the brand itself. If you’re selling purely for gold, the brand is irrelevant.

How do I know if an offer is fair?

Get the numbers in writing. Ask the buyer to show you: the weight in grams, the purity percentage, the current market rate per gram, and the calculation they used. A fair offer is usually 70-85% of the raw gold value. If two buyers offer drastically different amounts, something’s off with one of them. Visit multiple buyers to compare.

Can I sell gold jewelry even if it’s broken or damaged?

Yes. The condition doesn’t matter for gold-only value. A bent, broken, or scratched ring is worth the same per gram as a pristine one. Damaged jewelry might have zero collector value, but its gold value is unchanged.