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 Much Should I Get for My Gold Jewelry? 2026 Guide

Here’s the honest truth: when you sell gold jewelry, you won’t get the full spot price. The amount you should get depends on three things—the weight of your gold, its purity (the karat), and which buyer you’re working with.

Right now in 2026, 14K gold trades at roughly $46-48 per gram. But if you have 10 grams of 14K gold, don’t expect to walk away with $478. You’ll realistically get between 60-85% of that amount, depending on the buyer and your jewelry’s condition.

Let’s break down exactly what you should expect and how to get the best offer possible.

What’s the Current Price of Gold?

Gold prices move daily based on the global market. As of 2026, the spot price for gold fluctuates between roughly $3,800-$4,500 per ounce. That translates to about $46-48 per gram for 14K gold and $33-35 per gram for 10K gold.

But here’s the catch: that’s the wholesale spot price. It’s what gold dealers pay each other. It’s not what you’ll get.

The difference between spot price and what a retailer pays you is called the “melt value discount.” It typically ranges from 15-40%.

Understanding Gold Purity and Karat Weight

Before you can figure out what you should get, you need to know what you’re selling. Gold jewelry is stamped with a karat mark that tells you its purity.

10K gold: 41.7% pure gold, 58.3% other metals. Worth roughly $833 per ounce.
14K gold: 58.3% pure gold, 41.7% other metals. Worth roughly $1,166 per ounce.
18K gold: 75% pure gold, 25% other metals. Worth significantly more than 14K.
22K gold: 91.7% pure gold, 8.3% other metals. This is investment-grade gold.

The higher the karat, the more you’ll get paid. Your 18K gold bracelet will fetch more than an identical-weight 14K bracelet.

Check your jewelry for these stamps. If you can’t find one, a professional appraiser can test it for you.

How Much Discount Should You Expect?

Let’s do the math with a real example. Say you have 10 grams of 14K gold.

Spot price for 14K: $47.81 per gram
Total gross value: 10 grams × $47.81 = $478.10
At 60% payout: $286.86
At 85% payout: $406.39

So you’re looking at somewhere between $287 and $406 for that 10-gram piece.

Why the gap? Refining costs, overhead, labor, profit margin—these all add up. A buyer has to process your gold, test it, refine it, and then sell it. That costs money.

The best buyers (like Cash 4 Gold & Diamonds) operate efficiently and pass better offers to you. Less efficient buyers take bigger cuts.

Explore Cash 4 Gold & Diamonds →

Factors That Affect Your Offer

how much should i get for my gold jewelry

Not every gold jewelry piece is worth the same amount per gram. Here’s what changes the offer:

Weight: Obviously, heavier pieces are worth more. We weigh your jewelry precisely.
Purity: Higher karat = higher payout. 22K beats 18K beats 14K beats 10K every time.
Condition: Damaged, broken, or heavily worn pieces might get a slightly lower offer, but honest buyers account for this fairly.
Form: Solid gold pieces are worth more than gold-plated items. Plated jewelry has only a thin layer of gold over base metal.
Buyer reputation: Established, trusted buyers offer more competitive rates than fly-by-night operations. They have consistent volume and don’t need to lowball.

How to Know If You’re Getting a Fair Offer

Here’s your game plan. Get the offer in writing, and get at least two quotes before you sell.

Ask the buyer to break down their offer like this:

Total weight (in grams)
Karat purity
Current spot price per gram they’re using
Their payout percentage (should be 60-85%)
Final offer amount

If a buyer won’t give you this breakdown, walk away. Transparency is non-negotiable.

Then call another buyer—at least one more—and compare. You might find one offering 75% payout while another offers only 65%. That difference adds up fast.

This is also why selling to a trusted local buyer matters. Cash 4 Gold & Diamonds has been buying gold in Downtown Los Angeles since 2007. You can walk in, see the scales, get your items tested, and walk out with cash same-day. No middleman. No mystery.

Don’t Forget About Designer Pieces and Antique Value

Here’s something a lot of sellers miss: if your gold jewelry is from a luxury designer (like Cartier, Tiffany, or Rolex), or if it’s an antique or vintage piece, you might be able to negotiate a higher offer.

Some buyers will pay a premium for designer pieces because they can resell them as-is without melting them down. Same goes for collectible watches or estate jewelry with historical value.

That’s why describing your jewelry accurately matters. Let the buyer know if it’s designer, vintage, or has gemstones. estate jewelry often carries extra value that pure melt weight doesn’t capture.

What About Gold Jewelry With Gemstones?

how much should i get for my gold jewelry

If your gold ring has a diamond, sapphire, or other stone, the valuation gets more complex. The buyer will typically evaluate the stone separately using the 4 Cs of diamonds (cut, color, clarity, carat weight) and other gemstone factors.

The stone value gets added to the gold value for your total offer. This is another reason to get your jewelry professionally evaluated. A GIA-certified diamond or a high-quality gemstone can significantly increase what you should get.

Comparing Buyers: Where Should You Sell?

Your options are typically pawn shops, online gold buyers, big-box retailers, or local jewelry buyers.

Pawn shops: Fast, but often the lowest payouts. They’re taking risk and need room to resell.

Online buyers: You mail in your jewelry, they send money. No personal interaction. Higher risk of disputes or lowball revised offers after inspection.

Big retailers: Macy’s, jewelry stores. Usually offer less competitive rates than specialty buyers.

Local specialty buyers: Cash 4 Gold & Diamonds is your best bet if you’re in the Los Angeles area. You get expert evaluation, transparent pricing, and same-day payment. No pressure. You can see everything happening in real-time.

Red Flags: Offers That Are Too Low (or Too High)

If an offer is way below 60% of spot value, it’s too low. Walk away.

If an offer is suspiciously high (like 95% of spot), be suspicious. Either the buyer made an error or you’re dealing with someone who won’t hold up their end of the deal after you leave.

Fair is 70-80% of current spot price for standard gold jewelry. That’s the industry standard for honest dealers.

The Bottom Line: What Should You Get?

For 10 grams of 14K gold right now, you should expect $300-410 from a reputable buyer. For 10 grams of 10K gold, expect $200-270.

These numbers assume average condition jewelry with no gemstones. Designer pieces, vintage jewelry, or gold with certified diamonds will be worth more.

Get multiple quotes. Ask for written breakdowns. Verify the weight and karat yourself if possible. And don’t rush. The gold isn’t going anywhere, and neither are the prices.

When you’re ready to sell, Cash 4 Gold & Diamonds provides free, no-obligation appraisals. Come in, get your pieces evaluated accurately, and leave with cash the same day. No pressure. No hidden fees. Just honest pricing.

How is gold price per gram calculated?

Spot price per ounce is divided by 31.1 (grams per ounce). If spot gold is $1,867 per ounce, that’s about $60 per gram. Your jewelry’s purity (karat) determines what percentage of that rate you’ll receive.

Will my broken gold jewelry get me less money?

A little less, maybe 5-10% less. Broken pieces are slightly harder to work with during refining, but honest buyers don’t penalize you heavily. If a buyer offers way less for broken jewelry, get a second opinion.

Should I clean my gold jewelry before selling it?

No need. Leave it as-is. Professional buyers will clean and test it themselves. Cleaning won’t increase the value—it’s just extra work for you. Focus on getting it to the buyer intact.

What’s the difference between gold plated and solid gold jewelry?

Solid gold is actual gold throughout. Gold-plated is a thin layer of gold bonded to a base metal (usually brass or copper). Solid gold is worth exponentially more. Plated jewelry is worth only the tiny amount of gold in the plating, not the weight of the piece. Always check for the karat stamp to know which you have.