Selling Scrap Gold: Broken Jewelry, Purity & Offers
Broken chains, single earrings, damaged bracelets, and mixed gold pieces can be evaluated as scrap gold. Purity and net gold weight are central to the offer.
What counts as scrap gold?
Scrap gold is a useful description for gold items being considered primarily for their metal content. It can include broken chains, a damaged bracelet, a single earring, an unwanted ring, or a mixture of small jewelry pieces. An item does not need to be wearable to be brought for an evaluation.
At Cash 4 Gold & Diamonds, we buy scrap gold alongside complete jewelry, heavy Cuban chains and bracelets, and gold and silver coins. Bring what you actually have; the evaluation can account for the differences between individual pieces.
Separate gold purity from the weight of the whole item
The weight of a necklace or ring is not necessarily the weight of its gold. Karat describes the proportion of gold in a gold alloy, while a scale measures everything placed on it. Stones, clasps, inserts, and other components may need separate consideration.
Group pieces by their markings if that is easy, but do not guess at unmarked items or damage them with a home test. A buyer needs to evaluate the actual material. Our guide to gold valuation explains the relationship between weight, purity, and an offer.
Broken does not always mean metal value only
A broken item may still have diamonds, a maker’s signature, unusual construction, or paperwork worth discussing. Before treating a complete piece as scrap, ask how the jewelry itself and any stones are being considered.
Bring detached parts and any loose stones with the matching item if you have them. Keep each group together so you can explain what belongs to what. Avoid unnecessary dismantling or polishing before the evaluation.
Selling a Cuban chain with or without diamonds
Heavy Cuban link necklaces and bracelets can represent a substantial collection of gold. Construction matters: two chains that look similar can have different weights or different internal construction. Diamond-set pieces also need a discussion of their stones.
We buy Cuban chains and bracelets with or without diamonds. Ask how the gold and any diamonds contribute to the offer, and review the total amount for the pieces you are selling. See our 14K gold chain guide for more preparation questions.
Preparing a large quantity of scrap gold
For a substantial group of items, call ahead to arrange enough time for a review. Describe the types of pieces, the approximate quantity, and whether diamonds or coins are included. You do not need to know the exact value before making that call.
A simple list or photographs can help you keep track of the collection, but the purchase evaluation still requires the actual items. Bring any records you already have and keep similar pieces together where practical.
Compare the final offer and payment arrangements
Compare purchase amounts for the same group of items. Ask what the offer includes, how the gold was assessed, and how other components were treated. An online estimate or an advertised percentage does not establish the amount you will receive for your particular collection.
Payment at Cash 4 Gold & Diamonds is available by cash, bank wire, or business check. For a large transaction, discuss the method you prefer when arranging your evaluation.
Where can I sell scrap gold in Downtown Los Angeles?
Visit Cash 4 Gold & Diamonds at 617 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014. Contact us to arrange your visit, or call 310-663-1340 to discuss your scrap gold, chains, jewelry, or coins.
Scrap gold selling questions
Can I bring mixed or unmarked gold pieces?
Yes. Bring the actual pieces for evaluation. Markings can be useful, but you do not need to assign a karat to an unmarked item yourself.
Do you buy small pieces as well as large collections?
Yes. Single pieces and large quantities are welcome. Call ahead when bringing a substantial collection so you can discuss timing and payment.
How do weight and karat turn into a scrap gold value?
Net alloy weight times the gold fraction gives contained gold, and contained gold times a dated market price gives melt value. Hypothetically, 20 grams of verified 10K scrap contains about 8.33 grams of gold; at a hypothetical $100 per gram, melt value is about $833. The purchase offer is a separate figure that also reflects testing and refining costs.
Can gold-filled or plated pieces be mixed in with karat scrap?
Keep them separate. Gold-filled and plated items carry only a layer of karat gold over another metal; a piece marked 1/20 14K GF has karat gold equal to about one-twentieth of its weight, and plating far less. Calculating the whole weight as karat gold would greatly overstate the gold, so have such pieces identified on their own.