Selling gold: how much will you really be paid
Before you walk into a shop, you should know three things: how much your gold weighs, its purity, and how much that metal is worth today. With those three figures, the conversation changes completely.
1. Identify the purity of your piece
Look for the hallmark on the clasp, inside the band, or on the back of the piece. The numbers indicate the parts per thousand of fine gold.
| Hallmark / purity | Value per gram today |
|---|---|
| 999.9 · 24 carat | €122.55 |
| 916 · 22 carat | €112.26 |
| 750 · 18 carat | €91.92 |
| 585 · 14 carat | €71.70 |
| 375 · 9 carat | €45.96 |
If the piece has no hallmark, any serious buyer will run an acid or conductivity test before offering you a price.
2. Weigh the gold, not the jewelry
Gemstones, steel clasps, springs, enamel and filler are not gold and are not paid for. A 20-gram bracelet with stones might have only 16 grams of metal. Ask them to remove or deduct those elements in front of you and to show you the scale.
3. Compare the type of buyer
| Where you sell | % of the metal's value |
|---|---|
High-street cash-for-gold shop Instant payment, little room to negotiate on small weights. | 60 – 75% |
Jeweler or workshop that reuses the metal Better price if the lot is large and the purity is clear. | 70 – 85% |
Refinery / wholesaler Only worthwhile from higher weights, with metal assay. | 85 – 95% |
Pawnshop (loan) Not a sale: it's a loan secured against your gold. | 40 – 60% |
Mistakes that cost you money
Selling a mixed lot at the lowest purity. If you hand over 750 and 375 pieces together, some buyers value everything as 375. Separate the purities before you go.
Accepting the first offer. The difference between two shops in the same city often exceeds 15%.
Melting down a piece with its own value.Antique coins, watches, filigree work or recognized signatures can be worth far more as objects than as scrap metal.
Not asking for the price per gram applied. It is the only figure that lets you compare offers. A total in euros without the price per gram tells you nothing.
Work out what you'd be paid
Open the gold buyers calculator →How much is your ring worth?
See value by ring weight →Gold price in your city
Chart
Gold price trend
Gold price per gram in euros over recent months.
| Date | Euros per gram |
|---|---|
| 2026-03-25 | 125.07 |
| 2026-05-09 | 128.63 |
| 2026-06-23 | 115.40 |
| 2026-08-07 | 120.77 |
| 2026-09-20 | 122.56 |
- Period change
- -2.01%
- Start
- €125.07
- Low
- €111.84
- 16 Jul 2026
- High
- €132.64
- 01 Apr 2026
Source: MetalFlow API