Gold Selling Guide: How to Sell Your Unwanted Jewelry

Thinking about selling your gold but not sure what is the right way to go about it? If the answer is yes, then you will benefit from our gold selling guide.

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Thinking about selling your gold but not sure what is the right way to go about? If the answer is yes, you have come to the right place because we will talk about the right way to sell your gold with our gold selling guide.

A lot of people have old gold ornaments and jewelry lying around their homes, not getting used and just collecting dust. Does this sound like you?

When you need some extra cash to pay off student loans, these are perfect items to sell that can get you that much-needed cash.

However, if you are not familiar with selling gold or what affects the value of gold bars, there are some common mistakes that you will want to avoid.

You will first need to educate yourself and familiarise yourself with the selling process, as well as also learn about what you are selling and its value. The first thing you will need to do is check out the current market price of gold.

With that mind, let's get to know your options when selling your unwanted gold.

What to Know Before Selling Your Gold

is gold a good investment

Choose Reputable Jewelry Stores

When selling gold, it's crucial to determine its actual value. Take your jewelry to established, reputable jewelry stores. These stores are less likely to rip you off because their main source of income comes from their jewelry sales, and they value their reputation.

Avoid Pawnshops

It's best to steer clear of pawnshops when selling gold. Pawnshops typically offer the lowest amount of money for your gold and can be manipulative in their dealings. You deserve to receive a fair price for your gold, so exploring other options is advisable.

Be Cautious of Gold Buyers

In recent years, many gold buyers have emerged, and not all of them have the best intentions. Some may try to take advantage of sellers, so it's wise to exercise caution and avoid dealing with unfamiliar or untrustworthy gold buyers.

Take Time to Research

Don't settle for the first offer you receive. Take the time to research different buyers and compare their prices. This will help you determine the true value of your gold. Keep in mind that different stores offer different prices due to variations in the cut they take for themselves.

In addition to understanding the current price of gold, it's important to assess the specific item you are selling and its value. If you are selling broken gold jewelry or less desirable items, you may only receive the scrap price. However, if there is a market demand for your gold item, you may be able to fetch a price above the scrap value.

Familiarize Yourself with Factors Affecting the Price

Avoid being swayed solely by the prices you see in the news. Remember that only 24-carat gold receives the full price, while lower karat gold may receive a reduced value. Additionally, be aware that the weight of any gemstones in your jewelry does not count towards the weight of the gold itself.

Understand the Melting Process

When selling your gold, it's important to know that it will likely be melted down. Keep this in mind when assessing the sentimental value of your item. While the gold may no longer exist in its original form, you can still receive its monetary value.

By following these guidelines, you'll be better equipped to sell your gold for a fair price and avoid potential scams or undervaluation.

Want to Sell to a Gold Dealer? Here's What You Need to Know:

Organize Your Gold Prior to the Visit

To streamline the process and save time, it's beneficial to organize your gold items before visiting a gold dealer. Remove any imitation items or non-gold pieces from your collection, ensuring you only bring solid gold items for evaluation.

Understand Gold Purity and Karat Labels

Using a magnifier, examine your gold items for karat labels such as “10k,” “14k,” and so on. These labels indicate the purity of the gold. It's also a good practice to measure the gold items. If you don't have a scale, you can use the one available at your local post office to determine the weight.

Obtain Quotes from Multiple Buyers

Once your gold items have been sorted and weighed, it's essential to obtain quotes from multiple buyers. Seek quotes from at least three different gold dealers. This will provide you with a broader perspective on the market value of your gold and help you determine a reasonable expectation for its sale price.

By following these guidelines, you'll be well-prepared when dealing with a gold dealer, maximizing your chances of getting a fair price for your gold items.

Things to Remember When Selling Your Gold

gold selling guide

Here are some last minute tips that will help you out:

  • Make sure that you understand the scales as well as the karats.
  • Know the value.
  • Know the buyer.
  • Know what you are selling.
  • Do your research.
  • Be realistic
  • Take your I.D. along.

Also, remember to take your time when shopping around.

Take Your Time And Shop Around

Another common mistake that a lot of people make is rushing the sale of their gold and accepting the first quote that they are given. Even if you are in a rush for cash, the best way to maximize your profit is to shop around and speak to reputable jewelers and pawn shops. If they have a physical location that customers can visit, take the gold that you wish to sell to them and let them give you an on-the-spot evaluation. Get as many different evaluations as you can and also get the terms and conditions of the transaction and compare these closely.

It is essential to understand the terms and conditions as it is in the fine print that all of the deductions are listed, and these can vary quite drastically between all of the different companies offering to buy gold. The market price for gold is universal, but the fees that are charged can vary a lot, which is why you want to speak to as many reputable companies that you can before deciding which one to sell your gold.

Related: Is Buying Gold a Good Investment?

Want to Sell Your Gold? Get it Done!

In summary, all you need to do to ensure that you get the best possible price for your gold is to educate yourself on what you are selling, and also research potential buyers. Take your time in making your decision. Speak to as many experts as you can and compare all of the fine print and charges of each company.

Use the time to work out which company is offering the best deal for you, and make your decision based on this conclusion. Taking your time and shopping around will help you to maximize your profits from selling your unwanted gold.

If you have any questions about the gold selling guide, please leave a comment below!

About the author

Brian Meiggs
Hi, I’m Brian Meiggs! I’m a personal finance expert and founder of My Millennial Guide, here to help you build real wealth. With a background in finance, I’ve spent years guiding people on smart, practical ways to grow their money. For stock market beginners, I recommend Acorns. It’s a simple way to start investing with just your spare change, helping you steadily grow your portfolio over time without the need to actively manage it. And if you’re interested in real estate, check out Arrived and Fundrise. I use both myself—they make it easy to start investing in property without needing huge upfront capital. These platforms are perfect for anyone looking to add real estate to their investments for passive, long-term growth. I believe these tools are great for building a balanced investment portfolio, combining stocks and real estate for a solid approach to wealth-building. You can trust this advice—my work has been featured in major publications like Business Insider, Entrepreneur, The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo Finance, NASDAQ, Discover, Fox News, and MSN Money.

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