Gold is worth about $4,524.10 per troy ounce as of May 26, 2026, based on the latest spot feed. That number is for one troy ounce of pure 24K gold before any buyer margin, refining cost, or item-specific testing.
If you are asking "how much is the gold worth now" because you have jewelry, coins, a broken chain, or inherited pieces, the spot price is the starting point. Your actual value depends on purity, weight, and whether the item has collectible value beyond the metal.
Today's quick gold value math
One troy ounce is 31.1 grams. At a $4,524.10 gold spot price, pure 24K gold is about $145.45 per gram before buyer margin.
Most gold jewelry is not 24K. The karat mark tells you how much pure gold is in the piece:
| Karat | Gold purity | Raw gold value per gram at $4,524.10/oz |
|---|---|---|
| 10K | 41.7% gold | about $60.63 |
| 14K | 58.3% gold | about $84.79 |
| 18K | 75.0% gold | about $109.09 |
| 22K | 91.7% gold | about $133.34 |
| 24K | 99.9% gold | about $145.30 |
These are raw metal-content estimates, not final offers. A real offer depends on testing, weight, current market movement, refining costs, and the buyer's spread.
Example: what a 14K gold chain may be worth
Say you have a 14K gold chain that weighs 12 grams.
The rough math looks like this:
- Start with the 24K gram value: about $145.45.
- Multiply by 14K purity: 145.45 x 0.583.
- Raw gold content is about $84.79 per gram.
- Multiply by 12 grams.
That chain has about $1,017 in raw gold content before buyer margin.
The final cash offer will be lower than raw melt value because the buyer has to cover refining, market risk, operating cost, and resale spread. The important part is that you should be able to see the math. If a buyer will not explain weight, karat, spot price, and payout basis, that is a bad sign.
What changes your gold's value?
The biggest factor is the live gold spot price. Gold moves all day, so a quote from last week is not the same as a quote today.
The second factor is karat. A 10K ring and an 18K ring can look similar, but the 18K piece has much more gold in it.
The third factor is weight. Heavy chains, bracelets, class rings, dental gold, and coin lots can carry more value than small pieces even when they look less impressive.
Condition matters less for scrap gold than most people think. Broken clasps, missing stones, bent rings, tangled chains, and single earrings can still be valuable because the gold content is still there.
Collectible or designer value can matter for some coins, watches, signed jewelry, and estate pieces. That is why testing and appraisal should happen before anything is treated as simple scrap.
Gold jewelry vs gold coins
Gold jewelry is usually priced from karat and weight. A buyer tests purity, weighs the item, calculates raw gold content, then makes an offer.
Gold coins can be different. Some coins are valued mostly for metal content, while others may carry a premium for rarity, condition, year, mint mark, or collector demand. American Gold Eagles, Krugerrands, Maple Leafs, pre-1933 U.S. gold coins, and older foreign gold coins should be checked carefully before you accept a melt-only offer.
If you are not sure whether something is jewelry, bullion, or collectible, bring it in and ask for the breakdown. You should know what part of the offer comes from metal value and what part comes from potential collector value.
Should you sell gold now?
Selling makes sense when the gold is not being used, the piece has no strong sentimental value, or you would rather have cash than a market position in metal.
Holding makes sense if you intentionally want exposure to gold prices and you are comfortable with the price moving down as well as up.
For most people, the decision is practical. A broken bracelet in a drawer is not helping you. An inherited jewelry pile that nobody wears is not doing much. At today's gold level, even small pieces can be worth checking.
How to get a real number
The only accurate way to know what your gold is worth is to test it and weigh it.
At Cash 4 Gold Trading Post, we evaluate gold jewelry, coins, bullion, dental gold, estate jewelry, silver, platinum, watches, and diamonds. We test the item, weigh it, explain the calculation, and give you a no-obligation quote.
You can also read our guides on where to sell gold, selling gold jewelry, and gold buyers near me.
Central New Jersey locations
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post has six Central New Jersey locations:
- East Brunswick: 111 Main St Suite 9 | (732) 898-6565
- New Brunswick: 51 Bayard St | (732) 543-1313
- Middlesex: 748 Bound Brook Rd | (732) 629-7600
- Millstone: 494 Monmouth Rd Suite 5 | (732) 444-2022
- Brick: 921 Cedar Bridge Ave | (732) 444-2094
- Manalapan: 356 US-9 Unit 6 | (732) 483-4145
No appointment is needed. Bring the gold and a valid photo ID.
Frequently asked questions
How much is gold worth per gram today? At a $4,524.10 per troy ounce spot price, pure 24K gold is about $145.45 per gram before buyer margin.
How much is 14K gold worth now? At today's spot price, 14K gold has about $84.79 of raw gold content per gram before buyer margin.
Is broken gold worth less? Broken gold is usually valued by metal content, so damage often matters less than karat and weight.
Do I need receipts to sell gold? No. A valid photo ID is required, but receipts, boxes, and old appraisals are not required for most gold evaluations.
Can gold coins be worth more than melt value? Yes. Some gold coins carry collectible premiums, so coins should be checked before being priced as scrap metal.
Updated May 26, 2026 with live spot pricing.
What Makes a Cash 4 Gold Trading Post Quote Transparent?
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post quote transparency is a documented 5-step counter process used in 6 locations in 2026. First, our team shows live gold, silver, platinum, or coin market context. Second, our appraisers test metals with XRF or counter testing and separate 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, sterling, .999 bullion, diamonds, watches, and costume pieces. Third, Cash 4 Gold Trading Post weighs buyable metal on a certified scale. Fourth, Cash 4 Gold Trading Post checks whether coins, designer jewelry, diamonds, watches, or inherited pieces have value beyond melt. Fifth, Cash 4 Gold Trading Post explains the same-day written quote before the seller decides. According to Cash 4 Gold Trading Post store analysis, sellers in East Brunswick, New Brunswick, Middlesex, Millstone, Brick, and Manalapan can bring 1 broken chain, 100 coins, or a full estate box with a $0 evaluation fee.
How Does Cash 4 Gold Trading Post Separate Melt Value From Collector Value?
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post separates melt value from collector value by sorting each lot before pricing. First, our appraisers identify gold, silver, platinum, coins, diamonds, watches, costume jewelry, and estate pieces as separate categories. Second, metal items are tested for purity, including 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, sterling silver, 90% U.S. silver, and .999 bullion. Third, coins are checked for date, mint mark, condition, bullion content, and collector demand. Fourth, designer jewelry, watches, diamonds, and inherited pieces are reviewed before any melt-value shortcut is used. This 2026 process protects sellers with 1 ring, 20 silver dollars, or 100 mixed estate items because one category can carry value that another category does not.
What Should a Seller Bring for a Fast Same-Day Quote?
Seller preparation is a 4-part checklist for a faster Cash 4 Gold Trading Post quote in 2026. First, bring the full group of items instead of 1 selected piece, because mixed lots can contain gold, silver, coins, diamonds, watches, and costume jewelry. Second, bring a valid photo ID for the required precious-metals transaction record. Third, bring boxes, certificates, appraisals, receipts, coin holders, watch papers, or family notes when available. Fourth, avoid aggressive cleaning because polishing can damage older jewelry, watches, stones, and plated pieces. Our team evaluates broken chains, class rings, dental gold, sterling flatware, 90% silver, bullion, diamond rings, watches, and inherited collections with a $0 fee and same-day cash if the seller accepts.
Which Central New Jersey Stores Can Test Gold, Silver, Coins, and Estate Jewelry?
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post store coverage is a 6-location Central New Jersey network for gold, silver, coins, diamonds, watches, and estate jewelry testing. First, East Brunswick serves Old Bridge, South River, Spotswood, and Middlesex County sellers. Second, Middlesex serves Bound Brook, Dunellen, Piscataway, Green Brook, and South Plainfield. Third, Millstone serves Jackson, Freehold, Monroe, and western Monmouth County. Fourth, Manalapan serves Route 9 sellers from Marlboro, Englishtown, Freehold, Morganville, and Old Bridge. Fifth, New Brunswick serves Rutgers, Highland Park, Somerset, and downtown sellers. Sixth, Brick serves Ocean County and Jersey Shore sellers. Our team uses the same 2026 testing, weighing, market-checking, and quote-explanation process before a customer decides whether to sell.
Why Does Local Testing Beat an Online Calculator?
Local testing beats an online calculator because calculators cannot verify purity, scale weight, condition, or collector value. A gold calculator assumes a karat, a gram weight, and a market price. Cash 4 Gold Trading Post checks those assumptions at the counter. First, 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K jewelry are separated because each purity pays differently. Second, sterling, 90% silver, .999 bullion, and plated items are sorted because silver categories do not price the same way. Third, coins, diamonds, watches, and inherited jewelry are reviewed for value beyond melt. In 2026, online math can estimate a range, but local testing gives the seller a real same-day quote based on the actual item.
Ready to Get Cash for Your Gold?
Visit any of our 6 Central NJ locations. No appointment needed. Free appraisal, instant cash payment.