How do you calculate the scrap value of a gold ring?
Updated November 2026: Multiply three numbers. The ring's weight in grams, times its karat purity (10K is 41.7 percent gold, 14K is 58.5 percent, 18K is 75 percent, 22K is 91.7 percent), times the live gold price per gram. The gold price is quoted per troy ounce, and one troy ounce is 31.1035 grams, so divide the ounce price by 31.1035 to get the price per gram. The result is the melt value of the gold in the ring. Cash 4 Gold Trading Post tests and weighs rings free at 9 Central New Jersey stores.
How to calculate the value of a gold ring in three steps
- Find the karat. Look inside the band for a stamp: 10K or 417, 14K or 585, 18K or 750, 22K or 917. The number in thousandths is the share of the ring that is pure gold.
- Weigh the ring in grams. Use a scale that reads to a tenth of a gram. If the ring holds a stone, the stone's weight is not gold and has to come out of the figure.
- Multiply by the live price of gold per gram. Gold is quoted per troy ounce; our gold price today page shows the live figure. Divide it by 31.1035 for the price of one gram of pure gold, then multiply by the purity and the weight.
Written as one line: scrap value = grams × purity × (gold price per troy ounce ÷ 31.1035).
How much pure gold is in one gram of each karat?
Purity never changes; only the gold price does. Multiply the last column by the live price of a gram of pure gold to get the scrap value of one gram of your ring, before any buyer's costs. The live value by karat is on scrap gold value per gram.
| Stamp | Karat | Pure gold | Pure gold in one gram of ring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 417 | 10K | 41.7 percent | 0.417 grams |
| 585 | 14K | 58.5 percent | 0.585 grams |
| 750 | 18K | 75 percent | 0.750 grams |
| 917 | 22K | 91.7 percent | 0.917 grams |
What is the scrap value of a 4 gram 14K gold ring?
Four grams times 58.5 percent is 2.34 grams of pure gold. Multiply 2.34 by the live price of one gram of pure gold and you have the scrap value. A 6 gram 14K band holds 3.51 grams of pure gold, worked the same way.
For these weights priced live, see how much a gold ring is worth, or enter your own numbers in the gold calculator.
Is scrap value the same as what a gold ring sells for?
No. Scrap value is the market value of the metal alone. Three things move the real number away from it.
- The buyer's costs. An offer starts from melt value and comes in under it, since the gold still has to be refined and resold. Ask to see the weight, the karat reading and the gold price the offer was worked from.
- Stones. A diamond of real size is valued on its own, by grade and carat weight. Small accent stones usually add little.
- The maker and the age. A signed designer ring or a true antique can be worth more as jewelry than as metal, so have it looked at as a piece before it is priced by weight.
The stamp is also only a claim. Our stores confirm the karat with an XRF analyzer and weigh each ring on a certified scale, in front of you, before any offer. See how scrap gold is priced per gram for the same method across chains, bracelets and broken pieces.
Where can I have a gold ring tested and weighed for free?
- Aberdeen, 1102 NJ-34, Aberdeen Township, NJ 07747, (732) 723-9090
- Brick, 921 Cedar Bridge Ave, Brick, NJ 08723, (732) 444-2094
- East Brunswick, 111 Main St, Suite 9, East Brunswick, NJ 08816, (732) 898-6565
- Farmingdale, 68 Main St, Unit 3, Farmingdale, NJ 07727, (732) 489-1314
- Manalapan, 356 US-9, Unit 6, Manalapan, NJ 07726, (732) 483-4145
- Middlesex, 748 Bound Brook Rd, Middlesex, NJ 08846, (732) 629-7600
- Millstone, 494 Monmouth Rd, Suite 5, Millstone, NJ 08510, (732) 444-2022
- New Brunswick, 51 Bayard St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, (732) 543-1313
- Springfield, 769 Mountain Ave, Springfield, NJ 07081, (848) 702-0345
Bring the ring and a photo ID. The test is free and you can take the ring home if you do not like the offer. Hours differ by store, so check the store page before you drive over.
Related pages
Questions people ask
How do you calculate the scrap value of a gold ring?
Updated November 2026: Multiply three numbers. The ring's weight in grams, times its karat purity (10K is 41.7 percent gold, 14K is 58.5 percent, 18K is 75 percent, 22K is 91.7 percent), times the live gold price per gram. The gold price is quoted per troy ounce, and one troy ounce is 31.1035 grams, so divide the ounce price by 31.1035 to get the price per gram. The result is the melt value of the gold in the ring. Cash 4 Gold Trading Post tests and weighs rings free at {{ business.locations | length }} Central New Jersey stores.
How do I calculate the value of a gold ring with a stone in it?
Work out the gold first, using only the weight of the metal. A stone adds weight on the scale that is not gold, so a ring weighed with its stone overstates the scrap value. A diamond of real size is valued separately, by its grade and carat weight.
Is scrap value what a buyer pays for a gold ring?
No. Scrap value, also called melt value, is the market value of the pure gold in the ring. A buyer's offer is worked from that figure and is lower, because the buyer has refining and business costs. Ask any buyer to show the weight, the karat reading and the day's gold price the offer started from.
Can I weigh a gold ring on a kitchen scale?
Yes, for an estimate, if the scale reads in grams to one decimal place. Many kitchen scales round to the whole gram, which can be a large share of a light ring. A jeweler's scale or a certified store scale gives the real figure.
What do the numbers stamped inside a ring mean?
They state the purity in parts per thousand: 417 is 10K, 585 is 14K, 750 is 18K and 917 is 22K. A stamp is a claim, not proof, so the karat is confirmed by testing.
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 9 locationsevery store 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 Aberdeen, Brick, East Brunswick, Farmingdale, Manalapan, Middlesex, Millstone, New Brunswick, and SpringfieldEast Brunswick, Manalapan, Middlesex, and Millstone 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; sellers must be 18 or older. 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 here is a Central New Jersey network for gold, silver, coins, diamonds, watches, and estate jewelry testing. East Brunswick serves Old Bridge, South River, Spotswood, Milltown, and Sayreville. Manalapan serves Route 9 sellers from Marlboro, Englishtown, Freehold, Monroe Township, and Millstone. Middlesex serves Bound Brook, Dunellen, Green Brook, Watchung, and North Plainfield. Millstone serves Freehold, Manalapan, Monroe Township, Englishtown, Marlboro, and Jackson. Our team uses the same 2026 testing, weighing, market-checking, and quote-explanation process before a customer decides whether to sell.
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post store coverage is an 9-location Central New Jersey network for gold, silver, coins, diamonds, watches, and estate jewelry testing. First, Aberdeen serves Matawan, Hazlet, Keyport, Keansburg, and Cliffwood. Second, Brick serves Toms River, Point Pleasant, Lakewood, and Ocean County sellers. Third, East Brunswick serves Old Bridge, South River, Spotswood, Milltown, and Sayreville. Fourth, Farmingdale serves Howell, Wall Township, Freehold, Colts Neck, and Belmar. Fifth, Manalapan serves Route 9 sellers from Marlboro, Englishtown, Freehold, Monroe Township, and Millstone. Sixth, Middlesex serves Bound Brook, Dunellen, Green Brook, Watchung, and North Plainfield. Seventh, Millstone serves Freehold, Manalapan, Monroe Township, Englishtown, Marlboro, and Jackson. Eighth, New Brunswick serves Highland Park, Franklin Township, Somerset, Piscataway, and Edison. Ninth, Springfield serves Millburn, Summit, Mountainside, Union, and Westfield. 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.
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