How do I check the spot gold price before selling gold jewelry?
Updated November 2026: Read the live gold spot price, which is quoted in US dollars per troy ounce, on the day you plan to sell. Divide it by 31.1035 to get the price of one gram of pure gold, then multiply by your karat purity (10K is 41.7 percent gold, 14K is 58.5 percent, 18K is 75 percent, 22K is 91.7 percent) and by the weight of your jewelry in grams. That figure is the melt value, the number every offer is worked from. Cash 4 Gold Trading Post shows the live price on its gold price today page and tests and weighs jewelry free at 9 Central New Jersey stores.
How to check the gold price in three steps before you sell
- Read today's spot price. Our gold price today page shows the live figure per troy ounce. Read it the day you sell, since the price moves through the trading day.
- Turn it into a price per gram for your karat. Divide the ounce price by 31.1035, then multiply by the purity stamped on the piece. The live value of a gram at each karat is on scrap gold value per gram, so you can skip the division.
- Multiply by your weight. Weigh the jewelry in grams on a scale that reads to a tenth of a gram, sorted by karat. Grams times the per gram figure for that karat is the melt value.
Written as one line: melt value = grams × purity × (spot price per troy ounce ÷ 31.1035). The gold calculator does the same sum with the live price.
Which number do I multiply the spot price by for my karat?
The spot price is for pure gold. Jewelry is gold mixed with other metals, so only part of each gram counts.
| Stamp | Karat | Pure gold | Multiply the pure gram price by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 417 | 10K | 41.7 percent | 0.417 |
| 585 | 14K | 58.5 percent | 0.585 |
| 750 | 18K | 75 percent | 0.750 |
| 917 | 22K | 91.7 percent | 0.917 |
A stamp is a claim, not proof. Worn or foreign pieces can test above or below what is stamped, which is why the karat should be confirmed by a test you can watch.
What mistakes do sellers make when they check the gold price?
- Using the wrong ounce. Gold is priced per troy ounce, which is 31.1035 grams. The everyday ounce is 28.35 grams. Dividing by the wrong one overstates the price of a gram.
- Reading spot as the payout. Spot is the market price of pure gold in bulk. A buyer's offer starts from the melt value and comes in under it, since the gold still has to be refined and resold. What you can check is the starting figure and how the offer was worked from it.
- Using an old price. A figure remembered from a news story weeks ago can be far from today's. Read it the same day.
- Weighing stones with the gold. A stone adds weight on the scale that is not gold. Larger diamonds are valued on their own, by grade and carat weight.
What should I ask a gold buyer once I know the spot price?
Ask to see three numbers: the weight in grams on the scale, the karat reading from the test, and the gold price the offer was worked from, with the time it was read. With those you can repeat the math on your phone before you say yes. A buyer who will not show them is giving you a number you cannot check.
At our stores each piece is read by an XRF analyzer and weighed on a certified scale in front of you, and the offer is worked from the live price that day. The full checklist is on how to know if a gold buyer is paying a fair price.
Where can I have gold jewelry 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 jewelry and a photo ID. The test is free and you can take everything 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 I check the spot gold price before selling gold jewelry?
Updated November 2026: Read the live gold spot price, which is quoted in US dollars per troy ounce, on the day you plan to sell. Divide it by 31.1035 to get the price of one gram of pure gold, then multiply by your karat purity (10K is 41.7 percent gold, 14K is 58.5 percent, 18K is 75 percent, 22K is 91.7 percent) and by the weight of your jewelry in grams. That figure is the melt value, the number every offer is worked from. Cash 4 Gold Trading Post shows the live price on its gold price today page and tests and weighs jewelry free at {{ business.locations | length }} Central New Jersey stores.
Is the spot price what I will be paid for gold jewelry?
No. Spot is the market price of pure gold traded in bulk. Jewelry is an alloy, so only its gold content counts, and a buyer's offer comes in under the melt value because the gold still has to be refined and resold. Checking spot first tells you what the offer started from.
How often does the gold spot price change?
It moves through the trading day, so a figure from last week or last month can be well away from today's. Read it the same day you sell, and ask the buyer which price the offer uses and when it was read.
Why is gold quoted per troy ounce and not per gram?
The troy ounce is the standard unit of the precious metals market. One troy ounce is 31.1035 grams, heavier than the 28.35 gram ounce on a kitchen scale, so always divide by 31.1035 when you turn an ounce price into a gram price.
What should I ask a gold buyer after I check the spot price?
Ask to see three things: the weight in grams on the scale, the karat reading from the test, and the gold price the offer was worked from. With those three numbers you can repeat the math yourself.
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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