Scrap Gold Value Examples by Karat and Weight
Bikash Roy
Online Research Specialist · SEO Strategist · Web Developer
Bikash personally verifies every calculator against official standards (WHO, NIH, government data). Online research specialist, SEO strategist, and web developer with 10+ years building accurate digital tools.
Full bio →Seeing the melt value formula applied to real, common items makes it easier to estimate your own piece before you get a quote. Every example below uses the same formula as the scrap gold calculator:
Melt Value = Weight (g) × Purity (karat ÷ 24) × (Spot Price per troy oz ÷ 31.1035)All five examples use a gold spot price of $4,050 per troy oz, roughly where Kitco’s live spot price has been trading as of this writing. Spot price changes daily — plug today’s actual price into the scrap gold calculator for a figure that matches the current market rather than the fixed price used here. See the gold karat purity glossary if you need a refresher on what each karat number means.
At $4,050/oz, the price per gram of pure (24K) gold works out to $4,050 ÷ 31.1035 = $130.21/gram — the constant used in every example below.
Example 1 — 14K Ring, 6 Grams
The most common everyday scenario: a plain 14K wedding or fashion ring.
Purity = 14 ÷ 24 = 0.5833
Melt value = 6g × 0.5833 × $130.21 = $455.74At an estimated local-jeweler payout of 75%: $455.74 × 0.75 = $341.80
Example 2 — 10K Class Ring, 12 Grams
Class rings run heavier than everyday jewelry and are almost always 10K, the minimum US legal gold karat, chosen for durability.
Purity = 10 ÷ 24 = 0.4167
Melt value = 12g × 0.4167 × $130.21 = $651.05At an estimated pawn-shop payout of 65%: $651.05 × 0.65 = $423.18
Note how much lower this comes out than Example 1’s payout despite double the weight — 10K contains under half the pure gold of a 24K item of the same weight, so weight alone doesn’t tell you value without karat.
Example 3 — 18K Bracelet, 15 Grams
An 18K bracelet or fine chain, common in higher-end Western jewelry.
Purity = 18 ÷ 24 = 0.75
Melt value = 15g × 0.75 × $130.21 = $1,464.87At an estimated online mail-in refiner payout of 80%: $1,464.87 × 0.80 = $1,171.89
Example 4 — 24K Gold Coin, 1 Troy Ounce (31.1035g)
A one-ounce bullion coin near-pure gold — the simplest possible calculation, since one troy ounce of 24K gold is worth essentially the full spot price.
Purity = 24 ÷ 24 = 1.0 (treated as ~99.9% fine in practice)
Melt value = 31.1035g × 1.0 × $130.21 = $4,050.00At an estimated bulk-bullion payout of 95% (minimal refining needed for near-pure coins): $4,050.00 × 0.95 = $3,847.50
This example shows why bullion coins get the best payout percentage of any category — see the dealer payout percentages guide for why refining cost is the main driver of the gap between melt value and cash paid.
Example 5 — 22K Jewelry, 20 Grams
Common in Middle Eastern and South Asian jewelry markets, where 22K is the everyday standard rather than 14K.
Purity = 22 ÷ 24 = 0.9167
Melt value = 20g × 0.9167 × $130.21 = $2,387.19At an estimated online mail-in refiner payout of 80%: $2,387.19 × 0.80 = $1,909.75
Summary Table
| Item | Karat | Weight | Melt Value | Est. Payout % | Est. Cash Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14K ring | 14K | 6g | $455.74 | 75% | $341.80 |
| 10K class ring | 10K | 12g | $651.05 | 65% | $423.18 |
| 18K bracelet | 18K | 15g | $1,464.87 | 80% | $1,171.89 |
| 24K coin (1 oz) | 24K | 31.1035g | $4,050.00 | 95% | $3,847.50 |
| 22K jewelry | 22K | 20g | $2,387.19 | 80% | $1,909.75 |
The 14K ring row is bolded because it’s the scenario most US sellers actually bring to a buyer — a single everyday piece rather than a full ounce of bullion or a large lot of high-karat jewelry.
Run Your Own Numbers
These examples use a fixed spot price and estimated payout percentages so the math is easy to follow — your actual item, current spot price, and buyer’s offer will differ. Enter your own karat, weight, and today’s spot price into the scrap gold calculator for a melt value specific to your item, and review common mistakes when selling scrap gold before you finalize any sale.