Gold jewelry — in any condition
Jewelry is what most people actually own: chains, rings, bracelets, earrings, pendants, and the drawer of odds and ends that accumulates around them. A snapped chain contains exactly as much gold as an intact one. A single earring, a bent brooch pin, or a ring whose stone fell out years ago can still have real metal value. Nothing needs to be repaired before you bring it in.
What decides jewelry's metal value is not how it looks but what it measures: the karat of the alloy, the weight of actual gold once stones and non-gold components are allowed for, and the spot price at the time of the in-person assessment. If the karat marks on your pieces are worn or missing, that is normal — the metal can be tested rather than assumed. Our guide to purity and weight explains how those measurements work.
There is usually no benefit to cleaning or repairing jewelry before bringing it in. Polishing can damage stones, soften old settings, or remove patina that may matter on an antique piece. Bring items as they are.
Silver — sterling, coin silver, and foreign grades
We buy solid silver, including sterling marked 925, sterling jewelry, flatware and serving pieces, coin silver, and many foreign grades such as 800 or 835 silver. Weighted sterling items can also contain recoverable silver, although non-silver fill or internal components must be allowed for when the item is assessed.
Silver-plated items contain only a thin layer of silver over a base metal and are not something PureWeight purchases. If you are not sure whether an item is solid silver or plated, bring it in — identifying what you have is part of the assessment.
Coins — metal value first, collectible value considered
American Gold Eagles, American Silver Eagles, Morgan and Peace dollars, pre-1933 U.S. gold, 90% U.S. silver coins, and world bullion or precious-metal coins are all examples of items we may see. Metal value begins with the coin's actual precious-metal content and the spot price at the time of the in-person assessment.
We also consider whether a coin may have collectible value beyond its melt value. If we believe a coin may be worth more as a collectible than what we can justify paying for its metal content, we will tell you rather than simply treat it as scrap. This is not a formal numismatic appraisal, but our goal is to help customers understand the potential value in what they bring us and avoid overlooking an obvious collectible premium.
Bars and bullion — the stamp is checked, not simply trusted
Investment bars and rounds state their own weight and fineness, usually with a refiner's mark and sometimes a serial number. Those markings are useful, but the physical weight and metal still need to agree with what is stamped on the piece. Recognized bullion is assessed on its own terms rather than automatically treated as scrap.
Original packaging, assay cards, receipts, or certificates can be useful when you have them, particularly with investment products and collectible coins. If you do not have paperwork, the item can still be examined in person.
Other items that may contain precious metal
Older watch cases, dental gold, medals, thimbles, cigarette cases, and other unusual objects can contain gold or silver even when that is not obvious at first glance. If you think an item may contain precious metal, bring it in and we can take a look.
Gold-filled, rolled-gold, and gold-plated items are not solid gold and are not items PureWeight purchases. Likewise, we do not purchase silver-plated items.
Before you visit
No item is too small for us to look at. Bring your items as they are and bring a valid government-issued photo ID, which is required for every sale. If you have receipts, appraisals, certificates, grading paperwork, original packaging, or other supporting documentation, bring that too — it can help us understand provenance, authenticity, or potential collectible value.
If you want to prepare further, the frequently asked questions explain karat, troy weight, hallmarks, and what to expect at the counter in plain language.