Gold Value Guide: Karat, Weight, Spot Price & Selling Tips
Learn how gold value is calculated by karat, weight, market reference price, condition, and in-store testing before you sell or evaluate gold locally.
Last reviewed May 2026. Gold prices change often, so use live market references and contact Larsen's before making a special trip.
Most people selling gold for the first time have the same question: how much is my gold worth? You may have jewelry, inherited items, broken gold, dental gold, class rings, coins, or mixed precious metals, and you want to understand the basics before bringing anything in.
The short answer is that gold value starts with karat, weight, and the current gold market reference price. This educational guide explains the basic math. For the main local service page, visit Cash for Gold in Mobridge. At Larsen's Jewelry & Half Interest Pawn, we test and weigh items in front of you, explain what we are seeing, and let you decide with no pressure.
How Gold Value Starts: Karat and Weight
Every gold evaluation starts with two basic numbers: purity and weight. Everything else, including design, age, brand, condition, resale demand, or whether the item is broken, can affect how a piece is handled, but purity and weight are the starting point for understanding the metal value of gold jewelry.
Karat - Gold Purity
Karat tells you how much of the piece is actually gold. Pure gold is 24 karat. Most jewelry is made from gold alloyed with other metals for durability, which is why 10k, 14k, and 18k stamps are common on rings, chains, earrings, and bracelets.
To find the karat stamp on a ring, look inside the band. On chains and bracelets, check the clasp. On earrings, check the post or the back. Common stamps include 10k, 14k, 18k, 417, 585, or 750. The numbers are decimal equivalents. For example, 585 means roughly 58.5% gold, which is close to 14k. If you cannot find a stamp, we test the piece in store.
Weight - Troy Ounces and Grams
Gold prices are commonly quoted in troy ounces, but jewelry is usually weighed in grams because individual pieces are small. One troy ounce equals about 31.1 grams. At Larsen's, we weigh items in front of you so you can see the reading before any calculation is explained.
How the Gold Value Math Works
Once the karat and weight are known, the basic metal-value math is straightforward. Here is the simplified version:
in grams
karat %
per gram
A Real-World Example
Say you have a 14k gold ring that weighs 5 grams. The math starts by figuring out how much pure gold is actually in the ring.
Example - 14k Gold Ring, 5 Grams
We do not publish a fixed example price here because the gold market changes daily, and showing an outdated number can be misleading. What we can tell you is that we use current market pricing as a reference, then explain how purity, weight, condition, item type, and the item itself affect the final offer.
What Else Affects a Gold Offer?
Market pricing and purity get you to the starting point, but several other factors can affect the final offer, especially for certain types of gold items.
Broken and Scrap Gold
Broken jewelry is one of the most misunderstood categories. A broken gold chain, a bent ring, a clasp that no longer works, or a single earring can still have metal value. Gold does not lose its metal content just because the piece is damaged. If you have broken gold sitting in a drawer, text us a photo before you make the drive.
Dental Gold
Old dental crowns, bridges, and fillings can contain valuable metal and are worth evaluating. Bring them in and we can test and weigh them the same way we evaluate other gold items.
Unmarked or Unknown Gold
If a piece has no visible karat stamp, or if you are not sure whether something is actually gold, we can test it in store. We do not rely on guessing from appearance alone.
Designer, Vintage, and Collector Pieces
In some cases, a piece may have value above its metal content. Examples may include signed designer jewelry, certain vintage pieces, collectible coins, or items with documented provenance. These cases are less common with everyday jewelry, but they are worth mentioning if you believe the piece may have resale or collector value beyond its gold content.
Gold-Plated, Gold-Filled, and Solid Gold Are Different
Not every gold-colored piece has the same kind of gold content. This is one of the most common surprises when customers bring in older jewelry, estate boxes, watches, chains, or mixed pieces.
- Solid gold - usually stamped 10k, 14k, 18k, 417, 585, or 750. These pieces are evaluated by karat, weight, testing, condition, and the item itself.
- Gold-filled - has a thicker layer of gold bonded to another metal, but it is not valued the same way as solid gold jewelry.
- Gold-plated - has a thin surface layer of gold over base metal and often has little precious-metal value by itself.
- Costume jewelry - may still be worth checking if it is signed, vintage, or part of a larger estate group, but most pieces are not valued like gold.
What About Silver?
The same basic logic applies to silver: purity, weight, item type, condition, and current market conditions all matter. Common silver items include sterling silver jewelry stamped .925, silver flatware, silver rounds, silver bars, and pre-1965 U.S. silver coins.
See our Silver Bullion & Coins page for full details, or read the silver bullion guide for more context on spot price, rounds, bars, coins, and sterling markings.
What to Bring for a Gold Evaluation
- The pieces themselves - gold or silver jewelry, coins, bullion, or broken pieces you want evaluated.
- Valid government-issued photo ID - useful and often needed for selling precious metals or completing certain in-store transactions.
- Estate paperwork, boxes, or appraisals - helpful context when available, but not required for most evaluations.
- Any visible karat stamps, such as 10k, 14k, 18k, .925, 417, 585, or 750.
- Estate or inherited pieces - bring everything and let us sort through it with you.
- Dental gold if you have it - old crowns and bridges are easy to overlook but may still be valuable.
Local Gold, Silver, and Jewelry Questions Near Mobridge
Larsen's Jewelry has served Mobridge since 1941. Today, Larsen's Jewelry & Half Interest Pawn is a practical regional option for customers who want to sell gold or silver, get a pawn loan, repair jewelry, shop Black Hills Gold, or buy and sell silver bullion in north-central South Dakota.
Customers visit from Mobridge, McLaughlin, Selby, Timber Lake, Gettysburg, Herreid, Pollock, Glenham, Isabel, Wakpala, Little Eagle, and surrounding communities. Every gold and silver evaluation is explained clearly before you decide. Find directions from your community.
Helpful Gold & Precious-Metal References
These outside references are included to help explain live market-price references, precious-metal quality markings, and bullion context. Final local offers are confirmed in store after testing, weighing, inspection, and current market review.
- Kitco live gold chart - live gold spot-price reference.
- Kitco precious metals page - gold, silver, platinum, and palladium quote reference.
- FTC precious-metal jewelry buying guide - consumer guidance for gold, silver, platinum, quality, and purity markings.
- United States Mint bullion coin programs - official reference for U.S. bullion coin programs.
Gold and silver market prices change frequently. This post is informational only and does not constitute investment, tax, or financial advice. Final local offers are confirmed in store after inspection, testing, weighing, and current market review.
Gold Value FAQ
How much is my gold worth in Mobridge, SD?
Gold value depends on karat, weight, current market pricing, condition, testing results, and the item itself. Larsen's tests and weighs items in store and explains the offer before you decide.
What does karat mean when selling gold?
Karat describes gold purity. For example, 24k is pure gold, 18k is about 75% gold, 14k is about 58.3% gold, and 10k is about 41.7% gold.
Does broken gold still have value?
Yes. Broken chains, damaged rings, single earrings, old class rings, and other damaged gold pieces can still have value because of their metal content.
Do you pay spot price for gold?
No. Spot price is a market reference point, not the final payout. Offers also account for purity, weight, testing, condition, handling, resale or refining costs, and market movement.
Can I text photos before selling gold?
Yes. Use the Contact page to send clear photos before driving in. Final offers are confirmed in store after testing, weighing, and inspection.
Is gold-plated jewelry worth anything?
Gold-plated jewelry usually has only a thin surface layer of gold and often has little precious-metal value by itself. Bring it in if you are unsure, especially if it is part of an estate group, signed piece, watch, or mixed jewelry box.
Have Gold, Silver, or Jewelry to Review?
Text photos first or walk in during business hours. We test and weigh in front of you, explain the numbers, and you decide with no pressure and no obligation. For full local service details, start with our Cash for Gold page. 211 N Main St, Mobridge, SD - Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 11am-3pm.
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