The value of gold has been a major topic of conversation throughout 2025, with prices reaching and sustaining historic highs. For many in the Five Corners and greater Vancouver area, this presents a golden opportunity—a chance to unlock the significant cash value sitting in a jewelry box, a safe deposit box, or an old drawer. That forgotten gold necklace, the single earring whose partner is long lost, the inherited bracelet that isn’t quite your style—these items are now more valuable than ever.

But selling gold jewelry is about more than just walking into a shop and handing it over. Knowledge is power, and when it comes to getting the best possible price for your valuables, understanding what you own and how the process works is paramount. This guide is designed to empower you with the essential information you need to sell your gold jewelry confidently and profitably. We will walk you through understanding your gold, the common mistakes that can cost you money, and why choosing a professional specialist like Royal Element over a generalist like a pawnshop can make all the difference in your payout.

Chapter 1: Understanding Your Gold – The Fundamentals

Before you can sell your gold, you need a basic understanding of what makes it valuable. The value of your gold jewelry is primarily determined by three factors: its purity (karat), its weight, and the current market price of gold.

Purity: What “Karat” Really Means

Gold in its purest form, known as 24-karat (24K) gold, is incredibly soft. It’s too malleable for everyday jewelry, so it’s mixed with other metals like copper, silver, nickel, and zinc to create a stronger, more durable alloy. The karat system tells you exactly how much pure gold is in your piece out of a possible 24 parts.

• 24K Gold (99.9% pure gold): The purest form. Rarely used in jewelry, it’s typically found in investment-grade bullion coins and bars.
• 18K Gold (75% pure gold): Composed of 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals. Common in high-end European jewelry, it has a rich, deep yellow color.
• 14K Gold (58.3% pure gold): The most popular choice for jewelry in the United States. It offers a great balance of durability and gold content, with 14 parts gold to 10 parts other metals.
• 10K Gold (41.7% pure gold): The minimum legal standard to be called “gold” in the US. It contains 10 parts gold and 14 parts other metals, making it very durable but less valuable.

Hallmarks: The Hidden Clues on Your Jewelry

How do you know what karat your jewelry is? Look for the hallmark. This is a tiny stamp, usually located on the clasp of a necklace or bracelet, or on the inner band of a ring. It will typically state the karat value (e.g., “14K,” “18K”) or a three-digit number representing the gold purity as a percentage:

• “750” means 75% pure gold, or 18K.
• “585” means 58.5% pure gold (a common European marking for 14K).
• “583” means 58.3% pure gold, or 14K.
• “417” means 41.7% pure gold, or 10K.

Weight: The Basis of Value

Gold is a commodity, and its price is based on weight. In the precious metals industry, the standard unit of mass is the troy ounce, which is about 31.1 grams. However, your local buyer will almost always weigh your jewelry in grams. Knowing the weight of your items in grams is a crucial piece of the valuation puzzle.

Calculating a Baseline “Melt Value”

While a professional buyer will give you a precise valuation, you can calculate a rough estimate of your jewelry’s base value, often called the “melt value,” at home.

1. Find the Spot Price: Search online for the current “gold spot price per gram.” This price is for pure 24K gold.
2. Separate by Karat: Group your jewelry by its karat stamp (10K, 14K, etc.).
3. Weigh Each Group: Use a simple kitchen scale to weigh each group of jewelry in grams.
4. Do the Math: Use this formula for each group: (Weight in Grams) x (Karat Purity Percentage) x (Current Gold Price per Gram) = Estimated Melt Value

Example for 14K Gold: You have 20 grams of 14K jewelry. The spot price of gold is $105 per gram. 20 grams x 0.583 (58.3% pure) x $105/gram = $1,224.30

This is the approximate value of the pure gold content in your jewelry. A buyer’s offer will be this amount minus their fee or spread for testing, melting, and refining the gold. Knowing this number gives you a powerful baseline for what to expect.

Chapter 2: Common Mistakes to Avoid – Protecting Your Payout

Armed with a fundamental understanding of your gold, you can now avoid the common pitfalls that lead to sellers receiving less than they deserve.

Mistake #1: Not Knowing What You Have Walking into a buyer’s location without having a basic idea of your jewelry’s karat and weight puts you at a significant disadvantage. By doing the simple homework in Chapter 1, you transform from a hopeful seller into an informed client.

Mistake #2: Selling Valuable Gemstones for Scrap Value Does your gold jewelry contain diamonds or other precious gemstones? This is one of the most critical areas where sellers lose money. Many gold buyers, especially mail-in services and some pawnshops, are only interested in the gold content. They will offer you a price based solely on the melt value and give you little to nothing for the diamonds, sapphires, or rubies set within the piece. A professional jewelry buyer like Royal Element has gemologists on staff who can assess the quality (the 4 Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat) of your stones and make a separate, additional offer for them, ensuring you are paid for the total value of your item.

Mistake #3: Cleaning Jewelry Improperly While it seems like a good idea to present your items in the best possible light, aggressive cleaning can sometimes do more harm than good. This is especially true for antique or vintage pieces that have a delicate patina that adds to their value. For most gold jewelry, a simple soak in warm water with a drop of mild dish soap and a gentle scrub with a soft-bristle toothbrush is sufficient. Avoid abrasive chemicals or tools. A professional buyer will see past any tarnish and value the piece correctly.

Mistake #4: Mailing Your Gold to an Unknown Company The “cash for gold” mail-in envelopes you see advertised may seem convenient, but they are fraught with risk. You place your irreplaceable valuables into an envelope and lose all control. Packages can get lost, and if they arrive, you are at the mercy of an unseen appraiser. Often, these services present a lowball “take-it-or-leave-it” offer, and getting your items returned can be a frustrating and lengthy process. Selling locally to a reputable establishment eliminates this risk entirely.

Mistake #5: Accepting the First Offer Without Asking Questions A professional and transparent buyer will welcome your questions. Don’t be afraid to ask:

• “What is the karat of this piece?”
• “How many grams does it weigh?”
• “What price per gram are you offering for this karat?”
• “Is there any additional value for the gemstones or the design?” If a buyer is evasive or can’t answer these questions clearly, it’s a major red flag.

Mistake #6: Feeling Pressured to Sell Immediately High-pressure sales tactics have no place in this transaction. A reputable buyer should provide you with a firm, no-obligation offer that you can consider without feeling rushed. If you feel pressured to “act now before the price changes,” it’s best to walk away. The offer should be based on the quality of your items and the day’s market price, and a trustworthy buyer will honor that.

Chapter 3: Where to Sell – Royal Element vs. The Pawnshop

Your choice of where to sell your gold jewelry will have the single biggest impact on your final payout. While a pawnshop might seem like an easy option, understanding its business model reveals why a specialized jewelry buyer like Royal Element is the superior choice.

The Pawnshop Experience

A pawnshop is a generalist. On any given day, they are dealing in power tools, musical instruments, electronics, and, yes, jewelry. Their primary business is making collateralized loans—meaning they loan you money against an item you own. Buying items outright is secondary.

• Lack of Specialization: The person behind the counter is likely a jack-of-all-trades, not a trained gemologist or jeweler. They may not be able to accurately grade diamonds, identify valuable antique pieces, or distinguish high-quality craftsmanship from mass-produced items. Their offer will almost always be based on the lowest common denominator: scrap melt value.
• Business Model = Lower Payouts: Because their core business is loans, pawnshops need a large profit margin on items they buy to cover the risk of the item not selling quickly. They offer less because they have to protect their investment in a wide variety of merchandise.
• The Environment: The transaction is often done over an open counter in a busy environment, offering little privacy or a sense of security for what can be a significant financial transaction.

The Royal Element Advantage: The Specialist Jeweler

Royal Element is not a pawnshop; we are professional precious metal and jewelry experts. Our entire business is dedicated to accurately evaluating and purchasing fine jewelry, diamonds, watches, and precious metals. This specialization allows us to provide a fundamentally better experience and a higher payout.

• Deep Expertise: Our staff includes GIA (Gemological Institute of America) trained professionals and experienced jewelers. We recognize the true value of your items. We can identify a vintage Cartier piece, assess the quality of an Old European cut diamond, and understand the added value of designer craftsmanship. We pay for the whole piece, not just the metal it’s made from.
• Advanced Technology: We use state-of-the-art, non-destructive X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzers to determine the exact purity of your metal without having to scratch or damage your item. This provides a level of precision that acid testing, common in pawnshops, cannot match.
• A Transparent Process: At Royal Element, the entire evaluation happens right in front of you. We show you the weight on our certified scales, we explain the results of our testing, and we walk you through the market data we use to formulate your offer. We believe an educated client is a satisfied client.
• Top-Dollar Payouts: Our specialization gives us a direct line to refineries and a deep network in the jewelry industry. We cut out the middlemen. Because our focus is narrow and our expertise is high, our overhead is structured differently, allowing us to operate on tighter margins and pass that value directly on to you in the form of a higher payout.
• A Safe and Professional Environment: Your transaction takes place in a private, secure office setting. We understand the significance of these transactions and provide a comfortable, confidential, and professional atmosphere where you can feel secure and respected.

Chapter 4: Preparing for Your Visit – A Simple Checklist

You’ve done your research and you’re ready to see what your gold is worth. Here’s a simple checklist to prepare for your visit to Royal Element.

1. Gather Your Items: Collect all the gold jewelry you are considering selling. Don’t worry if it’s broken, tangled, or you’re unsure if it’s real—we can test everything for you.
2. Don’t Worry About Cleaning: As mentioned, there’s no need for intensive cleaning. We can evaluate your items as they are.
3. Bring Documentation (If You Have It): If any of your pieces came with original boxes, sales receipts, or third-party appraisals (like from GIA), bring them along. This documentation can sometimes add to the value, especially for designer or high-end items.
4. Bring Your ID: Remember to bring a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID to comply with state and federal regulations.

Conclusion: Seize the Opportunity

The historically high gold prices of mid-2025 have created an exceptional window of opportunity. Selling your unused or unwanted gold jewelry is one of the quickest and most effective ways to generate significant cash for a vacation, a home improvement project, an investment, or simply to build up your savings.

By understanding the basics of what you own, avoiding common mistakes, and choosing the right buyer, you can navigate the process with confidence and ensure you are rewarded with the maximum possible payout. The difference between a generalist pawnshop and a specialist like Royal Element can mean hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars in your pocket.

We invite you to experience that difference firsthand. Visit us at our secure and professional location in Five Corners, Washington, for a complimentary, no-pressure evaluation of your gold jewelry. Let our expert team show you what your items are truly worth today.

Royal Element is located at 1101 Broadway St. Suite 230A, Vancouver, WA 98660.