Have an old gold crown, bridge, dental cap, or other precious-metal dental work you no longer need? It may be worth more than you realize.
Royal Element purchases dental gold and precious-metal dental alloys at our Portland location. We buy removed dental crowns, bridges, caps, and similar restorations that contain gold, platinum, palladium, silver, or other valuable precious metals.
For evaluation, dental pieces should ideally be free of tooth material and other non-metal dental material.
You don’t need to know the gold purity or exact alloy beforehand. Bring your dental gold to us and we’ll professionally test it, determine its precious-metal content, and provide a free, no-obligation offer.
You can walk in anytime between 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday or schedule a personal visit on Saturdays or afterhours.
Free testing · No-obligation evaluations · Walk-ins welcome · Same-day payment when you accept
Is Dental Gold Actually Real Gold?
Yes, dental gold can contain real and valuable gold — but it’s usually different from the gold found in jewelry or bullion.
Dental restorations have historically been made using specialized alloys designed for strength and durability. Rather than pure 24K gold, these alloys can combine gold with other metals.
Depending on the restoration, the alloy may contain varying amounts of:
- Gold
- Platinum
- Palladium
- Silver
- Copper
- Other Metals
This means two dental crowns that look nearly identical may have significantly different precious-metal content and values.
Color alone isn’t enough to determine what you have. Professional testing allows us to identify the precious metals present and properly evaluate the material.
What Is My Gold Jewelry Worth?
While our pricing model remains consistent and transparent, the price of gold can fluctuate. Gold Jewelry comes in different shapes, sizes & conditions. That is why we provide our cash offers using these main factors:
1.Gold Purity
The purity of gold jewelry is measured in karats (K), which indicate how much pure gold the item contains. Gold is commonly blended with other metals to improve durability and create different colors, including yellow, white, and rose gold.
| Common Marking | Approximate Gold Content | |
|---|---|---|
| 10K or 417 | 41.7% | |
| 14K or 585 | 58.5% | |
| 18K or 750 | 75.0% | |
| 22K or 916 | 91.6% |
While a karat stamp can provide a helpful indication of purity, it doesn’t always tell the whole story. Some rings may be unmarked, incorrectly stamped, repaired using a different metal, or made from multiple alloys. That’s why we professionally test each item to verify its actual gold purity rather than relying solely on the stamp.
2.Precious Metal Weight
The value of gold jewelry also depends on how much gold it actually contains. We carefully weigh each item and, when necessary, account for stones, clasps, inserts, or other non-gold components.
Weight and purity work together when determining value. For example, a heavier 10K gold item may contain more pure gold overall than a lightweight 18K ring. This means that a higher karat doesn’t automatically make one ring more valuable than another.
3.Current Gold Market Price
Gold prices fluctuate throughout the trading day, which means the value of your jewelry can change along with the market. When evaluating your ring, we use the current gold market price and explain how it factors into your offer.
Before visiting Royal Element, you can also use our Gold Value Calculator to get an estimate of your item’s potential melt value.
Keep in mind that the calculator provides an estimated theoretical value of the gold content and is not a purchase offer. Your actual offer may vary after the item is professionally tested and evaluated. Factors such as stones, non-gold materials, refining costs, market fluctuations, and buyer margins may affect the final value.
Why Portland Chooses to Sell their Gold Jewelry to Royal Element
Transparent Testing: See how your gold jewelry is tested and weighed by our experts, so you can understand exactly how we determine its gold content and value.
Market-Based Offers: Your jewelry’s gold content is evaluated using the current gold market price rather than an estimated or guessed resale value.
Complete Item Review: We look beyond just gold weight and purity. Stones, designer names, craftsmanship, condition, and demand for the finished piece may also contribute additional value.
No-Obligation Evaluation: Find out what your gold jewelry is worth with no pressure or obligation to sell. You’re free to review the offer and make the decision that works for you.
Fast Local Service: Most straight-forward gold jewelry evaluations can be completed during a single visit, making the process simple, convenient, and efficient.
Immediate Decision: There’s no consignment period, shipping process, auction, or waiting around for an online marketplace buyer. Once your ring is evaluated, you can decide whether you’d like to sell.
One Item or Many: Bring in anything from a single gold wedding band to an inherited jewelry box or a larger collection containing different styles, conditions, and karat purities.
Price-Match Option: Already received an offer elsewhere? If you have a current written offer from another legitimate gold buyer, bring it with you and ask about Royal Element’s Price Match Guarantee.
Does Damage Lower the Value of Gold Jewelry?
The effect depends on whether the jewelry is being purchased as wearable jewelry or primarily for its gold content.
| Jewelry Condition | Likely Effect During Evaluation |
| Broken clasp | Often limited effect on metal value; may reduce resale potential |
| Tangled chain | Usually little effect on gold content; do not force it apart at home |
| Kinked or stretched links | Gold remains valuable, but finished-jewelry demand may decline |
| Missing section | Remaining gold still has value based on tested weight and purity |
| Heavy wear or old repairs | May require additional testing of different sections |
| Intact desirable style | May have value as a wearable chain beyond basic melt |
Broken Jewelry is not worthless. If it is genuine gold, the recoverable precious metal remains valuable even when the chain can no longer be worn.
What About the Clasp, Pendant or Stones?
The number on a clasp may refer to the chain, the clasp or both—but it still needs verification. Clasps can contain small base-metal springs, while pendants and charms can have different karats from the chain.
Bring the chain with all attached pieces. Do not remove stones or pendants unless they were already separate. During evaluation:
- The chain and pendant may be tested independently.
- A replacement clasp may be treated separately.
- Non-gold parts may be accounted for in the weight.
- Natural diamonds or marketable gemstones may be considered when quality and demand justify it.
- Small, damaged or low-demand stones may add limited value.
If you have a grading report, branded box, appraisal or original receipt, bring it with you.
Is Your Jewelry Solid Gold, Gold-Filled or Gold-Plated?
Gold color is not proof that your jewelry is solid-karat gold. Look near the clasp or end tag for markings:
| Marking | General Meaning |
| 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K | Karat-gold alloy, subject to verification |
| 417, 585, 750, 916 | Common fineness equivalents for 10K, 14K, 18K and 22K |
| GF | Gold-filled material over a base-metal core |
| RGP | Rolled gold plate |
| GP or GEP | Gold-plated or electroplated material |
Gold-filled and plated jewelry contains much less gold than solid-karat jewelry and are not valued the same way. Do not scratch, cut or file the chain yourself. Professional testing can identify the material without relying only on appearance.
Local Gold Buyer, Pawnshop or Online Buyer?
| Selling Method | Possible Advantage | Important Tradeoff |
| Local Precious-Metals Buyer | In-person testing, Q&A and fast decision | Compare the actual percentage or deductions applied to melt value |
| Jewelry or Estate Specialist | Recognize wearable, designer or collectible value | May not want generic or damaged jewelry |
| Pawnshop | Offers a sale or a collateral loan | A loan includes interest, fees and a redemption deadline; offers may be lower |
| Online Mail-In Buyer | National competition and standardized process | Requires shipping the chain and waiting for remote evaluation |
| Marketplace & Private Sale | Potential access to a retail buyer | Listing fees, fraud risk, returns, shipping and uncertain timing |
The best route depends on the chain and your priorities. If the chain is ordinary or broken, transparent gold-content pricing may matter most. If it is designer, collectible or highly wearable, compare an offer that considers resale demand before accepting a scrap-only price.
How to Compare Gold Chain Offers Fairly
Before comparing two offers, confirm that they use the same item and the same basis:
- Ask what karat the chain tested as.
- Ask what payable weight was used.
- Ask whether the clasp, pendant or stones were deducted or evaluated separately.
- Ask what gold reference price was used.
- Ask whether the offer includes any resale value.
- Compare final written offers—not calculator results, verbal ranges or retail appraisals.
Royal Element’s Price Match Guarantee requires a current written offer from another legitimate buyer. Bring the document so the comparison can be based on the same chain and transaction terms.
Sell Your Gold Chain in Portland
Royal Element provides local gold-chain evaluations for customers in downtown Portland and throughout the surrounding Portland and Multnomah area.
Royal Element Portland
4500 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 572-9445
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
4500 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR 97213