🪙 Gold Value Calculator
Estimate the melt value of gold jewellery from its weight, karat, and today's spot price — with the pure-gold content shown in grams and troy ounces. An estimate of metal value, not an appraisal.
🪙 Estimated melt value
This is the intrinsic melt value of the gold content only — an estimate, NOT an appraisal. It ignores gemstones, craftsmanship, brand, and collectible or antique value, and buyers pay below spot to cover refining and margin. For a real figure, get a professional appraisal.
Only the pure gold counts
A gold chain is rarely pure gold — it is an alloy, and only the gold in it has melt value. Karat tells you that fraction: 14k jewellery is a little under 60% gold, the rest copper and silver for durability and colour. Weigh the piece, apply the purity, and price the pure gold at spot, and you have its intrinsic worth.
Look up the current spot price (quoted per troy ounce), enter the weight in whatever unit your scale uses, and pick the karat stamped inside the piece. The result is a floor for what the metal is worth — useful when weighing a buyer's offer, but never the whole story for a finished jewel.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate the melt value of gold jewellery?
Multiply the weight by the purity, then by the spot price of pure gold. Purity is the karat divided by 24, so 14k gold is 14/24 ≈ 58.3% pure. Ten grams of 18k gold (75% pure) contains 7.5 g of pure gold; at a spot price of $60 per gram that is worth about $450.
What do the karat numbers mean?
Karat is the share of pure gold in the alloy, measured in 24ths. 24k is 100% pure gold, 22k is 91.7%, 18k is 75%, 14k is about 58.3%, 10k is about 41.7%, and 9k is 37.5%. The rest is other metals like copper, silver, or nickel that add strength and colour.
What are pennyweight and troy ounce?
Precious metals use troy weights, not the kitchen (avoirdupois) ounce. One troy ounce is 31.1034768 grams and equals 20 pennyweight (dwt), so one pennyweight is about 1.555 grams. Gold spot prices are usually quoted per troy ounce; this tool converts between grams, pennyweight, and troy ounces for you.
Will a buyer pay the full melt value?
Almost never. The melt value is the theoretical worth of the pure gold content at spot. Refiners and pawnbrokers pay a percentage below spot to cover assaying, refining, and their margin, and they ignore any gemstones or craftsmanship. Shop a couple of offers, and know the melt figure so you can judge them.
Is this a valuation or appraisal?
No. These are estimates only — NOT a professional appraisal or investment advice. The tool values the intrinsic gold content and ignores gemstones, design, brand, and antique or collectible value, which can far exceed the metal. For insurance, resale, or a real valuation, consult a certified appraiser or gemologist.