Gold jewelry holds a particular kind of emotional weight. A ring from a grandmother. A chain worn for decades. A bracelet from a relationship that ended. When you decide it is time to sell, the process should be straightforward and fair. In New York City, it often is not — unless you know where to go and what to expect.
Buyers of New York, located at 30 W. 47th Street, Suite 8006 in Manhattan’s Diamond District — one block from Rockefeller Center — has been buying gold jewelry from New Yorkers since 1993. Here is what we tell sellers before they walk in anywhere.
The Karat Stamp Is Your Starting Point
Every piece of real gold jewelry is stamped with its karat. Look inside rings, on the clasp of chains and bracelets, and on the back of earring posts. Common stamps: 10K or 417 (41.7% gold). 14K or 585 (58.5% gold). 18K or 750 (75% gold). 22K or 916 (91.7% gold). 24K or 999 (99.9% pure gold, rarely used in jewelry because it is too soft).
European pieces use millesimal fineness numbers: 585 is 14K, 750 is 18K, 999 is 24K. If you see a two- or three-digit number stamped on jewelry, that is the purity expressed in parts per thousand. A professional buyer will confirm the karat through testing — we test every piece regardless of stamp using acid testing or XRF analysis before making any offer.
Condition Does Not Reduce Your Gold Content
This is the most important thing to understand before you sell gold jewelry in NYC: the condition of a piece affects nothing about its gold content. A broken 14K chain is worth exactly the same per gram as an intact one. A ring with a missing stone has the same gold purity as the day it was made. A tangle of mismatched chains all refine the same way.
Do not have jewelry repaired before selling it for melt value. You will spend money on repairs that add nothing to the payout. Bring it exactly as it is — broken, bent, tangled, single pieces, mixed sets, dental gold, empty settings. All of it is welcome and all of it is priced honestly against actual gold content.
Designer Gold Jewelry Is Worth More Than Melt
If you have pieces from Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, David Yurman, Hermes, Mikimoto, or other recognized luxury brands, the brand carries a premium above the gold melt value. A Cartier Love bracelet in 18K gold is not just worth its 75% gold content — the brand, the design, the secondary market demand all add real value.
Do not sell designer gold jewelry to a pawn shop or generic gold buyer who treats it as scrap. Bring it to specialists who assess designer premium separately from melt value. At Buyers of New York, we evaluate every designer piece for brand value above and beyond the gold content and pay accordingly.
Estate and Inherited Gold Jewelry
Inherited gold jewelry presents particular considerations. Pieces that look old or antique may have collector value above melt. Certain Art Deco, Victorian, and Edwardian jewelry commands premiums among collectors that significantly exceed the value of the gold and stones. Before selling any antique or estate pieces for scrap, have them assessed by someone who understands the period and the market.
At Buyers of New York, we work with families and executors regularly. We handle estate collections with patience, professionalism, and discretion. Every piece is evaluated individually — melt value, brand value, and collector value all considered. Written appraisals for estate and probate purposes are available upon request.
What the Process Looks Like
Walk in any weekday, 10am to 6pm. No appointment needed for standard transactions. Bring your gold in any condition, any mix of karats, any quantity. We test every piece to confirm actual karat. We weigh everything on DCA-certified scales. We calculate your offer against live gold spot price and show you every number. You accept or you don’t — no pressure, no obligation, no hard sell.
Cash in hand before you leave. Most transactions complete in 10 to 15 minutes. For large or complex collections, call 212-642-4345 ahead of your visit so a senior specialist is available when you arrive.
30 W. 47th Street, Suite 8006 — elevator to the 8th floor. One block from Rockefeller Center. B/D/F/M to 47-50th St. The Diamond District has been here for generations. We have been at this address since 1993. Come in and find out exactly what your gold jewelry is worth.
See current gold payout rates and the full sell gold NYC guide at Buyers of New York.