How is gold jewellery valued?

An inherited ring, a chain you no longer wear, a damaged bracelet at the back of a drawer: before selling a piece of gold jewellery, it is only natural to want to understand how its value is assessed. At Cash For You in Geneva, we buy and sell pre-owned items, including jewellery and gold. Here are the main points we share with people who bring us their jewellery.

Weight: a starting point

For gold jewellery, weight is one of the first things we look at. It is measured during the examination, on the piece itself.

Bear in mind, however, that the total weight does not always reflect the amount of gold. A stone, a pearl, a clasp made of another metal or a decorative element may be part of the piece without being gold. That is why each piece is examined as a whole.

Gold purity: 9, 14, 18 carats…

The gold used in jewellery is almost always an alloy: it is mixed with other metals to make it stronger or change its colour. Purity, expressed in carats or in thousandths, indicates the proportion of pure gold in the alloy.

The higher the purity, the greater the share of gold. An 18-carat piece therefore contains more gold than a piece of the same weight in 9 or 14 carats. Purity is thus a key factor in the valuation.

Hallmarks and how they are checked

Most gold jewellery bears small stamped marks called hallmarks. They may indicate the gold purity and sometimes the origin or maker of the piece.

This information is valuable, but it is not enough on its own: a hallmark may be worn, illegible, missing or not match the metal. That is why hallmarks and gold purity are systematically checked during the examination in our shop.

The influence of the gold price

The price of gold changes every day on the markets. These changes affect the value of the gold contained in a piece of jewellery: the same piece will not necessarily be worth the same from one period to another.

This is one of the reasons why no value can be set definitively in advance or remotely: it is assessed at the time of the examination.

Gold value by weight or resale value?

Not all gold jewellery is valued in the same way. For many pieces, the value of the gold they contain is the reference: Cash For You buys gold jewellery by weight.

A branded, luxury or fine jewellery piece may also be valued according to its resale potential, and not only on the weight of its gold. The brand, model, craftsmanship, condition and demand for this type of piece are then taken into account. This does not mean that every branded piece is automatically worth more than its gold: the examination determines whether its resale value justifies it.

If you have kept the box, invoice or certificate of a branded piece, feel free to bring them. They are helpful, but not required.

Antique, damaged or broken jewellery

A piece does not need to be in perfect condition to be presented. A broken chain, a bent ring, a single earring or an outdated piece still contain gold, and Cash For You buys gold by weight, including broken jewellery.

Some antique pieces may be worth more than their gold content alone, depending on their nature, condition and commercial appeal. Their age, however, does not guarantee such value: each piece is assessed individually.

There is no need to have a piece repaired or to clean it with harsh products before showing it to us: bring it as it is.

How a valuation works at Cash For You

1. The indicative online valuation. You can start from home with our online valuation, free and without obligation: describe your jewellery and send us a few photos. You will receive a first indication, which is not a final offer.

2. The examination and offer in our shop. Gold and jewellery are bought exclusively in our shop in Geneva. Each item is examined individually there before any final offer. We do not accept jewellery sent by post for purchase. To be welcomed in the best conditions, you can book an appointment with our team.

3. Your decision. You remain entirely free to accept or decline our offer.

To learn more about what we do, visit our Gold buying in Geneva page.

Have your gold jewellery valued

Would you like to know what your jewellery is worth before selling it? Start with our free, no-obligation valuation, then come and show it to us in our shop in Geneva, whether it is intact, antique or broken.