If you have gold jewelry sitting in a drawer, you may be wondering what it's worth at a pawn shop. The answer depends on a few key factors — and understanding them puts you in a much better position before you walk in.
How Pawn Shops Price Gold
Pawn shops base gold offers on three things:
1. The spot price of gold Gold is a commodity traded on global markets. The spot price fluctuates daily. As of early 2026, gold has been trading near historic highs — which is great news if you're selling. You can check the current spot price at kitco.com before coming in.
2. The purity (karat) of your gold Not all gold jewelry is the same purity. Common purities in the US:
- 10k gold = 41.7% pure gold - 14k gold = 58.3% pure gold (most common in the US) - 18k gold = 75.0% pure gold - 24k gold = 99.9% pure gold (rare in jewelry)
The karat marking is usually stamped inside a ring band or on a clasp. At International Pawn Orlando, we use professional XRF testing equipment to verify purity accurately — not just visual inspection.
3. The weight in grams Heavier pieces are worth more. A typical gold necklace weighs 3–10 grams. A gold bracelet might weigh 8–20 grams. We weigh everything on a calibrated scale.
What Can You Realistically Expect?
Here's a rough estimate for 14k gold at current market prices: - 1 gram of 14k gold ≈ $30–40 - 5 grams of 14k gold ≈ $150–200 - 10 grams of 14k gold ≈ $300–400
These are estimates. No pawn shop pays full melt value — they need margin to resell. A good pawn shop pays 70–85% of melt value for clean gold jewelry. Be skeptical of any shop offering dramatically higher — they may be misrepresenting the purity.
Tips to Get the Best Price
Clean your jewelry before bringing it in — dirt and tarnish don't help. Know your karat — check for stamps inside rings or on clasps. Weigh it yourself first using a kitchen scale. And consider pawning instead of selling if you might want the piece back — a pawn loan lets you reclaim it within 30–60 days at our flat 10% rate.
Come In for a Free Evaluation
At International Pawn Orlando, we offer free, no-obligation gold appraisals every day of the week. No appointment needed. We're located at 10209 E Colonial Drive, Suite 190 in East Orlando, near UCF. Call us at (407) 715-6555 or walk in anytime during business hours.