Sell broken gold chains, single earrings and scrap gold
Breakage does not erase the metal. A snapped chain, a lone earring, or a bent ring can still be solid gold. What matters is what the piece is made of, and the marks plus a proper test usually answer that.
Short answer: Photograph the stamp on each piece, usually 10K, 14K, 18K, 417, 585 or 750, near the clasp or inside a band, and send it to (858) 247-2017 or use the form below. Add a photo of all the pieces together. We tell you what looks like solid gold, what looks gold filled or plated, and make one offer after we see it.
How do I read karat marks?
10K and 417
10K is marked 10K or 417 and is the lowest purity commonly seen in US jewelry.
14K and 585
14K is marked 14K or 585. Many rings, chains and earrings carry this mark.
18K and 750
18K is marked 18K or 750 and is common on European and higher end pieces.
925 and sterling
925 or STERLING means sterling silver, not gold. Silver pieces are reviewed with silver, not with gold.
Marks are small. Look on the clasp, the inside of a band, or a small tag near the clasp, and use a magnifier and good light.
What is not solid gold?
- GP, GE, HGE, RGP and similar marks mean plated or electroplated
- GF or 1/20 and 1/10 marks usually mean gold filled, which is a bonded layer of gold over a base metal
- Vermeil is gold over sterling silver
- Gold tone and unmarked fashion pieces are usually plated costume jewelry
- Gold filled and plated pieces are not reviewed as solid gold
How do buyers check what a piece is?
Marks help, but marks can be wrong or wear off, so metal is usually tested.
- Acid on a touchstone, or an electronic tester, can identify purity on a small test point
- XRF analysis reads the surface metal without damaging the piece, so thick plating can make a piece look better than it is
- A scale and a written record of each item, weight and purity let you check the work
- Mixed lots are sorted piece by piece before anything is added up
Ask any buyer to show you the testing and the weight at the time, and to give you a written record.
What can I include with broken pieces?
- Snapped chains, bent rings, and single earrings, with stones left in place
- Dental gold that came out of a mouth, which is a normal part of estates
- Charms and pendants that no longer have a match
- Mismatched pieces, with the worn and the good together
- Watch cases and bracelets, if they are marked as gold
What we look at
- Broken or tangled gold chains
- Single earrings and odd pieces
- Bent rings and damaged bracelets
- Mixed jewelry boxes with gold, silver and costume pieces
- Dental gold and small scraps
What is usually not a fit
- Gold plated, gold filled and vermeil as solid gold
- Unmarked costume pieces
- Jewelry with heavy solder repairs that cannot be tested
- Any piece you suspect is stolen
Careful notes on selling scrap gold
- Do not let a buyer weigh or test pieces out of your sight. Ask for a written receipt with item, weight, purity and the amount.
- Compare more than one written offer if you can, and do not agree to anything on the spot.
- For mail-in, wait for a written offer first, photograph and weigh your pieces, and ask how shipping is insured. Report suspected fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
What photos should I send?
Good photos get a faster and more honest answer. Natural light and a plain background are enough.
- All pieces together on a plain surface
- The stamp on each piece close up
- Clasps, ring insides and any tags
- Any stones that you want us to know about
- Broken parts laid next to each other
How an offer works
We make one offer for the whole lot after we see the items. You are free to say no.
Step 1
You send what you have
Photos and a few details are enough: what it is, roughly how many, and what condition. A form, a text, or a call all work.
Step 2
We tell you if it is a fit
We reply with whether we buy it and whether we can come to you or you should mail it in. If it is not a fit, we say so.
Step 3
We look at the items, then make one offer
We do not quote a price from photos. Once we have seen the items, you get one offer for the lot, and we can explain what drove it.
Step 4
You decide
Say yes and we complete the sale. Say no and you owe nothing.
What moves an offer
- Which exact items, titles, or models are in the lot
- Condition and completeness, such as boxes, manuals, and all the parts
- Whether it works, if it is a device or a console
- What similar items are selling for right now
Who you are dealing with
DeKlutterNow is a small business based in Oceanside, California. You can ask questions before you send anything: text (858) 247-2017 or email hello@deklutternow.com.
Get an offer
Send photos of your gold
The more you tell us, the faster we can say whether it is a fit and what happens next. We do not quote a price from a form. Final offers come after we look at the items. You can also text photos to (858) 247-2017.
What to send
- • One photo of everything together, then close ups of the best pieces
- • Titles, brands, model numbers, or marks like 14K or 925 when you can read them
- • Boxes, manuals, papers, or graded labels if you have them
- • Anything that is broken, missing, or not working, so we can price it honestly
- • Your city and zip so we know if we can come to you
What we do not buy
- • Plated, gold tone and costume jewelry with no collector interest
- • Replica and counterfeit designer pieces
- • Anything you suspect is stolen
- • Unmarked pieces that cannot be tested
Not sure? Send it anyway and we will tell you. See the full list.
Questions sellers ask
- Do you buy broken gold chains?
- Yes. A broken chain can still be solid gold, so include it and photograph the stamp.
- Do you buy a single earring?
- Yes. A single earring can have metal value, so we look at the mark and the whole piece.
- Do you buy gold plated or gold filled jewelry?
- These are not reviewed as solid gold. Gold filled and plated pieces usually do not have enough recoverable gold to matter.
- How do I know it is real gold?
- Marks help, but a test is better. Photograph the marks and we help sort what is solid gold and what is not.
- Should I clean or repair a piece first?
- No. Send it as it is, since repairs and polishing add nothing to a review.
- Can I mail in my gold?
- Yes. Do not ship until you have a written offer from photos, and we explain how shipping is insured.
Keep reading
- Signed designer jewelry
- Sterling silver flatware
- Inherited and estate jewelry
- Sell gold and silver nationwide
- Guide: what to do with inherited jewelry
- Prepaid mail-in
Questions before you send anything? Text DeKlutterNow at (858) 247-2017.