Selling Gold from East Haven? Get an Offer in Hamden

How Gold Is Priced and What We Buy

Karat stamps and fineness marks

Stamps on gold jewelry indicate purity: 10K is 41.7 percent gold, 14K is 58.5 percent, 18K is 75 percent, and 24K is 99.9 percent pure. European fineness marks — 417, 585, 750, 916, and 999 — convey the same purities as parts per thousand and appear on Italian, Lebanese, and other imported pieces. East Haven’s Italian-American families bring in 18K chains and religious medals stamped 750 regularly, and we test every piece because stamps are occasionally wrong. Confirming the actual karat is the foundation of a fair offer.

Spot price and why no dealer pays 100 percent

Gold trades on global commodity exchanges at a per-ounce spot price that fluctuates throughout the day. That live figure is the foundation of every quote. No legitimate dealer hands over 100 percent of spot — refining charges, assay costs, and operating expenses are built into the margin. What distinguishes a transparent dealer from an opaque one is whether the inputs are visible. We display the current spot price on screen, show you the gram weight and confirmed karat, and explain our percentage so every component of the offer is on the table.

Gold coins and bars and the bullion exemption

We buy gold bullion coins — American Eagles, Canadian Maples, Krugerrands, and Austrian Philharmonics — plus investment bars from PAMP Suisse, Credit Suisse, Valcambi, and other major refiners. Because bullion is already refined to a known purity and universally recognized, it commands pricing close to spot. Connecticut exempts bullion coins and bars from the 10-day resale hold that applies to jewelry. Your check is issued the same day regardless.

Dental gold

Old crowns, bridges, inlays, and partial denture frameworks frequently contain gold in the 16K to 22K range. Because dental gold carries no stamp, the only way to establish purity is to test it — we do that on the counter while you watch. Bring whatever you have, even pieces still attached to tooth material — we isolate the metal and weigh only the precious portion.

Gold watches

A solid 14K or 18K watch case holds genuine value, priced by weight and confirmed karat like a ring or bracelet. Gold-filled and gold-plated watch cases have only a thin gold layer over brass or steel — check the case back for stamps like “GF,” “RGP,” or “1/20 12K.” We test each case on the counter and tell you plainly whether it is solid karat gold or plated. If a case is gold-filled, there is not enough recoverable gold to justify a melt quote, and we will say so.

Gold-filled and gold-plated

Gold-filled jewelry has a mechanically bonded gold layer over a brass or copper core — roughly 5 percent gold by total weight. Gold-plated items carry an even thinner electroplated coating. Neither holds enough gold to command solid-karat pricing. We test every piece in front of you and give you a straight answer about what has value and what does not — no inflated promises.

Platinum and silver alongside gold

Bring your platinum and sterling silver along with your gold — we evaluate all three. Platinum jewelry, typically marked PLAT or PT950, is priced from the live platinum spot price. Sterling silver — marked “Sterling” or “925” — is valued by silver weight; silverplate (marked “Plate” or “EPNS”) holds negligible return because the coating is too thin to recover. East Haven estates often yield a mix of gold jewelry and sterling flatware, and we assess each metal independently.

Paid by check, same day

Connecticut law requires licensed precious metals dealers to pay by check — a safeguard that produces a paper trail for both sides. Your check is cut the same day you accept the offer, with no hold before you can deposit it.

Visiting Us from East Haven

Set your destination to 2285 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518.

Helpful Resources

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