Selling Gold from East Haven
East Haven has gold buyers and jewelers along Main Street and Route 1, and Branford’s are a short drive east. We are not going to pretend they do not exist. What brings East Haven families 15 minutes up I-91 to our counter is the evaluation itself. Each piece is laid out individually, acid-tested and electronically tested for karat, and weighed on its own before any number is spoken. Nothing gets averaged, nothing gets assumed.
Averaging is what happens when a buyer dumps your entire lot on the scale at once and hands you one figure — nobody has confirmed the karat of any single piece. East Haven’s Italian-American community means 18K chains stamped 750, religious medals, and wedding sets come across our counter constantly alongside American 14K and 10K pieces. Blending an 18K chain into a 14K pile quietly costs you about 28 percent of what the higher-karat metal is actually worth.
The drive from East Haven to 2285 Whitney Avenue in Hamden is about 15 minutes via I-91 north to exit 10, or via Foxon Road (Route 80) to Whitney. On-site parking, walk-ins welcome. Take the written breakdown home — set it beside any quote from Main Street, and if the other number beats ours, take it.
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.
Gold We Buy from East Haven Residents
Every karat, every form — jewelry, coins, bars, dental gold, sterling flatware, watches, and scrap. If it is gold or sterling, we want to see it.
10K, 14K, 18K & 24K Gold
All karats purchased at live spot rates. We test every piece — including 18K Italian chains and religious medals from East Haven’s Italian-American community — so the karat is confirmed, not assumed.
Gold Coins & Bullion
American Eagles, Canadian Maples, Krugerrands, Philharmonics, and pre-1933 U.S. gold coins. Bullion coins and bars are exempt from the Connecticut 10-day resale hold.
Gold Bars
PAMP Suisse, Credit Suisse, Valcambi, and other recognized mint bars. 1 gram, 10 gram, 1 oz, and larger sizes — sealed or loose, all welcome.
Necklaces & Chains
Gold chains, pendants, and lockets of all styles and lengths. Rope, figaro, curb, and box chains from East Haven estates — all welcome.
Estate & Inherited Jewelry
Full estate jewelry collections evaluated piece by piece, not as a bulk lot. If you are clearing a family home in Foxon, Momauguin, or the Annex, bring everything as-is.
Dental Gold
Old crowns, bridges, inlays, and partial dentures — usually 16K to 22K. Not stamped, so we test on the spot. Bring pieces still attached to tooth structure; we sort and weigh the metal.
Gold Watches
Cases, bands, and movements purchased separately or together. Gold-filled, gold-plated, and solid gold watches all evaluated on their own merits.
Broken & Scrap Gold
Bent, broken, or incomplete pieces, gold filings, scrap from a jeweler’s bench — all of it has full melt value by weight. Condition does not affect the gold content.
Sterling Flatware, Hollowware & Tea Sets
Complete sterling flatware sets in original chests, tea services, hollowware, and trays. Marked “Sterling” or “925” — priced by silver weight from East Haven estate collections.
Visiting Us from East Haven
Two routes from East Haven to our Hamden shop at 2285 Whitney Ave.
Take I-91 north from East Haven to exit 10, then connect to Whitney Avenue in Hamden. We are at 2285 Whitney Ave. About 15 minutes depending on traffic. On-site parking.
Take Route 80 west from the Foxon section, connect to Whitney Avenue north into Hamden. A direct route from the eastern side of town. About 15 minutes. On-site parking.
Our Address
2285 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
~15 min from East Haven via I-91 or Route 80 — on-site parking
Questions About Selling Gold from East Haven
Straight answers to the questions we hear most from East Haven residents.
Helpful Resources
Everything you need to know before your visit from East Haven.
Sell Gold Jewelry in CT
How selling gold works at a licensed CT dealer — testing, pricing, payment.
Learn moreWhat We Buy
A complete list of gold, silver, coins, and other items we purchase.
Learn moreAppraisals
Professional written appraisals for insurance, estate settlement, and equitable distribution.
Learn moreGold Karat Value Guide
What 10K, 14K, 18K, and 24K are worth per gram and how karat affects your payout.
Read guideGold Spot Price Explained
How the live gold spot price works and why no dealer pays 100 percent of spot.
Read guideJewelry Hallmarks Guide
How to read karat stamps, fineness marks, and hallmarks on gold jewelry — including 750 for 18K.
Read guideWhat Is Gold-Filled Jewelry?
The difference between solid gold, gold-filled, and gold-plated — and what each is worth.
Read guide