Selling Gold from Guilford
Guilford has jewelers on and around the Green and along the Route 1 Boston Post Road, and there are gold buyers in Madison and Branford a few minutes in either direction — we are not going to pretend they do not exist. What brings Guilford families 25 minutes up I-95 to our counter is the evaluation itself. Each piece is set on the scale individually, acid-tested and electronically verified for karat, and weighed by itself before any price is spoken. Nothing is combined, nothing is presumed.
Bundling is what happens when a buyer dumps your whole lot on the scale and hands you one figure — nobody has confirmed the karat of any single item. Folding an 18K bracelet into a 14K pile quietly shortchanges you roughly 28 percent of the higher-karat metal’s actual worth. Guilford’s estate households bring in fine jewelry alongside gold coins bought as a hedge, watches, and sterling tea sets — each metal merits its own evaluation.
The drive from Guilford to 2285 Whitney Avenue in Hamden is about 25 minutes — I-95 north to I-91 north to Exit 5, or Route 1 to Route 80 through Branford. On-site parking, walk-ins welcome. Take the written breakdown home and set it beside any quote from the Green, Madison, or Branford; if the other number beats ours, take it.
How Gold Is Priced and What We Buy
Karat stamps and fineness marks
A karat stamp records how much of a piece is actually gold: 10K is 41.7 percent, 14K is 58.5 percent, 18K is 75 percent, and 24K is 99.9 percent pure. Many imported pieces — Italian chains, Lebanese bangles, Middle Eastern jewelry — carry three-digit fineness marks instead: 417, 585, 750, 916, and 999, all expressing the same purities as parts per thousand. Stamps can be worn smooth or simply wrong, so we acid-test and electronically test every piece before pricing. Confirming the real karat is the single most important step in a fair quote.
Spot price and the dealer margin
Gold trades continuously on global commodity exchanges at a per-ounce spot price that fluctuates throughout the session. That live number anchors every offer we make. No legitimate dealer hands over 100 percent of spot — refining charges, assay fees, and operating overhead are built into the margin. The distinction between a transparent dealer and an opaque one is whether each component is visible. We display the current spot on screen, point to the gram weight and confirmed karat, and explain our percentage so you can see exactly how the figure on your offer sheet was built.
Gold coins and bars and the bullion exemption
We purchase gold bullion coins — American Eagles, Canadian Maples, South African Krugerrands, and Austrian Philharmonics — along with investment bars from PAMP Suisse, Credit Suisse, Valcambi, and other major refiners. Since bullion is already refined to a known purity and broadly accepted, it earns pricing near spot. Connecticut law exempts bullion coins and bars from the 10-day resale hold that applies to jewelry, so your check is issued the same day regardless of what you bring.
Dental gold
Old crowns, bridges, inlays, and partial denture castings often run 16K to 22K gold. Dental work carries no karat stamp, so the only reliable way to establish purity is to test it — we do that at the counter while you watch. Bring whatever you have, even pieces still bonded to tooth material; we separate the metal from the non-precious portion and weigh only the gold-bearing alloy.
Gold watches
A solid 14K or 18K watch case holds genuine value, priced by weight and confirmed karat the same way as a ring or bracelet. Gold-filled and gold-plated cases carry just a thin gold coating over brass or steel — look for marks like “GF,” “RGP,” or “1/20 12K” on the case back. We test each case at the counter and tell you honestly whether it is solid karat gold or plated. If a case is gold-filled, the recoverable gold is insufficient for a melt quote, and we will say so.
Gold-filled and gold-plated
Gold-filled items have a mechanically bonded gold layer over a brass or copper core — roughly 5 percent gold by total weight. Gold-plated pieces carry an even thinner electroplated skin. Neither contains enough gold to earn solid-karat pricing. We test every piece in front of you and give you a frank assessment 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. Sterling silver — marked “Sterling” or “925” — is valued by silver weight; silverplate holds negligible return because the coating is too thin to recover. Guilford estate accumulations frequently pair fine gold jewelry with sterling flatware sets in original chests, and we assess each metal on its own terms.
Paid by check, same day
Connecticut law requires licensed precious metals dealers to pay by check, producing a paper trail that protects 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 Guilford Residents
Every karat, every shape — jewelry, coins, bars, dental gold, sterling flatware, watches, and scrap. If it is gold or sterling, bring it in.
10K, 14K, 18K & 24K Gold
All karats purchased at live spot rates. We test every piece 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 Guilford 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 near the Green or Sachem’s Head, 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 Guilford estate collections.
Visiting Us from Guilford
Two routes from Guilford to our Hamden shop at 2285 Whitney Ave.
Take I-95 north to I-91 north, then Exit 5 to Whitney Avenue in Hamden. We are at 2285 Whitney Ave. About 25 minutes. On-site parking.
Take Route 1 (Boston Post Road) west through Branford, then Route 80 west to Whitney Avenue in Hamden. A scenic shore-route alternative. About 30 minutes. On-site parking.
Our Address
2285 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
~25 min from Guilford via I-95 & I-91 — on-site parking
Questions About Selling Gold from Guilford
Straight answers to the questions we hear most from Guilford residents.
Helpful Resources
Everything you need to know before your visit from Guilford.
Sell Gold Jewelry in CT
How selling gold works at a licensed CT dealer — testing, pricing, payment.
Learn moreWhat We Buy
A full 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 guideEstate Sale Jewelry in Connecticut
How estate jewelry gets valued in Connecticut and the common ways pieces are undervalued.
Read guideSilver Melt Value Explained
How sterling flatware and silver pieces are valued by silver weight from the live spot price.
Read guide