Selling Gold from Madison
Madison has jewelers along the Boston Post Road, and buyers sit just over the town line in Guilford and Clinton. We are not going to tell you they do not exist. What brings Madison families 30 minutes up I-95 and I-91 to our counter is the evaluation itself. Each piece is placed on the scale by itself, acid-tested and electronically confirmed for karat, and weighed alone before any price is spoken. Nothing is lumped together, nothing is presumed.
Bundling is what happens when a buyer dumps your entire lot on the scale and quotes one figure — no one has verified the karat of any single item. Folding an 18K chain into a 14K pile quietly costs you about 28 percent of that higher-karat metal’s true worth. Madison households tend to bring in estate jewelry alongside gold coins bought as a hedge, wristwatches, and sterling sets — each metal earns its own evaluation.
The drive from Madison to 2285 Whitney Avenue in Hamden is about 30 minutes via I-95 north to I-91 north, or along Route 1 if you prefer to stay off the highway. On-site parking, walk-ins welcome. Take the written breakdown home — set it beside any quote from a Post Road jeweler, Guilford, or Clinton, and 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 runs 41.7 percent, 14K is 58.5 percent, 18K is 75 percent, and 24K is essentially pure at 99.9 percent. European pieces often carry three-digit fineness numbers instead — 417, 585, 750, 916, 999 — conveying the same purities as parts per thousand and showing up on Italian, Lebanese, and other imported jewelry. Stamps are occasionally inaccurate or worn past reading, so we test every item. Confirming the true karat is the foundation of an honest quote; a buyer who guesses 14K when your chain is 18K is shorting you roughly a quarter of the metal’s value.
Spot price and why no dealer pays 100 percent
Gold trades continuously on global commodity exchanges at a per-ounce spot price that fluctuates through every session. That live number anchors every quote we give. No legitimate dealer hands you 100 percent of spot — refining charges, assay fees, and operating overhead are built into the margin. What separates a transparent dealer from an opaque one is whether those inputs are visible. We pull the current spot up on screen, point to the gram weight and the confirmed karat, and explain our percentage so each component of the offer is accounted for before you decide.
Gold coins and bars and the bullion exemption
We purchase gold bullion coins — American Eagles, Canadian Maples, Krugerrands, and Austrian Philharmonics — along with investment bars from PAMP Suisse, Credit Suisse, Valcambi, and other leading refiners. Because bullion is already refined to a verified purity and widely recognized, it commands pricing close to spot. State law exempts bullion coins and bars from the 10-day resale hold that governs jewelry, though your check is issued the same day regardless of which you sell.
Dental gold
Old crowns, bridges, inlays, and partial denture frames commonly contain gold in the 16K to 22K range. Dental gold carries no stamp, so the only reliable way to establish purity is to test it — which we do at the counter while you watch. Bring whatever you have, including pieces still embedded in tooth material — we separate 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 the same way as any ring or bracelet. Gold-filled and gold-plated cases carry just a thin gold coating over brass or steel — inspect the case back for marks like “GF,” “RGP,” or “1/20 12K.” We test each case at the counter and tell you straight whether it is solid karat gold or plated. If a case is gold-filled, there is not enough recoverable gold to warrant a melt quote, and we will say so rather than inflate a number.
Gold-filled and gold-plated
Gold-filled jewelry has a mechanically bonded gold layer over a brass or copper core — close to 5 percent gold by total weight. Gold-plated items carry an even thinner electroplated coating. Neither has enough gold to earn solid-karat pricing. We test every piece in front of you and give you a candid evaluation of 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. Madison estate accumulations frequently combine gold jewelry with sterling flatware sets in original chests, and we assess each metal independently.
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 Madison Residents
All karats, all conditions — 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 Madison 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 Boston Post Road or the shoreline, 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 Madison estate collections.
Visiting Us from Madison
Two routes from Madison to our Hamden shop at 2285 Whitney Ave.
Take I-95 north to I-91 north, then exit to Whitney Avenue in Hamden. We are at 2285 Whitney Ave. About 30 minutes. On-site parking.
Follow Route 1 north through Guilford and Branford, then connect to Whitney Avenue in Hamden. A scenic, lower-speed alternative. About 30 minutes. On-site parking.
Our Address
2285 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
~30 min from Madison via I-95/I-91 or Route 1 — on-site parking
Questions About Selling Gold from Madison
Straight answers to the questions we hear most from Madison residents.
Helpful Resources
Everything you need to know before your visit from Madison.
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 guideGold Coin Value Guide
What gold coins are worth by gold content and collector premium, and how they are priced.
Read guideJewelry Hallmarks Guide
How to read karat stamps, fineness marks, and maker’s hallmarks on gold jewelry.
Read guide