Why New Haven Residents Come Up Whitney Avenue
Downtown New Haven and Chapel Street have jewelers and a few gold buyers, but most are retail stores that also sell jewelry — not buy-only precious metals dealers. A jeweler who sells new pieces has a different business than one who buys scrap and estate gold, and the offers reflect that. We are buy-only: no inventory to protect, no retail markup to defend. We test every piece in front of you, show the live spot price, and hand you a written offer.
Whitney Avenue runs straight from the New Haven Green through East Rock and into Hamden to our door at 2285 Whitney Ave. From East Rock you can be here in 10 minutes. From downtown or Wooster Square, 15. From Westville, take Whalley Avenue to Fountain Street to Whitney, or hop on I-95 to I-91 north to exit 10 — either way, about 15 minutes. From Morris Cove or the East Shore, I-91 north to exit 10 is roughly 20 minutes.
We are on the Hamden side of the town line — not in New Haven itself, but close enough that many of our customers drive up on their lunch break. There is on-site parking, walk-ins are welcome, and the evaluation is always free.
How Gold Is Priced and What We Buy
Karat stamps and fineness marks
Gold purity is stamped as a karat mark: 10K is 41.7 percent gold, 14K is 58.5 percent, 18K is 75 percent, 22K is 91.6 percent, and 24K is pure. European fineness stamps — 417, 585, 750, 916, and 999 — correspond to the same purities and appear on Italian, Lebanese, and other imported pieces common in New Haven. We acid-test and electronically test every piece because stamps are occasionally wrong, and 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 markets at a per-ounce spot price that fluctuates throughout the day. Your offer is calculated from that live price. No dealer pays 100 percent of spot — refining, testing, and overhead are real costs, and a refiner charges a fee to melt and process scrap gold. We show you the spot price, the weight, the karat, and our percentage so you can see how the number was reached.
Gold coins and bars
We buy gold bullion coins — American Eagles, Canadian Maples, Krugerrands, Austrian Philharmonics — and gold bars from PAMP Suisse, Credit Suisse, Valcambi, and other recognized mints. Bullion carries a price near spot because it is already pure, recognizable, and needs no refining. Connecticut exempts bullion coins and bars from the 10-day hold that applies to jewelry and other non-bullion items, so there is no resale delay. Your payment is still the same day.
Dental gold
Old crowns, bridges, inlays, and partial dentures often contain gold — typically 16K to 22K. Dental gold is not stamped, so we test it on the spot. Bring whatever you have, including pieces still attached to tooth structure; we sort and weigh the metal content.
Gold watches and gold-filled items
Solid gold watch cases are priced by weight and karat like jewelry. But many watch cases are gold-filled or rolled-gold-plate — look for markings like "GF," "RGP," "1/20 12K," or "Warranted" on the case back. Those indicate a thin gold layer over base metal, not solid gold content. We test every watch case to tell you honestly which it is, and we do not pay gold-melt price for gold-filled cases because they do not contain enough gold to recover. Gold-plated jewelry has an even thinner coating and is worth minimal scrap value at best.
Platinum and silver alongside gold
If you are bringing gold, bring any platinum and sterling silver too. Platinum jewelry (marked PLAT, PT950, or similar) trades at its own spot price. Sterling silver flatware, hollowware, and jewelry is priced from the silver spot price. Many New Haven estates contain a mix of metals, and we evaluate each on its own.
Payment by check, same day
Connecticut requires licensed precious metals dealers to pay by check. You receive your check the same day you accept the offer — there is no waiting period for your payment. The 10-day hold applies to when we can resell non-bullion items, not to when you get paid. Bullion coins and bars are exempt from the hold.
Gold and Metals We Buy from New Haven Residents
Every karat, every form — if it is gold, platinum, or sterling silver, we want to see it.
10K, 14K, 18K, 22K & 24K Gold
All karats purchased at live spot rates. We test every piece — including 18K Italian chains from Wooster Square and Fair Haven — so the karat is confirmed, not assumed.
Gold Watches & Pocket Watches
Solid gold watch cases priced by weight and karat. We test each case — solid gold, gold-filled, or plated — and tell you honestly which it is.
Gold Coins & Bullion
American Eagles, Canadian Maples, Krugerrands, Philharmonics, and pre-1933 U.S. gold coins. Bullion is exempt from the CT 10-day resale hold.
Gold Bars
PAMP Suisse, Credit Suisse, Valcambi, and other recognized mint bars in 1 gram, 10 gram, 1 oz, and larger sizes. Sealed or loose — all welcome.
Dental Gold
Old crowns, bridges, inlays, and partial dentures — typically 16K to 22K. Not stamped, so we test on the spot. Bring pieces still attached to tooth structure; we sort and weigh the metal.
Broken & Scrap Gold
Bent, broken, or incomplete pieces, gold filings, bench scrap — all of it has full melt value by weight. Condition does not change the gold content.
Platinum
Platinum jewelry and bands marked PLAT, PT950, or similar. Priced from the live platinum spot price, tested and weighed in front of you.
Sterling Silver
Sterling flatware, hollowware, tea sets, and jewelry marked STER, 925, or .925. Priced from the live silver spot — many New Haven estates have silver alongside gold.
Directions from New Haven
Two easy routes from New Haven to our Hamden shop at 2285 Whitney Ave.
From downtown New Haven or the Green, head north on Whitney Avenue (Route 10). Continue through East Rock, past Edgerton Park, and across the Hamden town line. Haven Coin is at 2285 Whitney Ave on your right. About 4 miles, 10 to 15 minutes depending on traffic lights.
From Westville, the Hill, or Morris Cove, take I-91 north to exit 10 (Hamden / Whitney Avenue). Turn right onto Whitney Avenue (Route 10) south and continue to 2285 Whitney Ave on your left. About 15 to 20 minutes depending on your starting point.
Our Address
2285 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
~10–15 min from New Haven
Questions About Selling Gold from New Haven
Straight answers to the questions we hear most from New Haven residents.
Helpful Resources
Everything you need to know before your visit from New Haven.
Sell Gold Jewelry in CT
How selling gold works at a licensed CT dealer — testing, karat confirmation, and payment.
Learn moreWhat We Buy
A full list of coins, jewelry, metals, and collectibles we purchase.
Learn moreBook a Free Appraisal
Schedule your free, no-obligation evaluation online. Same-day appointments are often available.
Learn moreGold Karat Value Guide
What 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K mean for your payout — purity percentages and how each karat is priced.
Read guideGold Spot Price Explained
How the gold spot price works, why it moves, and how your offer is calculated.
Read guide14K Gold Ring Value
How a 14K ring is valued — weight, karat, spot price, and what to expect at a licensed dealer.
Read guideHow to Sell Gold Jewelry in Connecticut
A step-by-step guide to selling gold in CT — what to bring, what to expect, and how payment works.
Read guide