From One Newtown Ring to an Estate: See What Goes into the Offer.

The Checks Behind a Jewelry and Bullion Purchase

Purity is established, not assumed

Common 14k and 18k marks indicate different intended gold proportions, but a stamp does not remove the need to examine an item. Repairs, replaced clasps, and mixed construction can affect the material being assessed. We test rather than treating color or the purchase date as proof of purity. Unmarked pieces can be reviewed too. You should know which alloy group an item belongs to before trying to understand the value assigned to its weight.

Weight and current spot prices

A finished piece can include gemstones, non-gold fittings, or other components that should not be treated as fine gold. We explain the weight relevant to our calculation and the purity applied to it. Current spot prices are a reference point, not an automatic offer for the full gross weight of jewelry. Different metals need separate calculations. The written figure should make sense in relation to the objects assessed, including any deductions or additional characteristics that affect the purchase.

An estate piece can be more than its metal

Workmanship, condition, and demand sometimes justify consideration beyond melt value. We explain when those factors are relevant rather than promising an antique premium for every inherited item. A wearable setting can be assessed intact, with its stones and construction still available for review. An insurance appraisal may describe replacement cost for a different purpose. Bring it if available, but distinguish that earlier figure from a current offer to purchase the piece you have.

Broken jewelry and dental material

An incomplete earring, bent band, or broken chain can retain precious-metal value even when no longer wearable. Gold-filled and plated items, however, should not be calculated as solid gold throughout. Dental material requires evaluation of its own alloy rather than assignment to a familiar jewelry karat. Keep small pieces secure and avoid repairs or home testing before the appointment. We can explain why apparently similar objects have different compositions and therefore contribute different amounts.

Watches, coins, and bars

For a watch, the movement and other non-gold components must be distinguished from the case or bracelet. Please bring it intact instead of dismantling it. Gold coins and bars can join the same appointment, but they receive the authenticity, weight, and purity checks appropriate to bullion. Material acquired as a hedge decades ago is assessed using its actual content and the present market. Certain coins also have collector considerations, so a bullion-looking object is not automatically assigned metal value alone.

Platinum and silver

Platinum settings are considered using platinum’s own market and fineness. Sterling flatware or hollowware needs identification of marks and construction, including weighted parts and non-silver components; silver plate is not equivalent to sterling. Some pieces can also have pattern or condition considerations beyond their silver content. Tell us about a substantial service before traveling. For covered purchases, Connecticut precious-metals dealer rules require a check or money order, and Haven uses checks. We provide payment on the day you accept our offer, with any required retention of the purchased items handled separately.