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How to Sort Scrap Gold Jewelry From Junk

Since gold has always been valued, even scrap gold has substantial value. Jewelry is often made of gold, but while some jewelry has value as scrap, some can have additional value beyond just the metal content. Taking a careful look at the items, armed with some knowledge about collectible jewelry, can keep you from making a mistake and selling a piece of valuable jewelry for scrap metal.

Things You'll Need

Magnifying glass
Jewelry guide book

Instructions

- 1
  Examine your jewelry. Take a careful look at your jewelry, noting any markings. These could include markings for gold purity, such as 14K or 18K (representing 14 or 18 karat gold), or markers of the maker. Write anything you find on a piece of paper. Items with unusually fine workmanship, items depicting animals, and items that are well-designed typically sell as jewelry rather than scrap.
- 2
  Look up any markings you find. Using guide books such as the Antique Trader Jewelry Price Guide, look up any names that you find. For example, pieces that are stamped by Tiffany &Co. always have value, but the company has used numerous marks over the life of the business. Other notable brands include Cartier, Bulgari, David Yurman and Harry Winston.
- 3
  Double check with a local jewelry dealer. Before you send away valuable gold as scrap, double check with a local jewelry dealer to make sure that they don't have value beyond the scrap gold. Jewelry dealers can be found in the phone book, and they have an interest in picking out the best pieces for themselves.

Antiques