How Much Is My Gold Jewellery Worth? A Lower Mainland Seller's Guide

If you've got a drawer of old rings, a tangled chain you never wear, or a set of gold earrings missing their match, you've probably asked yourself the same question we hear every day at our Coquitlam office: what is this actually worth?

The honest answer is that it depends on a few specific factors — and once you understand them, you can walk into any appointment (ours or anyone else's) with realistic expectations instead of guessing.

The Three Things That Actually Determine Your Payout

1. Karat (Purity)

Gold jewellery is rarely pure gold. Most pieces are stamped 10K, 14K, 18K, or 22K, and that number tells you what percentage of the item is actual gold versus other metals mixed in for strength. A 22K piece contains far more gold by weight than a 10K piece of the same size — which is exactly why we see so much 22K and 24K South Asian gold come through our doors, and why we've written a dedicated page on how that jewellery is evaluated.

If a piece isn't stamped, or the stamp is worn away, it isn't a problem. We test unmarked jewellery using XRF scanning and acid testing in front of you, so you see exactly how the karat was determined.

2. Weight

Gold is priced by weight, typically in grams. This is why two rings that look similar in size can be worth very different amounts — one might be hollow, the other solid; one might be 10K, the other 18K. When you bring items in, everything is weighed on a calibrated scale as part of the appraisal.

3. The Live Spot Price

Gold and silver trade on a global market, and prices move daily — sometimes hourly. A reputable buyer bases their offer on the current spot price, not a number from last month or a lowball starting figure meant to leave room for "negotiation." We publish our buying prices every day on our What We Pay page, so you can check what your gold is worth before you even book an appointment.

What About Condition?

This surprises a lot of first-time sellers: condition barely matters for gold jewellery being sold for its metal value. A broken clasp, a bent ring, a chain that snapped years ago — none of that reduces your payout, because you're being paid for the gold content, not the craftsmanship or wearability. The same logic applies to dental gold, which is often overlooked entirely even though it can be quite valuable.

The exception is designer and branded pieces. A piece from a recognizable maker like Tiffany & Co., Cartier, or Bulgari is still evaluated primarily on gold content when sold to a gold buyer — but it's worth knowing that route and an auction or resale route can produce very different numbers depending on the piece.

It's Not Just Gold

Most people think of "gold buyers" narrowly, but a lot of what comes across our appraisal table isn't gold jewellery at all:

• Pre-1968 Canadian and pre-1965 US silver coins contain real silver worth well above face value — see our breakdown on selling silver coins.

• Sterling silver flatware, tea sets, and hollowware are purchased by weight against current silver spot prices — details on our sterling silver page.

• Gold watches, working or not, are evaluated for their gold content — more on that on our gold watches page.

• Inherited or estate jewellery often includes a mix of all of the above, plus pieces that are hard to identify on your own — our estate and inherited jewellery guide walks through how we help sort through a full collection.

A Simple Way to Check Before You Go Anywhere

Because our prices are posted publicly and updated daily, you can do a rough estimate at home: find your item's karat stamp, weigh it if you have a scale, and compare it against the current rate on our What We Pay page. It won't be exact — testing and precise weighing happen in person — but it gives you a real number to hold any buyer to, instead of walking in blind.

If you'd like the full picture of what qualifies before you bring anything in, our What We Buy overview covers every category we purchase.

Why This Matters More Than People Realize

Not every buyer prices transparently. Some kiosk and pawn-shop offers are built around vague, in-person-only pricing precisely because it's harder to compare or push back on. We built our business the opposite way — the same rates we post online are the rates used in your appointment, and we show you the math on how your offer was calculated. You can read more about that approach on our About Us page, and our FAQ covers the other questions we get asked most often.

Ready to Find Out What Your Gold Is Worth?

Five Star Gold Exchange is by appointment only, so there's no waiting room and no pressure — just a straightforward evaluation, an explained offer, and same-day payment if you decide to sell. Book an appointment or get in touch here, or call us directly at 604-779-2755.