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Gold & Sterling

Selling Gold & Sterling Silver in Southern California

I Buy It buys solid gold jewelry in 10K, 14K, and 18K, sterling silver jewelry and hollowware, coin silver, gold and silver coins sold for metal, and broken or scrap precious metal. The single biggest factor in value is weight times purity. A clear karat or fineness stamp on solid metal is what makes that calculation possible.

What we buy

  • Solid gold jewelry: 10K, 14K, 18K
  • Sterling silver jewelry and hollowware
  • Coin silver
  • Gold and silver coins sold for their metal
  • Broken, damaged, or scrap precious metal

How to tell if it’s valuable

  • It carries a clear karat or fineness stamp on solid metal: 14K/585, 18K/750, 925 or Sterling. Higher karat and heavier pieces are worth more by weight.
  • It has real weight. Melt value is weight times purity times spot. As of mid-October 2026, gold was roughly $4,140 to $4,175 per troy ounce and silver roughly $57 to $58.
  • It carries a maker’s mark on solid silver or gold. Tiffany, known silversmiths, and substantial antique pieces can add a premium over melt.

How to identify it

  • Hallmark. Check inside a ring band, on a clasp, and on the back of flatware. Gold reads 14K, 18K, 585, or 750. Silver reads 925, Sterling, or Ster. Coin silver reads 900.
  • Plating marks. GP, HGE, GF, and EP all mean plated, not solid.
  • Magnet. Solid gold and silver are not magnetic.
  • Weight. Weigh the piece in grams or troy ounces if you have a scale.
  • Maker name. Note any maker’s name stamped alongside the purity mark.

What usually isn’t valuable

  • Plated pieces marked GP, HGE, GF, or EP. These are a thin layer over base metal and are usually worth little more than the base metal itself.
  • Unmarked lightweight costume jewelry. There is no reliable purity claim to price from.
  • Damaged hollowware that is thin or weighted. Actual metal weight may be lower than the piece appears.

How to photograph it for an evaluation

  • The full piece or the full set
  • Close-ups of every hallmark and stamp
  • Inside of ring bands and clasps
  • Both sides of flatware or hollowware
  • Weight shown on a scale, if you have one
  • Close-ups of any damage

Common questions

How much is my gold worth?

Melt value is weight times purity times the current spot price. Send clear photos of the karat stamps and a scale weight if you have one, and we’ll tell you what we see.

What does GF or HGE mean on my jewelry?

Those are plating marks. They indicate a thin layer of gold over a base metal, not solid gold.

Is broken jewelry still worth sending?

Yes. We buy broken and scrap precious metal. Damage does not change the metal content.

Can my silver be worth more than melt?

It can. Maker’s marks on solid silver, including Tiffany and known silversmiths, and substantial antique pieces can bring a premium above melt. Signed designer pieces are covered on our jewelry page.

Where is the mark on silver flatware?

Usually on the back of the handle. Look for 925, Sterling, or Ster, and note any maker name stamped nearby.

Related: Coins & Collections, Jewelry & Watches

Send photos through the form on our site, by email, or by text. We respond within 24 hours. We serve Southern California: Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.

Have gold or sterling?

Send photos of the pieces and the hallmarks.

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