This article was co-authored by Jerry Ehrenwald. Jerry Ehrenwald, GG, ASA, is a graduate gemologist in New York City. He is the previous President of the International Gemological Institute and the inventor of U.S.-patented Laserscribe℠, a means of laser inscribing onto a diamond a unique indicia, such as a DIN (Diamond Identification Number). He is a senior member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and is a member of the Twenty-Four Karat Club of the City of New York, a social club limited to 200 of the most accomplished individuals in the jewelry business.
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Astute shoppers of gold chains, such as figaro, curb, rope or other types of necklaces, know that the intrinsic value of the precious metals used determines its actual market value. Find out how to price gold chains from any jewelry retailer and to get the absolute best value possible.
Steps
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Look for the gram weight. The first step of evaluating whether a gold chain necklace is priced accurately, is to check the gold chain for the listed "gram weight" of the chain. The amount of grams in a chain is the measure of the gold content in the item.[1] Knowing the gram weight of a chain will allow you to compare the amount of gold in the chain with other items from other stores, giving you the perfect tool to "comparison shop".- If you are shopping from a traditional jeweler, they should have a jeweler's scale and be able to obtain the weight of the item for you, right then and there.
- If you are shopping online, the gram weight ought to be listed in the necklace's description, i.e. "This chain weighs approx. 34.0 grams".
Determine the Karat weight of the item (10K, 14K, 18K, etc). Once you have done so, you can compare "apples to apples". A 14K gold chain will weigh more than a 10K gold chain of the same style and size because 14k has more gold content than 10K. Likewise, an 18K gold chain will weigh more than a 14K gold chain.[2]Advertisement
Obtain the current market price of gold in ounces. You can do so from a gold site, such as kitco.com.- For example, as of the writing of this article, the spot price for gold is approx. $1,200 per ounce. Using, the below simple formula, you will need to convert ounces of gold to grams of gold (since gold jewelry is often listed in grams, not ounces. Grams are more manageable when dealing with the average weight of most gold jewelry items):
- Price of gold per ounce / 31.1 / 24 x KARAT of your item = Base price of gold content per gram of gold.
- In the below example, plug $1,200 per ounce (today's gold price) into the formula for determining the base price per gram of a 14K gold chain. Other numbers in the formula represent 31.1 grams per ounce of gold. 24 represents 24K which is pure gold and what the gold market value uses, since they are representing the value of 24K gold per ounce.
- Example: $1,200 / 31.1 / 24 X 14 = $22.50 per gram. What does this tell you? That each 1 gram of 14k gold is worth $22.50 as far as the raw precious metals of gold are concerned. Still following? Go to the last step to find out how it all comes together.
- For example, as of the writing of this article, the spot price for gold is approx. $1,200 per ounce. Using, the below simple formula, you will need to convert ounces of gold to grams of gold (since gold jewelry is often listed in grams, not ounces. Grams are more manageable when dealing with the average weight of most gold jewelry items):
Find your favorite gold chain. In the article example, the gold will be priced at $1,000 and weight 29.0 grams. To determine how much the gold chain is being sold per gram, divide $1,000 by 29.0 grams. The answer is: $34.48 per gram of gold. Using your information from Step 3, you know that the raw price of 14k gold was $22.50. This means that the gold chain is being sold at $11.98 above the price of gold. That is actually not bad at all, considering that there is both labor involved in manufacturing the chain and a modest mark up from both the wholesale and the retailer. Knowing all of this will arm you with the knowledge to determine how much your gold chain is worth and how much above the "scrap value"[3] or "precious metals" value the chain is being marked up. Now you have the tools to compare chain for chain and jeweler to jeweler!
Expert Q&A
- QuestionHow can you tell if a gold chain is real gold?
Kennon YoungKennon Young is a Master Gemologist Appraiser and the Owner of Vermont Gemological Laboratory in Burlington, Vermont. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Kennon and his team specialize in handmade engagement rings, wedding bands, and custom jewelry. He attended the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, the Gemological Institute of America, and the Rhode Island School of Design Extension. He is a Jewelers of America (JA) Certified Bench Jeweler Technician and received the highest credential in the jewelry appraisal industry, the ASA Master Gemologist Appraiser, in 2016.
Master Gemologist AppraiserWell, you would have to test it in a scientific way — in other words, acid testing, electronic testing or laser testing. There's no way to tell if it's real just by looking at a stamp, at its color or even specific gravity. - QuestionWhat is the difference between an ounce and a gram?
Community AnswerGram and ounce are measuring units of weight. Ounce is the imperial unit of weight, and is used in the US, UK, and a few other countries. On the other hand, gram is the metric unit of weight, and is commonly in use all over the world. - QuestionHow can I test if gold is real or not?
Community AnswerTo check if gold is real, make a tiny scratch on the item using a small nail file. Choose a spot that is not noticeable if possible. Use a dropper to apply a small drop of nitric acid to the scratch. If there is no reaction, then the piece is probably made from real gold.
Tips
- When shopping online, it is customary for jewelers to list the "approximate" gram weight of an item, since chains can vary slightly from item to item. However, be wary of jewelers who list a wide range, such as "12.0–18.0 grams (0.4–0.6 oz)". That is a significant difference! Most jewelers will list a single number, such as "approx. 15.0 grams" (this is generally more accurate). It is recommended that you allow for a 10% variance in the metal weight from what is listed to what you receive. That means, if an item is listed at 10.0 grams, it may weigh somewhere between 9–11 grams (0.32–0.39 oz). But it should not vary more than that. If it does, you should request a refund for the difference from the jeweler.Thanks
Warnings
- Be sure that the materials you are purchasing are solid 10k, 14k, or 18k gold. Check a store's reviews to make sure they are credible before purchasing.Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about gemstones, check out our in-depth interview with Jerry Ehrenwald.
References
About This Article
To price a gold chain by the gram, inspect the chain to see if the weight in grams is printed on it. If you're shopping in a jewelry store, ask for a jeweler's scale to weigh the chain. If you're shopping online, the gram weight will be listed in the necklace's description. Next, determine the karat of the item, which is usually 14K, 18K, or 24K. Then, look up the current market price of gold in ounces online. Once you know all of that, you can use a simple formula to get your answer. Divide the cost of gold per ounce by the weight of the chain in grams. Then, divide your answer by 24, since 24K is pure gold, and multiply that answer by your chain's karat to find the price by the gram. For example, let's say you have a 14K gold chain that weighs 31.1 grams and the current market price of gold per ounce is $1,200. $1,200 / 31.1 / 24 X 14 = $22.50 per gram. To learn more about the value of gold, read on!
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