Guides
What Determines the Value of Gold?
28 January 2026 · 5 min read
Weight and purity are the beginning of the conversation, not the end of it.
Scrap value is the floor, not the ceiling. It is calculated from weight and carat purity against the prevailing market, and it deliberately ignores everything else about a piece.
Everything else can matter a great deal: the age of the piece, the maker, the quality of the work, the stones and whether the design is currently sought after.
A signed Victorian bracelet melted for its metal is a loss to everybody. This is why we assess before we weigh, and why we will say so if a piece is worth more as itself.
We do not publish live rates on this website. Prices move daily, and a number on a screen is no substitute for someone looking at the actual piece.
Questions about a piece of your own are always welcome, and we are happy to look at something without any obligation.
