Selling Gold & Silver
18K vs. 22K vs. 14K Gold: How Much More Is High-Karat Gold Worth?
Nov
High-karat gold holds more pure gold per gram than 14k, so a gram of 18k or 22k is worth more as metal than a gram of 14k. This guide is for anyone in the Upstate holding chains, rings or inherited jewelry and wondering what the karat stamp means for value.
Key Takeaways
- Karat tells you how much of a piece is pure gold: 24k is nearly all gold, 18k is 75%, 14k is about 58.3%, and 10k is about 41.7%.
- Melt value comes from weight, purity and the spot price, which changes throughout the day, so a stamp alone doesn’t give you a price.
- The math applies to the actual weight of karat gold, whether the jewelry is solid or hollow. It does not apply to the total weight of plated, gold-filled or weighted items.
- A buyer’s offer is generally below melt value, because refining, running a shop and a reasonable profit all come out of it. We walk you through your offer before you decide.
What does the karat number actually mean?
Karat (written k) is a measure of gold purity in 24ths. A 24k piece is 24 parts gold out of 24, and an 18k piece is 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals, which works out to 75%.
Those other metals are usually copper, silver or zinc. Jewelers add them on purpose, because pure gold is very soft. Many pieces also carry a fineness mark, which is purity in parts per thousand, such as 585 for 14k or 750 for 18k. The FTC’s Jewelry Guides on karat marking and gold descriptions set the federal rules for how those marks may be used.
| Karat | Purity | Common fineness mark | Pure gold in a 10-gram piece |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24k | About 99.9% or more | 999 | About 10 grams |
| 22k | About 91.7% | 916 or 917 | About 9.17 grams |
| 18k | 75% | 750 | 7.5 grams |
| 14k | About 58.3% | 585 | About 5.83 grams |
| 10k | About 41.7% | 417 | About 4.17 grams |
The last column is simple division: karat over 24, times the weight. It is a standard purity calculation, not a price.
Is higher karat gold worth more than 14k?
Gram for gram, yes. A solid 18k chain holds about 29% more pure gold than a 14k chain of the same weight (7.5 grams versus about 5.83 grams in a 10-gram piece). That is why high-karat pieces tend to carry more melt value.
The words “gram for gram” matter, though. A heavy 14k chain can hold more gold than a light 18k one. For example, a 20-gram 14k chain contains about 11.7 grams of pure gold, while a 10-gram 18k chain contains 7.5 grams. Weight and purity both count, so we look at both.
If you want the chain-specific version of this math, our guide on what your gold chain is worth by karat and melt value goes deeper.
Does higher-karat gold look different?
Higher-karat yellow gold often has a richer, deeper yellow color, because it contains more pure gold. But color alone can’t tell you the purity. Different alloy metals change the color too, so testing is more dependable than judging by eye.
How is melt value figured?
Melt value is the market value of the gold contained in an item, figured from its weight, its purity and the current spot price. It is the value of the gold itself, not the amount a buyer will necessarily pay. You get it by multiplying the item’s weight by its purity, then by the price of gold for that weight. The spot price is the live market price for one troy ounce of raw gold, and it moves throughout the day, so any number you saw this morning may already be out of date.
Here is a worked example with round numbers. If pure gold were priced at $100 per gram (an easy number for math, not today’s price), a solid 10-gram 14k chain would hold about 5.83 grams of pure gold. That is about $583 of melt value. The same weight in 18k would hold 7.5 grams, or $750. Check the live price on the day you sell, because it changes.
Melt value is a starting point, not what a buyer pays. A buyer’s offer is generally below melt value because the business has to cover refining costs and operating expenses and earn a reasonable profit. The offer also depends on the type and quantity of metal and the market. You can read what we pay and how we figure it, and our post on spot price versus premium explains why the two numbers differ.
What can lower the value of a high-karat piece?
Several things can, and it is better to know them before you walk in. The table applies to the actual weight of karat gold, whether the piece is solid or hollow. It doesn’t apply to the total weight of plated, gold-filled or weighted items.
- Plating and gold fill. Marks like GP, GF or HGE mean a thin gold layer over another metal. These are not solid karat gold.
- Stones and non-gold parts. Gemstones, glass, pearls and steel spring parts add weight on the scale but no gold.
- Solder and repairs. A repaired link may be a different karat than the rest of the chain.
- Fake or unreadable stamps. A stamp is a claim, not proof.
High-karat pieces are also softer. A 22k ring can scratch and bend more easily than a 14k ring, which is one reason many American-made pieces are 14k. If a piece is more valuable to a collector or as a design than as metal, we’ll tell you that too. Don’t sell anything you will miss.
What should you bring, and what happens at the counter?
Bring the pieces as they are. Broken chains, single earrings, dental gold and class rings all count. Don’t clean or repair anything first. Also bring a valid photo ID. South Carolina dealers must verify the seller’s ID and record the purchase, and a minor must be accompanied by a parent or guardian with ID, as described in the South Carolina Code on dealers in precious metals.
Your items never leave your sight. We weigh each piece in front of you, and when additional testing is appropriate, we use our XRF analyzer right at the counter. It helps identify metal content without damaging the item. XRF reads the surface, so plated or unusually built pieces may need a closer look. You can read more in our post on what XRF testing is and how we use it.
A typical visit takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and no appointment is needed during open hours. Most purchases are paid in cash on the spot. We buy precious metals outright rather than making pawn loans. If you’re ready, start with our sell gold page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tell the karat just by looking at the stamp?
The stamp tells you what the maker claimed, such as 14k, 585 or 750. It doesn’t prove the piece is solid, since plated items can carry misleading marks. That is why we don’t go by the stamp alone.
Is 24k gold always the best to sell?
It holds the most pure gold per gram, so its melt value per gram is highest. But a heavier 14k piece can still hold more total gold than a light 24k one. Weight and purity together decide the number.
Should I sell now or wait for a better price?
We can’t predict prices, and nobody can. The price changes throughout the day, so what matters is whether you need to sell and whether you’d miss the piece. Our post on when gold prices drop and whether to buy, sell or wait walks through that thinking.
If you have chains, rings or scrap gold and want to know the karat and weight, stop by Greenville Gold & Silver at 1637 Woodruff Rd, Greenville, SC 29607. Call 864-901-7975. We’re open Monday to Friday 10 to 6 and Saturday 10 to 3. Your items never leave your sight, and we’ll walk you through your offer before you decide.
