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How Much Is My Jewelry Worth?
Jewelry is worth its metal melt value, plus any gemstones, plus a brand or craftsmanship premium. You can estimate all three from a photo: read the hallmark for the metal and purity, multiply by weight and the live price for the floor, then add the stones and the name. Here's the full method — and why resale is always less than the appraisal.
Published June 29, 2026
How much is my jewelry worth?
Three things set the value: the metal (a hard floor you can calculate exactly), the gemstones, and the brand and craftsmanship. The metal is the part you can pin down from a photo and today's price; the rest is a premium on top. Work through the four steps below, or let the app estimate the whole range from one picture.
Step 1: Find the metal and purity
Read the hallmark and convert it to a purity fraction. Look the stamp up in the hallmark directory — the common ones are 750 (18K, 0.75), 585 (14K, 0.585), 417 (10K, 0.417), 925 (sterling silver), and PT950 (platinum). Plated marks (GEP, HGE, GP) have almost no melt value.
Step 2: Calculate the metal floor
The melt value is simple arithmetic:
metal value = weight (g) × purity × live price per gram
Weigh the piece on a kitchen scale, then pull today's gold, platinum, or silver price (the karat reference converts a stamp to a purity). This floor is what the metal alone is worth before any stone or brand.
Step 3: Add the gemstones
Gemstones can dwarf the metal value — a center diamond is usually most of an engagement ring's worth. A photo names the stone family from the gemstone reference, but value depends on grading (a diamond's carat, color, clarity, and cut) that needs the stone in hand or a lab report. Treat stones as a range, not a fixed figure.
Step 4: Add brand and craftsmanship
A signed piece from a recognized maker — read from the maker's mark — carries a premium far above its materials, especially with the original box and papers. Unsigned but finely made pieces add a smaller craftsmanship premium.
What you'll actually be paid
Reality check: a buyer pays the melt value plus a margin, not the retail or appraisal figure. Expect a scrap-gold offer near the melt floor, a consignment or private sale closer to fair value, and an insurance appraisal (replacement cost) that is the highest number of all — not what you'd receive when selling.
Appraisal vs. estimate vs. photo app
Use a photo estimate to decide whether something is worth pursuing and to spot a lowball offer. Use a certified appraisal when you need a document — for insurance or an estate. For the metal and stones themselves, an assay office confirms the metal and a gem lab grades the stones. Start with the free estimate, escalate only when the value justifies it.
* Frequently asked
FAQ
- Q. How much is my jewelry worth?
- A. Its value is the metal melt value plus any gemstones plus a brand or craftsmanship premium. Find the purity from the hallmark, multiply weight × purity × the live metal price for the floor, then add the stones. A photo-based estimate gets you a realistic range in seconds; a certified appraisal is needed only for insurance.
- Q. Can AI appraise jewelry from a photo?
- A. AI can estimate a value range from a photo by identifying the metal, purity, gemstone, and style, then applying live metal prices — but it is an estimate, not a legal appraisal. Use it for buying, selling, or insurance triage; use a certified appraiser when you need a document for an insurer or estate.
- Q. How do I calculate the gold value of my jewelry?
- A. Multiply the weight in grams by the purity (18K = 0.75, 14K = 0.585, 10K = 0.417) by the live gold price per gram. A 5 g 14K ring at a $90/g gold price holds about 5 × 0.585 × 90 = $263 in gold, before any gemstone or brand value.
- Q. Is an online jewelry appraisal accurate?
- A. An online or photo-based estimate is accurate for the metal melt value and for naming the gemstone family, because those follow from the hallmark and live prices. It is less precise for gem grading and brand premiums, which need the piece in hand — treat it as a strong starting range, not a final number.
- Q. Where can I get jewelry appraised?
- A. For a quick number, a photo app or a hallmark + live-price calculation works. For a formal valuation, use a certified independent appraiser (look for GIA or NAJA credentials), a gemological lab for the stones, or an assay office to confirm the metal.
* Try it
Identify the jewelry in your hand, right now.
Just take a photo — AI reads the metal, gemstone, hallmark, era, and an estimated value range in seconds. First two scans free, no account required.
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