Should you separate gold by karat before bringing it in?

2 days ago
3 min read

Myth: You must sort every piece by karat at home before you bring it in

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You hear people say you need to sort each item into 24k, 18k, 14k piles. That sounds like smart prep. But **you don’t have to do the heavy sorting at home**. Pawn shops and buyers use tests and scales to check karat and weight. Doing it yourself can waste time and lead to mistakes.

Reality: Do basic grouping, not precise sorting

You should separate obvious groups. Keep **solid gold separate from plated or filled pieces**. That simple split saves the buyer time and helps you get a cleaner offer. You don’t need to prove exact karat before you arrive.

Myth: Hallmarks always tell the truth

Many sellers think a stamp equals the real thing. A small mark like "750" or "585" can help. But **hallmarks can be worn away, altered, or outright faked**, especially on small chains or low-value items.

Reality: Use hallmarks as a clue, not proof

A hallmark is a clue. Buyers will still test metal to confirm. If a piece has no mark, it might still be real. If a mark looks odd, the buyer will test. **Let the buyer do the verification with acid or electronic testers** so you don’t misjudge value.

Myth: Mixing karats in one bag lowers the whole value

You might think that if you toss everything in one pouch it will be treated as one low-karat mass. That fear makes sellers over-separate at home. **Tossing items together won’t automatically tank your offer**, but there are caveats.

Reality: Mixed bags are tested and averaged, but you can keep higher-karat pieces separate

When items are mixed, the buyer will test representative pieces and weigh everything. They then calculate an average based on tests and known items. **If you have clearly higher-karat pieces, keep those separate**. That way those items get tested on their own and avoid dragging down the average.

Myth: Cleaned gold always fetches more money

People scrub every groove to make a piece shine. You think clean equals more cash. But **over-cleaning can remove maker marks or thin gold plating**, and that can hurt value. Harsh chemicals can also damage delicate stones or settings.

Reality: Light cleaning is fine; don’t strip or soak

A quick wipe with a soft cloth or a gentle soap rinse is safe. **Avoid abrasive scrubs, acid dips, or strong cleaners**. If the piece has stones, pearls, or glued parts, leave deep cleaning to a pro. Buyers prefer to see items intact, not stripped.

Myth: You must separate flatware, chains, and scrap before you go

You may think each type must be bagged and labeled. That seems tidy but is often unnecessary. **Buyers expect a mix** and have methods to handle different item types.

Reality: Group by obvious type and condition

Group items into a few clear sets: **solid jewelry, broken scrap, and plated/fashion pieces**. If you have flatware or heavier items, put them in their own pile. This saves time and helps the buyer price each group fairly.

Micro-moment

You meet a seller in a parking lot with a small envelope of mixed pieces. They insist everything is 18k because of one stamped ring. You watch the buyer pull out a tester and find some pieces are plated. The seller learns that a few seconds of testing answers more than hours of guessing.

Myth: You’ll get a better price if you hide stones and sell only the gold

Some people remove stones to show only metal. You might think stones reduce offers for gold. But **removing stones at home can damage settings and lower total value**.

Reality: Leave settings and stones in place unless you know what you’re doing

A stone that looks low value might add resale appeal. Settings cut and polish costs. **Buyers can factor stones and intact settings into offers more easily than loose settings that were damaged during removal**. If a stone is loose or missing, point it out to the buyer.