How to price gold scrap with karat math the right way.
Gold quotes get messy when karat conversion, stones, and plated items are mixed together. Keep the process simple: identify the karat, weigh the right metal, convert to fine gold, and apply your payout rule.
This guide is built for pawn shops, jewelry buyers, and desk staff who need a quick way to quote 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K items without breaking the workflow.
Common karats
Key adjustment
Best record
1Confirm the karat before you quote
Gold pricing starts with karat, not the final number. A 14K ring and a 22K chain can look similar in a tray, but they do not share the same fine-gold content.
If the item is stamped, use the stamp as your first signal. If it is unmarked, test it before you trust the number.
- 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K are the common desk presets.
- Do not assume white metal means platinum.
- Separate plated items before you do the math.
2Weigh the gold after obvious non-metal deductions
Remove stones or other obvious non-metal material when the item should be netted. If your desk uses a different rule, make that rule consistent and visible to staff.
A quote that starts with the wrong weight will be wrong no matter how good the payout rate is.
- Net weight matters more than the tray weight.
- Stone-heavy items should be checked carefully.
- Keep the deduction rule consistent across staff.
3Convert karat to fine gold
Gold purity is usually expressed as a karat fraction. Multiply the gross gold weight by the karat purity to get the fine-gold weight before you apply spot.
That keeps the counter math simple and makes the offer explainable later if the seller asks for the breakdown.
- Fine gold weight = gross weight x karat purity.
- Use the same purity table for every quote.
- Keep the conversion visible on the counter screen.
4Apply live spot and payout controls
Once the fine-gold weight is known, multiply by live gold spot and then by your payout percentage. That sequence is the core of a clean gold-buying workflow.
If you adjust for refining or hedging costs, subtract those values after the payout math so the desk can explain the quote without improvising.
- Live spot should update on the same schedule every day.
- Payout tiers can differ by weight band or item type.
- Keep fees separate from the offer when possible.
5Save the quote trail
Gold quotes are easier to defend when the receipt includes the karat, the weight, the offer percentage, and a photo of the item.
A searchable history matters when a seller comes back later or when a staff member wants to review a prior quote.
- Store the karat and weight in the saved record.
- Add a photo when the item is not straightforward.
- Use the saved quote as the staff reference, not memory.
Common mistakes
Treating every ring as if it were the same karat.
Forgetting to deduct stones or obvious non-metal material.
Confusing plated items with solid gold.
Letting staff round the math differently on different shifts.
Why this guide helps
Search engines reward pages that answer a specific buyer question with enough detail to be useful on their own. This guide gives that query a clear destination.
The app still handles the live quote. The guide shows the logic behind the number so the counter staff and the seller can both follow the math.
If you need the active desk workflow, open the app. If you need the explanation or the training material, keep reading the guides.
Can I use the same app for 10K and 22K?
Should stones be removed from the quote?
What if the item is plated?
Related pages and next steps
Use the guide to understand the math, then open the app to make the live quote.