The market ticker, the product price sheet and an offer for your own item answer different questions. Understanding the difference makes it easier to compare estimates and ask useful questions at the counter.
Spot price: the reference for pure metal
The metal bar shows a market reference per pure troy ounce. Jewelry is often weighed in grams and is usually an alloy, so the market price for a pure ounce cannot be applied directly to the full weight of a ring or chain.
Purity: how much of the item is gold?
Karats describe the gold fraction: 24k is the pure-gold reference, while 14k is nominally 14 parts gold out of 24. A marking is a starting point; testing helps establish what the item actually contains. Plated pieces and non-metal components need separate treatment.
Weight: compare the same units
Use the metal weight, the tested purity and a market reference expressed in the same weight units. For a simple metal-content estimate, multiply weight by purity and then by the price per unit of pure metal. Stones and other components do not automatically count as gold weight.
Buy and sell adjustments
A store’s buy price and sell price differ. The public product sheet applies saved adjustments to each product’s pure-metal content. Some adjustments are percentages; others are fixed amounts. A finished piece or collectible coin may also have resale value beyond its metal content.
The sheet labels estimates and identifies when sample reference values are being used because a current live feed is unavailable. Always confirm the current estimate and your item’s final evaluation with staff. A live ticker is not a guaranteed payout.
Ask these questions when comparing offers
- What weight and purity were used?
- Is the offer based on metal content, resale value or both?
- Are the units the same as the price I am comparing?
- What buying adjustment is included?
- Does the estimate apply to this exact item after inspection?
Start with your own item
Use our online evaluation request for your gold or silver and choose Boise, Meridian or Nampa. Include item type, markings and approximate weight if known. Then bring the item to your local store for testing and a confirmed evaluation.
Gold and silver services · Bullion and coins · Current buy/sell estimates