You take the same jewelry to two gold buyers.

The first buyer offers $1,250.

The second offers $1,400.

It seems obvious: take the $1,400.

But comparing gold offers correctly involves more than looking at the final dollar amount.

The two buyers may have used different:

• Gold purity
• Weights
• Units of measurement
• Gold prices
• Stone deductions
• Payout percentages
• Valuation methods

If you want to know who is actually paying more for your gold, you need to compare the numbers on the same basis.

Quick Answer

The best way to compare two gold offers is to determine:

1. What purity did each buyer use?
2. What weight did each buyer use?
3. What gold spot price did each buyer use?
4. What is the actual melt value of the gold?
5. What percentage of melt value is each buyer offering?

The most useful number is often:

Offer ÷ Melt Value × 100 = Percentage of Gold Value Being Paid

Once both offers are converted to the same basis, it becomes much easier to see which buyer is really offering more.

At Gold Kings, we believe customers should understand these numbers. Gold is tested and weighed in front of you, and we explain how the value is calculated before you decide whether to sell.

If you already have an offer from another gold buyer, you can also request a second quote from Gold Kings before making your decision.

Step 1: Make Sure Both Buyers Are Testing the Same Karat

This is the first thing to check.

Imagine your bracelet is stamped 14K.

Buyer A tests it as 14K.

Buyer B says it is 13K.

Those buyers are not calculating their offers from the same amount of pure gold.

That can create a significant difference.

Approximate gold purity is:

Gold Karat	Pure Gold Content
10K	41.7%
14K	58.3%
18K	75.0%
22K	91.7%
24K	Approximately 99.9%+

A 20-gram piece of 14K gold contains substantially more pure gold than the same 20 grams calculated as 13K.

So before comparing offers, ask:

“What purity are you using for this item?”

Do not assume both buyers arrived at the same answer simply because the jewelry has a stamp.

A Gold Stamp Is Important — But Testing Still Matters

A piece stamped 14K should generally be 14-karat gold, but jewelry is not always as simple as the marking suggests.

An item may contain:

• Solder from previous repairs
• Clasps of a different purity
• Mixed-metal components
• Added findings
• Plated sections
• Non-gold parts
• Incorrect or misleading stamps

Professional testing can help identify what is actually present.

Gold Kings uses professional precious-metal testing methods, including XRF testing when appropriate, rather than relying only on the stamp.

If two buyers give you significantly different purity results, that alone is a good reason to ask more questions before selling.

Step 2: Compare the Weight

Next, ask each buyer:

“What weight are you using?”

You might be surprised how often this creates confusion.

Gold can be weighed in:

• Grams
• Pennyweights
• Troy ounces

These measurements are all legitimate, but you cannot compare the numbers directly without converting them.

Important Gold Weight Conversions

1 pennyweight (dwt) = approximately 1.555 grams

20 pennyweights = 1 troy ounce

1 troy ounce = approximately 31.1035 grams

Do not confuse a troy ounce with the ordinary household ounce used for many everyday products.

Precious metals are traditionally measured using troy weight.

Example: Grams vs. Pennyweights

Suppose Buyer A tells you:

Weight: 31.1 grams

Buyer B tells you:

Weight: 20 pennyweights

At first glance, those numbers look completely different.

But they represent approximately the same amount of metal.

That is why you should never compare two gold offers simply by looking at the weight number without checking the unit.

Step 3: Find Out Whether Stones and Non-Gold Parts Were Deducted

This is especially important with jewelry.

Suppose a ring weighs 20 grams, but it contains:

• A large gemstone
• Several small stones
• Steel springs
• A non-gold watch movement
• Other non-gold components

The entire 20 grams is not necessarily gold.

One buyer may weigh the whole piece and then estimate the non-gold portion.

Another buyer may calculate a different deduction.

If those deductions are different, the offers may also be different.

Ask:

“What net gold weight are you actually paying me for?”

That is much more useful than asking only for the total weight of the jewelry.

At Gold Kings, customers can watch their items being tested and weighed and ask questions about any deductions used in the evaluation. You can learn more about how the Gold Kings selling process works.

Step 4: Use the Same Gold Price for Both Offers

Gold prices move throughout the trading day.

If Buyer A gave you an offer Monday morning and Buyer B gave you an offer Friday afternoon, the market itself may have changed.

That means part of the difference between the two offers could simply be the gold price.

For the cleanest comparison, get both offers:

• On the same day
• As close together in time as practical

Then calculate both using the same spot price.

This removes market movement from the comparison.

Step 5: Calculate the Melt Value

Melt value is the approximate value of the pure precious metal contained in an item before a buyer’s margin, refining costs, market risk, and other business expenses are considered.

For gold measured in grams:

Gold Weight × Purity × Pure Gold Value Per Gram = Melt Value

For example, suppose you have:

20 grams of 14K gold

14K gold is approximately 58.3% pure gold.

That means:

20 × 0.583 = 11.66 grams of pure gold

For illustration only, assume pure gold were worth $140 per gram at the time of the offer.

Your approximate melt value would be:

11.66 × $140 = $1,632.40

Now you have a number you can use to compare offers.

Step 6: Calculate the Percentage of Melt Being Offered

This is where comparing gold offers becomes much easier.

Suppose the melt value is:

$1,632.40

Buyer A offers:

$1,300

Buyer B offers:

$1,225

Use this formula:

Offer ÷ Melt Value × 100

Buyer A:

$1,300 ÷ $1,632.40 = approximately 79.6%

Buyer B:

$1,225 ÷ $1,632.40 = approximately 75.0%

Now you have an apples-to-apples comparison.

	Buyer A	Buyer B
Melt Value	$1,632.40	$1,632.40
Offer	$1,300	$1,225
Approx. Percentage of Melt	79.6%	75.0%

Buyer A is paying about 4.6 percentage points more of the underlying gold value.

That difference equals $75 on this transaction.

On a larger transaction, the difference can become much more significant.

A Few Percentage Points Can Be Worth Hundreds of Dollars

Consider gold with a melt value of $5,000.

One buyer offers 70%:

$3,500

Another offers 80%:

$4,000

Difference:

$500

Now consider a $10,000 precious-metal value.

At 70%:

$7,000

At 80%:

$8,000

Difference:

$1,000

This is why searches for the “best place to sell gold” should not necessarily end with the closest business.

When you’re selling a substantial amount of gold, getting another professional offer may be worth far more than the time spent comparing.

Don’t Compare Percentage of Spot Without Knowing What It Means

This is one of the most common sources of confusion.

Someone might say:

“We pay 80% of spot.”

Ask:

80% of what?

Are they referring to:

• 80% of the value of the pure gold contained in your jewelry?
• 80% after a purity adjustment?
• 80% after deducting non-gold weight?
• 80% of some internal price rather than the market spot price?

The useful comparison is the final amount being paid relative to the actual precious-metal value of your items.

Do not let a percentage sound impressive without understanding the calculation behind it.

Compare the Final Amount You Actually Receive

Even after comparing melt percentages, there is one more number that matters:

What do you actually leave with?

Ask whether there are:

• Testing fees
• Refining fees
• Handling charges
• Check fees
• Shipping costs
• Commissions
• Other deductions

For example:

Buyer A offers $1,500 with no additional deduction.

Buyer B advertises $1,550, but deducts $100 in fees.

Your real comparison is:

Buyer A: $1,500

Buyer B: $1,450

Always compare the final amount you will actually receive.

Gold Jewelry, Coins, and Bullion Should Not Always Be Compared the Same Way

Another important point:

Not every gold item should automatically be treated as scrap.

Gold Jewelry

Ordinary broken or unwanted gold jewelry is often valued primarily by:

• Weight
• Purity
• Gold market value

Gold Bullion

Gold bars and common bullion coins are usually much closer to their underlying metal value.

Because their purity and weight are standardized, bullion can often command a higher percentage of spot than ordinary scrap jewelry.

Rare Coins

A rare gold coin could have significant collector value beyond its gold content.

Selling a rare coin only for melt value could be a serious mistake.

Designer or Estate Jewelry

Certain pieces may have resale value because of:

• Brand
• Designer
• Age
• Craftsmanship
• Diamonds
• Collectibility

A good evaluation should recognize when an item may be worth more than just the gold inside it.

Gold Kings evaluates gold jewelry, coins, bullion, silver, watches, estate jewelry, and other valuables. You can review the types of items accepted on the Gold Kings What We Buy page.

How to Compare Two Gold Offers in Less Than Five Minutes

When Buyer A and Buyer B give you their numbers, write down the following:

Question	Buyer A	Buyer B
Tested purity
Net gold weight
Weight unit
Spot price used
Calculated melt value
Offer
Percentage of melt
Fees or deductions
Final amount received

Once you have these numbers, the better offer is usually easy to identify.

Red Flags When Comparing Gold Offers

Be cautious when a buyer will not explain:

• The tested purity
• The weight
• The unit being used
• How stones were handled
• The current gold price
• How the offer was calculated

You should also understand exactly what you are agreeing to before surrendering your items.

A professional gold transaction should not require you to blindly trust a number.

You should be able to ask questions.

“But Buyer A Says My Gold Is Worth Less Than Buyer B”

Do not immediately assume one buyer is trying to underpay you.

Find out why the numbers differ.

For example:

Buyer A may have tested the item at a lower purity.

Buyer B may be counting stone weight.

One buyer may have used a newer gold price.

One may simply be offering a higher payout percentage.

The purpose of comparing the details is to determine where the difference actually comes from.

Once you understand that, you can make an informed decision.

Should You Tell the Second Buyer Your First Offer?

You can, but you do not have to.

There is often value in letting a second buyer evaluate the items independently.

Instead of beginning with:

“The other place offered me $2,000. Can you beat it?”

you might simply ask the second buyer to:

• Test the items
• Weigh them
• Explain the purity
• Calculate the value
• Make their own offer

Then compare the numbers.

This gives you two independent evaluations rather than simply turning the transaction into a negotiation around the first number.

When Is Getting a Second Gold Offer Worth It?

The larger the transaction, the more valuable a second opinion can become.

If you are selling $100 worth of gold, driving an hour to gain another $5 may not make sense.

If you’re selling several thousand dollars of gold, a difference of even a few percentage points can mean hundreds of dollars.

Getting another offer can be particularly worthwhile when selling:

• Large quantities of gold jewelry
• Inherited jewelry
• Estate collections
• High-karat gold
• Gold coins
• Gold bullion
• Large amounts of sterling silver
• Mixed collections you do not fully understand

Already Have a Gold Offer? Let Gold Kings Compare It

If you’ve already visited another gold buyer near you, you do not have to accept the first offer.

Gold Kings can independently test and weigh your items and provide another evaluation.

We can help you understand:

• What purity your gold tests
• What your items weigh
• How much pure gold they contain
• How current gold prices affect their value
• How the offer is calculated

There is no obligation to sell simply because we evaluate your items.

Gold Kings has locations in Snellville and Commerce, Georgia, serving customers throughout Gwinnett County, Jackson County, and surrounding areas.

You can learn more about Gold Kings of Snellville, review what Gold Kings buys, or request a free quote.

Frequently Asked Questions About Comparing Gold Offers

Should two gold buyers give me the same offer?

Not necessarily.

Buyers can have different operating costs, refining relationships, margins, testing results, and payout policies.

The important thing is understanding why the offers are different.

What percentage of melt value should a gold buyer pay?

There is no single percentage that every legitimate buyer must pay.

Payouts can vary based on the type of item, purity, quantity, market conditions, processing requirements, and buyer.

Instead of relying on a universal percentage, calculate the percentage each buyer is offering on your specific items.

How do I know if a gold offer is fair?

Start by determining the item’s approximate melt value.

Then compare:

Offer ÷ Melt Value × 100

This tells you approximately what percentage of the underlying metal value you are being offered.

Also consider whether an item has collectible or resale value beyond its metal content.

Why did two buyers give me different karat readings?

Jewelry can contain mixed metals, solder, repairs, clasps, or components with different purity.

Testing methods can also vary.

If two results are significantly different, ask both buyers how the purity was determined.

Can I compare an online gold buyer with a local gold buyer?

Yes, but include all costs and conditions.

An online offer may involve:

• Shipping
• Insurance
• Waiting for testing
• Final adjustments after inspection
• Return shipping if you reject the offer

Compare the final amount you actually receive, not just the advertised rate.

Is the highest gold offer always the best?

Usually the final dollar amount is extremely important, but make sure the offers are for exactly the same items and there are no later deductions.

Also consider whether valuable coins, diamonds, watches, or designer jewelry are being properly evaluated rather than purchased only for scrap.

Where can I get a second gold offer near me?

If you’re in northeast Georgia or the Atlanta-area market served by Gold Kings, you can bring your items to Gold Kings for professional testing, weighing, and a no-obligation evaluation.

You can request a Gold Kings quote here.

Compare the Numbers — Not the Sales Pitch

When comparing two gold offers, do not simply ask:

“Who gave me the bigger number?”

Ask:

What purity did they use?

What weight did they use?

What spot price did they use?

What is the melt value?

What percentage of that value are they offering?

Are there any deductions?

Once you know those numbers, comparing gold buyers becomes much easier.

And if you already have an offer and want another professional evaluation, bring your gold to Gold Kings.

We’ll test it, weigh it, explain the numbers, and give you an offer.

You decide what happens next.