The math, once, in full
One line covers every karat:
melt = grams ÷ 31.1034768 × spot × fineness
For 100 grams of 14k:
100 ÷ 31.1034768 × $4,128.50 × 0.585 = $7,764.96
Gold is priced by the troy ounce of 31.1034768 grams, not the kitchen-scale ounce of 28.349523125 grams. Grams are the same in both systems, so 100 grams converts to about 3.215 troy ounces no matter which scale you used. The ounce confusion only bites when a buyer weighs in troy ounces and quotes you in avoirdupois ones.
What a seller actually gets paid
Melt is the ceiling, not the offer.
| Channel | Share of melt | On $7,764.96 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash-for-gold companies · dated 2009 benchmark | 11–29% | $854.15–$2,251.84 |
| Pawn shops · dated 2009 benchmark | 35–70% | $2,717.74–$5,435.47 |
| The sourced target to hold out for | 50%+ | $3,882.48+ |
Refinery terms, in plain numbers
Large refineries pay better than mail-in buyers, but their terms are written in ounce bands and lot minimums. Dillon Gage charges 1% on karat scrap lots over 50 troy ounces and 2% under, plus a $30 assay fee per lot, and requires the pure metal in the lot to be worth at least $10,000. At the current spot, 100 grams of 14k holds about $7,764.96 of pure gold, well below that threshold, so a single lot of this size does not clear refinery minimums on its own.
Checkpoints before you accept an offer
- Weigh the piece yourself in grams. Grams leave no room for ounce-type confusion.
- Confirm the karat from the hallmark stamp. Unstamped metal gets assayed, and that cost comes out of your percentage.
- Multiply our per-gram figure $77.65 by your gram weight to get your own ceiling.
- Get at least two quotes. The spread between the first and second quote is often 15% or more.
- Stone weight counts against you. A piece priced as all-14k metal overstates its real value.
Questions about 100 grams of gold
Is 100 grams a troy weight or a regular weight?
Grams are identical in both systems. 100 grams is about 3.215 troy ounces. The ounce-type trap only matters when a buyer converts units on your behalf.
Does it matter if my 100 grams is scrap jewelry instead of a bar?
For melt value, no; the karat and weight are all that count. For payout, yes. Scrap jewelry usually draws the lower end of the dated bands above, while stamped bullion trades closer to spot through dealers.
What offer should I accept?
The only sourced benchmark is the 2009 Consumer Reports advice to aim for at least 50% of meltdown value. Anything far below that deserves a second quote.
Where does the spot price come from?
From the live gold market. The numbers on this page were stamped at build time and refresh in your browser whenever the market moves. Recheck this page just before you sell.