Los Angeles Gold Buyer Exchange
Sell Scrap & Broken Gold For Cash in Los Angeles
That broken chain is still gold. Bring damaged, tangled, mismatched or unwanted gold jewelry for a free evaluation and same-day payment when you accept.
- Broken, bent, tangled and worn pieces welcome
- 10k to 24k gold, including mixed karats
- Tested and weighed in front of you
- No repairs or cleaning needed
Broken jewelry still has gold value
A snapped clasp does not make your gold worthless.
A necklace with a broken link, a single earring whose partner went missing, or a ring that no longer fits can still contain valuable gold. You do not need to repair a piece or find its matching set before getting an offer.
At Los Angeles Gold Buyer Exchange, we sort pieces by purity, verify the metal and weigh the gold at the counter. If you want to sell gold for cash in Los Angeles, we explain what you have and how it contributes to the offer before you decide.
Condition is welcome
Knots, missing clasps and worn finishes do not remove the gold from jewelry. Bring pieces as they are instead of spending money on repairs first.
Purity comes first
We separate karat groups so that a higher-purity piece is evaluated on its own gold content, rather than being treated as the lowest karat in a mixed bag.
The decision is yours
Ask questions, review the offer and choose whether to sell. Your evaluation is free, with no obligation to accept.
Broken jewelry
- Snapped, kinked or tangled chains
- Bracelets with broken links or clasps
- Bent, cracked or cut rings
- Dented pendants, lockets and charms
Single and unwanted pieces
- Single earrings and gold earring backs
- Old wedding bands and class rings
- Outdated jewelry you no longer wear
- Loose findings and gold links
Mixed jewelry collections
- Unsorted jewelry from drawer clean-outs
- Inherited pieces in different karats
- Gold settings with missing stones
- Unmarked pieces needing identification
Not sure whether it is real gold?
Bring uncertain jewelry for a free evaluation. Color alone does not identify the metal. Plated and gold-filled items differ from solid karat gold, and a purchase offer is not guaranteed for every gold-colored piece.
For workshop filings, casting scrap or bulk lots, call ahead to describe the material and confirm whether we can evaluate it. Have investment pieces too? See how we buy gold coins and bullion.
Purity, weight and current gold prices
How scrap gold is priced
Your offer starts with the gold contained in your pieces. We establish the karat, weigh the relevant metal and use the current gold price as a reference.
Metal weight × gold purity = fine gold weight
Fine gold weight helps establish metal value. It is not the final cash offer.
A simple example
A 14k chain containing 20 grams of metal has approximately 11.7 grams of fine gold, using the nominal 14/24 purity ratio. That calculation assumes the weight does not include stones or other non-gold components.
We build an offer from the verified material and current market, accounting for processing and other purchase costs. The price you paid for finished jewelry, its insurance value and its scrap purchase offer can be very different.
What your karat mark means
Karat expresses gold purity on a 24-part scale. The table shows approximate nominal content; testing helps verify the actual piece.
| Karat | Gold content | Common marks |
|---|---|---|
| 10k | 41.7% | 417 |
| 14k | 58.3% | 585, 14K |
| 18k | 75.0% | 750 |
| 21k | 87.5% | 875 |
| 22k | 91.7% | 916, 917 |
| 24k | Near-pure gold | 999, 999.9 |
A 585 stamp indicates 58.5% fineness, while the nominal 14/24 ratio is about 58.3%. Small marking differences are one reason we verify jewelry instead of relying on a stamp alone.
Weighing each group separately
Your 10k, 14k and higher-karat pieces are grouped separately. We explain the weight unit used and account for stones, clasps or other components that are not part of the recoverable gold.
Learn more about karat and gold-layer terminology in the FTC’s jewelry guide.
Watch the evaluation
How selling scrap gold works
Bring the bag, jewelry box or individual piece. We help sort it and explain the evaluation before you make a decision.
Bring your gold and photo ID
No cleaning, repairs or untangling are needed. Keep any paperwork you have with the pieces, but do not worry if receipts are missing.
Sort and identify
We review marks such as 10K, 14K, 585 and 750, separate apparent karat groups and identify pieces that need further testing.
Verify the metal
We explain the testing approach and use non-destructive methods to help confirm purity and distinguish karat gold from plated or other materials.
Weigh and explain the offer
Each karat group is weighed on state-certified scales in front of you. We explain its purity, eligible weight and contribution to the purchase offer.
Decide and get paid
Accept the offer for same-day payment, or take your jewelry home with no obligation. Call ahead to discuss payment arrangements for a large lot.
Before you visit
- Leave tangled chains and damaged settings as they are.
- Keep pieces you want to retain separate.
- Tell the buyer if you want to keep any stones.
- Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
A clear offer, face to face
Why sell your scrap gold locally?
An in-person evaluation lets you watch the weighing and ask questions about every group of jewelry. You can decide on the offer before your gold leaves your hands, without packing and mailing personal items to a buyer.
Separate karat groups
Different purities have different gold content. Sorting first helps you understand the contribution of each group to your offer.
No repair bill first
You do not need a wearable necklace or a complete pair of earrings to sell for gold content. Avoid unnecessary repairs before an evaluation.
Questions answered directly
Ask how purity, weight and current prices affect your offer. A clear explanation makes it easier to compare purchase quotes.
Some pieces deserve more than a scrap evaluation.
If an item appears antique, signed or potentially valuable as finished jewelry, ask about that before selling it for metal. Damage alone does not tell the whole story. We can also evaluate diamonds in your broken jewelry.
Across the Los Angeles area
Scrap and broken gold FAQs
We serve sellers in Pacoima, North Hollywood, Harvard Heights near Koreatown, Walnut Park, Willowbrook, Florence, Vermont Square, Vermont-Slauson, and the View Park / Windsor Hills area.
Find a convenient store and check its address and map before visiting. Call (323) 434-0305 to confirm hours or discuss a mixed collection.
Before you sell
Scrap and broken gold FAQs
For scrap valuation, the key factors are verified gold content, eligible metal weight and the current market. A broken clasp does not change the gold’s purity. An intact designer or antique piece may also have resale value beyond its metal, so the total offer for finished jewelry can differ.
The offer depends on purity, weight and current gold prices, with adjustments for non-gold components and processing costs. Gold prices change, so call (323) 434-0305 or bring your items for a free evaluation. The spot-based metal value is a benchmark, not a guaranteed payout.
Yes. A stamp may be missing or worn, particularly on older, handmade or resized jewelry. We test the metal to help establish its purity. A visible stamp is useful information, but it does not replace testing.
These marks describe nominal fineness in parts per thousand. They commonly correspond to 10k, 14k, 18k and 22k gold. For example, 585 means 58.5% gold. Markings, solder and other components can vary, so the actual piece still needs evaluation.
These pieces contain a gold layer over another metal and are not valued like solid karat-gold jewelry. Gold plating often has little recoverable gold; gold-filled items contain more, but their resale value depends on the piece and quantity. Bring uncertain items for identification, or call ahead to discuss whether a purchase may be possible.
You do not have to. We sort by karat during the evaluation. If you already know which pieces belong together, separate bags can help. Keep unknown pieces separate from items you know are gold, and avoid polishing, repairs or home chemical tests.
Ask us to evaluate the stones as well as the metal. Diamonds or other marketable stones may contribute to an offer, while small accents or imitation stones may not. Tell us before the evaluation if you want to keep any stones; discuss removal options and any costs before authorizing work.
Bring your gold, a valid government-issued photo ID and any useful purchase or appraisal paperwork. Paperwork is helpful but is not required to start an evaluation. Call ahead for bulk lots, workshop scrap or special payment arrangements.