Complete guide
Gold Resale Calculator: Find Out How Much Your Old Gold Is Worth
Selling old gold jewellery can be confusing — the old gold selling price today isn't the same number as the retail gold rate you see online. The gold rate you see online is usually not the same amount you'll receive when you sell your jewellery.
The value of your old gold depends on several factors, including gold weight, purity, the current gold rate, the jeweller's deduction, and the terms of the buyback offer.
Goldmitra's Gold Resale Calculator above helps you estimate how much your old gold jewellery could be worth at today's gold rate before you approach a jeweller — simply enter your gold weight, purity, and an estimated deduction to calculate an indicative resale value.
How is the resale value of old gold calculated?
The basic calculation starts with the amount of pure gold contained in your jewellery. A simplified calculation is:
Gross Gold Value = Net Gold Weight × Applicable Gold Rate × Purity Factor
The estimated amount you receive after a deduction can then be calculated as:
Estimated Resale Value = Gross Gold Value × (1 − Deduction %)
For example, suppose you have 10 grams of 22K gold jewellery and the applicable 22K gold rate is ₹14,000 per gram. The approximate gross gold value would be:
10 × ₹14,000 = ₹1,40,000
If an illustrative 10% deduction is applied:
₹1,40,000 − ₹14,000 = ₹1,26,000
Your estimated resale value would therefore be approximately ₹1,26,000. The actual amount offered by a jeweller can be different.
What determines the value of old gold jewellery?
Several factors can affect how much you receive when selling gold jewellery.
1. Gold weight
The amount of gold you own is one of the most important factors in determining its value. Use the net gold weight rather than the total weight of jewellery whenever possible.
For example, a necklace containing gemstones may have a gross weight of 25 grams, but only 20 grams may be gold — the value of the gold should generally be calculated using the net gold weight. Ask the jeweller for a clear breakdown of gross weight, stone weight, and net gold weight.
2. Gold purity
Gold jewellery is available in different purities, commonly expressed in karats.
| Purity | Approximate gold content |
|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% |
| 22K | 91.6% |
| 18K | 75.0% |
| 14K | 58.5% |
A higher-purity piece contains more gold per gram and will generally have a higher intrinsic gold value than an equivalent-weight piece of lower purity. However, the actual resale calculation depends on the purity verified by the jeweller or testing process.
Convert karat to purity % and value per gram
Check exactly what your karat is worth per gram at today's rate before you estimate a resale value.
3. Current gold rate
Gold prices change over time, so the value of your old jewellery depends on the applicable gold rate at the time you sell it. The rate used by a jeweller may also differ from the headline rate you see online — always ask which gold rate is being used in the buyback calculation.
Check today's applicable gold rate
See 24K, 22K, and 18K prices per gram right now, before you estimate a resale value.
4. Jeweller's deduction
A jeweller may apply deductions when buying back old gold jewellery. These deductions can account for factors such as:
- Purity testing
- Refining
- Melting
- Processing
- Stones or non-gold materials
- Business margins
- The jeweller's specific buyback policy
There is no single universal deduction percentage that applies to every old-gold transaction. This is why the deduction in the calculator above is an illustrative input rather than a guaranteed industry standard.
Why do jewellers offer less than the current gold value?
This is one of the most common questions people have when selling old jewellery. Suppose your jewellery contains gold worth ₹1,00,000 at the applicable market rate — you might expect to receive exactly ₹1,00,000.
However, a jeweller's offer may be lower because the transaction can involve costs and deductions associated with testing, refining, and processing the jewellery, as well as the jeweller's commercial terms. There may also be non-gold components such as:
- Gemstones
- Diamonds
- Enamel
- Lac
- Beads
- Soldering materials
- Other decorative components
Therefore, the online gold rate should be treated as a reference for the underlying gold value, not as a guaranteed resale price for your jewellery.
Do making charges matter when selling old gold?
Usually, making charges paid when you originally purchased jewellery don't become part of the gold's resale value. This is an important difference between buying jewellery and selling it.
When you buy jewellery, your bill may include:
Gold value + Making charges + Wastage + Applicable taxes
When you sell it, the jeweller is generally interested primarily in the recoverable gold value, subject to purity verification and the applicable buyback terms — you may not recover the making charges and other purchase costs you originally paid. For this reason, the amount you paid for jewellery several years ago can be substantially higher than what the gold itself is worth today.
Curious what the making-charge side looks like?
See gold value, making charges, and GST broken out line by line for a new piece of jewellery.
What is the difference between gross value and resale value?
The gross value represents the estimated value of the gold before applying the assumed deduction. The estimated resale value represents the amount remaining after the deduction. For example:
- Gross gold value: ₹1,40,812
- Illustrative deduction: 10%
- Deduction amount: ₹14,081
- Estimated resale value: ₹1,26,731
This distinction helps you understand how a jeweller's deduction affects the amount you may receive.
See the same gap from the buying side
On the way in, that gap is a markup over gold value — with an estimated break-even period.
How much is 22K gold worth when selling?
The value of 22K gold depends on the current 22K gold rate and the amount of gold you have. A simple estimate is:
22K Gold Value = Net Weight × Current 22K Rate
For example, if the current 22K rate is ₹14,000 per gram and you have 10 grams of 22K gold: 10 × ₹14,000 = ₹1,40,000. This is the gross value before any applicable deductions — your actual resale offer may be lower.
Use the calculator above to test different deduction percentages and understand how they affect your estimated resale amount.
How much is 18K gold worth when selling?
18K gold contains approximately 75% pure gold. Its value is calculated using the applicable 18K gold rate and the net weight of the gold:
18K Gold Value = Net Weight × Current 18K Rate
The actual resale amount can be lower than the gross value because of the jeweller's buyback terms, purity verification, and other applicable deductions.
How to get the best price when selling old gold
Don't accept the first offer without understanding how it was calculated. Before selling your jewellery, consider these steps:
- Check the current gold rate. Find the current rate for the purity of your jewellery.
- Check the net gold weight. Ask the jeweller to clearly separate gold weight from stones and other materials.
- Confirm the purity. Check the hallmark and available purity information — the jeweller may also conduct a purity test before making an offer.
- Ask for the deduction. Ask exactly what percentage or amount is being deducted and why.
- Get a written calculation showing gold rate, net weight, purity, gross gold value, deductions, and final amount payable.
- Compare multiple offers. The highest advertised gold rate doesn't necessarily produce the highest final payout — compare the final amount you'll actually receive after all deductions.
Should you sell old gold or exchange it for new jewellery?
Selling and exchanging old jewellery can produce different outcomes. With an exchange, the jeweller may adjust the value of your old gold against the purchase of new jewellery — but you should still ask for a complete breakdown of:
Old gold value − deductions + new jewellery cost + making charges + applicable taxes
Don't compare only the exchange value advertised by the jeweller. If you're considering an exchange, calculate the old jewellery's estimated gold value separately first — this gives you a useful reference point when evaluating the jeweller's offer.
Does a gold hallmark affect resale value?
A hallmark can provide important information about the purity of gold jewellery. However, the resale value is ultimately based on the gold content and the terms of the transaction — a jeweller may still verify the purity of the jewellery before determining the final offer. If your jewellery has hallmark or HUID information, keep the relevant documentation and invoice where available.
Not sure how to read a hallmark?
How to Check Gold Purity Before You Buy: Hallmarking and Karat Marks Explained.
Can I sell gold jewellery without an original bill?
Whether a jeweller will accept your gold jewellery without the original purchase invoice depends on the jeweller and applicable requirements. The absence of an old invoice doesn't automatically tell you what the jewellery is worth — the jeweller may instead require identity verification, purity testing, or other documentation before completing the transaction. Ask the jeweller about their requirements before visiting.
Gold resale value vs. gold market price
It's important to distinguish between the gold market price and the amount you receive when selling jewellery. The market price is a reference for the value of gold. Your jewellery resale value can be lower because of:
- Purity
- Non-gold components
- Testing
- Refining
- Deductions
- Buyback policies
- The jeweller's commercial terms
Therefore, seeing that gold prices have increased doesn't necessarily mean your jewellery will sell for the same percentage increase as the headline gold price.
Before you sell your gold
Knowing the current gold rate is only the starting point. Before accepting a buyback offer, make sure you understand:
Gold rate + net gold weight + purity + deductions = final amount you receive
Use the calculator above to estimate your old gold's value before approaching a jeweller, then compare the jeweller's calculation with your estimate and ask for a clear breakdown of any deductions. You can also check the latest gold rate, calculate gold purity using the Karat & Purity Calculator, or explore Goldmitra's other tools before making a decision.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an illustrative estimate and is not a guaranteed buyback quote. Actual resale values depend on verified purity and weight, the jeweller's buyback policy, applicable deductions, market conditions, and other transaction-specific factors. Goldmitra does not guarantee any resale price or return.