The Vault · Editorial

Honest gold analysis from a licensed LA dealer.

Live spot pricing, payout math, and dealer-grade walkthroughs. The numbers behind what your gold is actually worth.

selling-guides

Is Dental Gold Worth Anything When You Sell It?

Dental gold has real scrap value, but the karat is unpredictable. Here is what crowns and bridges actually contain and what a buyer really pays.

Selling Guides

Is Gold-Filled Jewelry Worth Anything to Sell?

Gold-filled jewelry contains real gold, but only a thin bonded layer, so payouts run far below what most sellers expect. Here is what to know first.

Selling Strategy

Should You Wait for a Higher Gold Price to Sell?

Waiting for a gold price peak rarely beats selling on a strong day; here is what actually moves your payout and why form and purity matter most.

Selling Guides

What ID and Paperwork You Need to Sell Gold in 2026

A plain guide to the ID and records gold buyers require in 2026, why those rules exist, and how to walk in prepared so your sale goes quickly.

Selling Gold

White Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold: Does Color Change Your Payout?

The color of your gold jewelry comes from the alloy metals mixed with it, not from the gold itself. Here is why karat and weight set your payout, and color does not.

Selling Gold

Pawn Shop vs Gold Buyer: Which Actually Pays More in 2026

Pawn shops and dedicated gold buyers price the same gold differently. Here is why the payout gap exists and how to tell which route fits your sale.

Selling Gold

Selling Inherited Gold: What to Know Before You Take It to a Buyer

Inherited a box of gold jewelry, coins, or a mixed lot and no idea what it's worth? Here's how to sort it, separate melt from collectible, and avoid a rushed lowball.

Selling Guides

Why Gold Buyers Pay a Percentage of Spot, Not the Full Spot Price

Spot price is a wholesale benchmark, not a payout. Here is how the bid-ask spread, refining costs, and dealer margin shape a real offer, and how to tell a fair percentage from a lowball.

Selling Tips

How to Spot a Lowball Gold Offer Before You Take It

A plain breakdown of the pricing signals and dealer tactics that separate a fair gold payout from a lowball offer, so you know what a real number looks like before you sell.

Selling Gold

Troy Ounce, Gram, or Pennyweight: How Gold Weight Units Affect Your Payout

Dealers weigh gold in troy ounces, grams, or pennyweight. The unit changes how the math reads, not the value. Here is how to convert and check any offer against spot.

Buyer Education

Gold Karat Stamps Explained: What 585, 750, and 916 Actually Mean in 2026

The tiny numbers stamped inside your gold ring or chain tell you exactly what it's worth — how to read 585, 750, 916, and the rest before you sell.

Selling Guides

How a Gold Jewelry Payout Is Calculated, Step by Step (2026)

A plain-language walkthrough of the math behind a gold jewelry payout in 2026: spot price, karat fineness, gram weight, and dealer margin, with worked examples.

Selling Guides

Selling Gold Coins vs Bullion Bars in 2026: Which Gets the Better Price

Sovereign coins versus poured and minted bars: how dealer payout math actually works in 2026, and which format gets you closer to spot when you sell.

selling-guides

How Gold Buyers Actually Test Purity Before Making an Offer (2026)

A plain-English walkthrough of the four purity tests reputable gold buyers run before quoting a price, and what you should ask to see during your appraisal.

Selling Gold

Gold Bullion vs Coins: Which Actually Sells for More in 2026

When you walk in to sell, do bullion bars or sovereign coins pay better? A direct look at premium recovery, liquidity, and dealer behavior in 2026.

Selling Gold

What Scrap Gold Is Actually Worth in 2026: A Plain-English Breakdown

First-time seller? Here's how karat and weight turn into dollars, what buyers actually pay, and what to expect when you bring in a baggie of broken jewelry.

Hands holding gold jewelry next to a digital scale and calculator on a marble surface, lit by warm window light
Selling Guide

How to Calculate Your Gold's True Cash Value Before Selling

Before you walk into a buyer's office, know what your gold is actually worth. The math behind purity, weight, spot price, and dealer margin — in a single walkthrough.

Apr 28, 2026 · 7 min READ →
A vintage brass barometer-style dial labeled GOLD on polished cream marble with a soft forest-green velvet drape — editorial market visualization
Market Analysis

Why Live Spot Pricing Matters When You Sell Gold

Yesterday's gold price isn't today's. How spot moves, why dealers update quotes hourly, and how to time your sale to maximize payout — without speculation.

Apr 28, 2026 · 6 min READ →
Market Analysis Apr 29, 2026 8 min

Is Now a Good Time to Sell Gold? How to Read the Spot Price Before You Decide

Gold spot is near multi-year highs. Whether that makes now the right time for you depends on factors the headline price does not tell you.

Apr 29, 2026 · 8 min READ →
Market Analysis May 13, 2026 6 min

When to Sell Scrap Gold: Reading Market Signals Before Your Appointment

Spot price is one signal, but not the only one. How to read the market, what trends matter, and the one rule that always holds regardless of where gold is trading.

May 13, 2026 · 6 min READ →
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