Sell Scrap Gold for the Most Cash in Los Angeles
Broken chains, single earrings, bent rings, dental gold, and tangled odds and ends are worth real money today. Bring your scrap gold to South Bay Coin for a free, transparent appraisal and walk out with same-day cash.
The Best Place to Sell Scrap Gold in Los Angeles
If you want to sell scrap gold in Los Angeles for the most cash, South Bay Coin pays more because we refine in-house instead of reselling to a middleman. Scrap gold means anything you no longer wear or use: broken chains, single earrings, snapped clasps, bent class rings, worn wedding bands, dental crowns, and the tangled pile at the bottom of a jewelry box. To us, condition is irrelevant. We pay for the pure gold content, not the appearance.
We are a licensed, bonded, and insured California precious metals dealer in Lawndale, serving the South Bay and greater Los Angeles County since 1980. Over 45 years we have processed thousands of scrap gold lots, from a single broken charm to full estate cleanouts. Because we operate our own refinery, we skip the resale markup that pawn shops and jewelry stores build into their offers and pass that difference back to you. Sellers routinely report receiving 10 to 30 percent more than competing scrap gold offers across LA.
Every appraisal is free and done in front of you. We test each piece for karat, weigh it on a certified scale you can watch, and explain exactly how today's gold spot price translates into your payout. There is never pressure to sell. Whether you are clearing out a drawer or settling an estate, you can also sell gold jewelry for cash or bring gold coins and bullion in the same visit.
Our Lawndale Scrap Gold Showroom
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Sat: 10 AM - 3 PM
Sun: Closed
Live Precious Metal Spot Prices
Updated every 60 seconds during market hoursHow Much Is Your Scrap Gold Worth?
Scrap gold value comes down to one formula: weight times purity times the live gold spot price. Purity is set by karat. 10K is 41.7% gold, 14K is 58.3%, 18K is 75%, and 22K is 91.7%. A buyer multiplies the item's weight by that purity fraction to find its pure gold content, then multiplies that by the current price per gram. A 14K item that weighs 10 grams holds about 5.83 grams of pure gold, and that pure content is what determines your offer, not the original retail price.
The honest difference between buyers is the percentage of melt value they pay. Pawn shops commonly pay 40 to 65 percent of melt and resell the gold for a profit. Jewelry stores fall in a similar range. Because South Bay Coin refines scrap gold ourselves, we pay a far higher percentage of true melt value and keep nothing for a middleman. We weigh on a certified scale in troy ounces and grams, and we show you the math.
Two things protect you. First, test before you sell: stamps like GP, GE, HGE, GF, and RGP mean gold-plated or gold-filled, not solid gold, and those items hold little melt value. We use XRF analysis and acid testing to confirm karat at no charge. Second, beware unusually high quotes; an offer above 90 percent of melt from a mail-in buyer often hides shipping deductions or assay fees. We explain every number before you decide. For larger lots, see how we handle gold jewelry and estate pieces.
Scrap Gold We Buy for Cash
We buy scrap gold in any condition, any karat, and any form. Broken, bent, tangled, or incomplete, every piece is valued for its full pure gold content.
Broken & Unwanted Jewelry
Snapped chains, single earrings, bent rings, broken clasps, charms, and pieces missing stones. Damage does not lower the gold content.
Dental Gold
Gold crowns, bridges, caps, and inlays. We buy dental gold with attached porcelain or backing and account for the actual gold content.
Karat Scrap & Lots
Mixed 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K lots, class rings, cufflinks, watch cases, frames, and full drawers of odds and ends.
Bullion Scrap & Findings
Bent gold bars, partial rounds, casting scrap, gold wire, solder, bench sweeps, and jeweler findings.
Sell Scrap Gold in Three Steps
Gather & Bring It In
Scoop your scrap gold into a bag and walk into 16916 Hawthorne Blvd. No appointment, no sorting needed. Or text photos to (310) 363-2697.
Free Karat Test & Weigh
We test each piece for karat, separate it by purity, and weigh it on a certified scale in front of you. The offer is based on today's spot price.
Get Paid On the Spot
Accept the offer and leave with cash or a check. Most scrap gold visits take about 15 minutes. Bring a valid photo ID.
South Bay Coin vs. Other Scrap Gold Buyers
Where you sell scrap gold decides how much of the melt value you keep. Here is how a licensed in-house refiner stacks up against the alternatives.
| South Bay Coin | Pawn Shops | Jewelry Stores | Mail-In | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owns refinery | Varies | |||
| Same-day cash | ||||
| % of melt paid on scrap | Highest | 40-65% | 50-70% | 60-85% |
| Buys dental gold | Sometimes | Varies | ||
| Tests & weighs in front of you | Sometimes | Sometimes | ||
| No hidden refining fees | Varies | Varies |
What Our Scrap Gold Sellers Say
Common Questions About Selling Scrap Gold
Scrap gold value per gram depends on karat and the live gold spot price. The melt formula is weight times purity times price per gram. At today's prices, 14K runs roughly $80 to $85 per gram of melt and 10K around $58 to $62. We pay a high percentage of melt because we refine in-house, then show you the exact math before you sell.
We test each piece for karat using XRF analysis or an acid test, then weigh it on a certified scale in front of you. We multiply the weight by the purity fraction (14K is 58.3% gold) to find the pure gold content, then apply today's spot price. Damage, dents, and missing stones do not reduce the value.
Scrap gold is any solid gold item you sell for its metal content rather than its design. That includes broken chains, single earrings, bent rings, worn wedding bands, class rings, dental crowns, gold solder, and casting scrap. As long as it is real karat gold, condition does not matter. We buy 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K scrap.
Yes. We buy dental gold including crowns, bridges, caps, and inlays. You do not need to remove attached porcelain or tooth material first; we account for the actual gold content during testing. Dental alloys are usually 10K to 22K equivalent, and we pay based on the pure gold present after evaluating each piece.
Gold-plated and gold-filled items contain only a thin gold layer, so their melt value is minimal. Stamps like GP, GE, HGE, GF, and RGP signal plated or filled, not solid gold. We test everything for free and tell you honestly what is solid karat gold and what is plated, so you never sell solid gold thinking it is worthless.
We accept all karats of solid gold scrap: 10K, 12K, 14K, 18K, 21K, 22K, and 24K. Higher karats hold more pure gold and pay more per gram. You can bring a mixed lot of different karats; we separate and weigh each purity individually so every piece is paid at its correct rate.
Melt value is the raw gold content at the full spot price. Every buyer pays a percentage of melt to cover refining and risk. Pawn shops often pay 40 to 65 percent. Because South Bay Coin refines scrap gold ourselves with no middleman, we pay a much higher share of melt and explain the percentage before you decide.
No appointment is needed. Walk into our Lawndale showroom at 16916 Hawthorne Blvd during business hours and we will appraise your scrap gold on the spot. If you prefer, text photos to (310) 363-2697 for a rough estimate first. Most scrap gold visits take about 15 minutes start to finish.
Gold has reached record highs through 2026, driven by central bank buying, inflation hedging, a weaker dollar, and geopolitical uncertainty. That means the broken and unwanted gold in your drawer is worth far more than it was a year ago. If you have scrap gold sitting idle, current conditions are among the best in history to sell.
A pawn shop buys your scrap gold to resell at a markup, so its offer is lower, often 40 to 65 percent of melt. South Bay Coin refines gold in-house, eliminating that markup, so we pay a higher percentage. We are also a licensed California dealer that has tested and weighed gold transparently since 1980.
Turn Your Scrap Gold Into Cash Today
Walk in, call, or text photos. Free appraisal, same-day cash, no appointment needed.