You have gold to sell and three obvious choices: the pawn shop down the street, a local jeweler, or a mail-in buyer online. They don't pay the same — and the headline percentage isn't the whole story. Here's how they really compare.
The quick comparison
These are typical industry ranges for plain, unsigned gold, quoted as a share of melt value — what the raw metal is worth that day. Treat them as a starting point, not a promise: every buyer is different, and "up to" always means the ceiling, not the floor.
| Where | Typical payout | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pawn shop | ~40–70% of melt | Instant, in person | Fast cash, low stakes, you accept a wide margin for convenience. |
| Local jeweler (walk-in) | often ~60–80% of melt | Same day, in person | Convenience and a face-to-face check — but many buy over the counter at melt. |
| Mail-in gold buyer | advertised "up to ~90%" of melt | A few days by post | Higher headline rates — but read the "up to," and confirm insurance. |
| Bizak & Co. (mail-in) | plain gold at melt · signed on resale | A few days, insured | Plain gold paid at melt in writing; signed & gem-set priced on the resale market, above melt. |
Ranges reflect rates commonly advertised across the U.S. gold-buying market in 2026. Silver, watches, diamonds and signed pieces follow different math — see below.
Pawn shop: fast, local, lowest
A pawn shop is built around short-term loans and quick resale. To protect itself, it keeps a wide margin — which is why gold usually fetches only 40–70% of melt there. If you need cash in your hand this afternoon and the piece is ordinary, it's an option. For anything of real value, it's almost always the lowest number of the three.
Local jeweler: convenient, but often melt-based
A trusted local jeweler can be a good middle ground, and there's real comfort in handing your piece across a counter. But many high-street "we buy gold" counters still price by weight and karat — melt, in other words — and pay somewhere around 60–80% of it. That's fine for scrap. It's a poor deal for a signed bracelet or an estate ring, which should never be weighed in the first place.
Mail-in buyer: highest headline rate — read the fine print
Mail-in buyers advertise the best-looking numbers — often "up to 90%" of melt for jewelry. Two things to watch. First, "up to" is the ceiling, not what you'll actually receive; refining costs typically come out of your side. Second, your piece leaves your hands, so insurance and process matter more than the percentage. Before you ship anywhere, confirm the shipment is fully insured both ways, tracked and signature-required, and that nothing is melted or altered before you accept a written offer.
The one question that tells you everything: ask any buyer — "are you valuing this at melt, or on the resale market?" A melt answer means they're treating your jewelry as scrap metal. For plain gold that's fair. For a signed, antique or gem-set piece, it can mean leaving most of the value behind.
Where Bizak & Co. fits
We're a mail-in buyer, but we price differently. Plain gold is paid at melt — the floor, in writing, before you decide. Signed, antique and gem-set pieces aren't weighed at all; they're valued piece by piece on the resale market, which is usually well above melt. The label is prepaid and fully insured both ways through dedicated jewelry insurance, tracked and signature-required, and nothing is touched until you accept. Decline the offer and everything comes back, free and insured.
So which should you choose?
- Need cash today and the piece is ordinary? A local jeweler or pawn shop is quickest — just compare their percentage of melt.
- Plain gold, and you want the most for it? Compare melt percentages in writing. Melt is the floor; anyone paying below it is underpaying.
- Signed, antique, gem-set or a watch? Don't let anyone weigh it. Get it valued on the resale market, by someone who can actually read the piece.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get the most money for gold jewelry?
It depends on the piece. For plain scrap gold, the best channels pay close to melt value — so compare the percentage of melt each one offers, and get it in writing. For anything signed, antique or gem-set, the highest number comes from whoever prices it on the resale market rather than weighing it, often far above melt.
Are online mail-in gold buyers safe?
A reputable one is, but check three things: the shipment is fully insured both ways, it's tracked and signature-required, and nothing is melted or altered before you accept a written offer. At Bizak & Co. the label is prepaid and insured through dedicated jewelry insurance, and your piece is never touched until you say yes.
Why do pawn shops pay so little for gold?
A pawn shop is built around short-term loans and quick resale, so it protects itself with a wide margin — often paying only 40 to 70 percent of melt. It's fast and local, but usually the lowest offer of the three channels.
Should I sell a signed or antique piece to a gold buyer?
Be careful. A buyer who weighs a signed Cartier, Tiffany or Van Cleef piece and quotes you melt is offering a fraction of its resale value. Signed, antique and gem-set pieces should be valued piece by piece on the resale market, never melted.
What's the one question to ask before selling?
Ask: are you valuing this at melt, or on the resale market? The answer tells you immediately whether a buyer is treating your piece as scrap metal or as jewelry — and whether you're about to leave money on the table.