Pretty much everyone knows the value of a one-ounce gold Krugerrand or Maple Leaf—about $3,280 at press time. And most people can guess that a men’s gold class ring is worth anywhere from $150 to $800, depending on karat and size.
But sometimes … there’s gold in them thar pails! (Apologies to Mark Twain.)
While we love dealing in fine and decorative arts—objets d’art are still our passion—these days, gold is gold, and silver is silver. With prices skyrocketing due to global and domestic chaos beyond our control, our stores now buy millions of dollars of old gold, scrap gold and recyclable gold every month.
Over the years, we’ve seen folks bring in everything from a single ring to entire buckets of gold-colored odds and ends—hoping for melt value. But every now and then, we find a piece that’s worth far more than its weight.
Precious metals show up in the strangest places: antique gold fountain pen nibs, broken enamel brooches, lapel pins, old trophies, computer parts and dented pocket watch cases. One customer brought in what looked like a gold-plated box—it turned out to be a tarnished 18k Fabergé piece. We offered her $5,000 for it. Not bad for “junk.”
Even dental gold shows up (yes, yuck). Once, we bought five solid platinum beakers from the heir of a long-abandoned medical lab—used to mix compounds for items with high acidity. We paid over $32,000. We also bought $150,000 of rhodium from a retired executive in the glass industry. Rhodium is vital in high-end glass manufacturing.
Age can add value. Maker’s marks matter. Styles like Art Deco, Arts & Crafts, and Fabergé can command huge premiums—even in rough shape. It takes an expert eye. Not everything should just be thrown on a scale.
So if you’re cleaning out a drawer, attic, or safety deposit box, bring it all in—even the weird stuff. Sometimes, old gold is a non-performing asset. Let us help.
