We Buy Scrap Gold & Silver From All Over the Carolinas

What Counts as Scrap Gold?

If it contains gold, it may have value. We buy scrap gold in all conditions, including:

• •Broken gold chains and necklaces
• •Single earrings or mismatched sets
• •Class rings and school rings
• •Old or damaged gold jewelry
• •Gold fragments or pieces
• •Dental gold
• •Unwanted or outdated gold items

Scrap gold is valued based on gold content and purity, not appearance.

How Scrap Gold Is Priced

We believe selling scrap gold should be transparent and easy to understand.

Our process includes:

• Testing gold purity in your presence
• Weighing scrap gold accurately
• Referencing live gold market prices
• Providing a no-obligation offer

There are no hidden fees, no shipping risks, and no pressure to accept an offer.

We test and evaluate items in your presence so you can see exactly how we determine value.

Why It's Worth the Drive to Sell to Us

Why do we have customers driving in from Dillon, Columbia, and Charleston?

Because when you are selling a significant amount of scrap gold or silver, the "local" price isn't always the best price. A two-hour drive is worth it if it means putting an extra money in your pocket. Don't settle for a low-ball offer just because it's close to home.

Serving Clients Across South Carolina & North Carolina

We regularly have customers drive in from outside the immediate area because our payouts make the trip worth it. We serve clients from:

Wherever you are in the Carolinas, Carolina Gold Exchange is your destination for the highest scrap payouts for gold and silver.

Our Simple Scrap Gold Selling Process

What Exactly Is Scrap Gold?

Scrap gold refers to any gold item that is valued primarily for its metal content rather than its design, brand, or collectible appeal. Broken chains, mismatched earrings, bent rings, outdated jewelry, dental gold, and gold watch cases are all common examples of scrap gold. Even items that look worn or damaged can contain significant gold value based on their karat and weight.

The term can be misleading because scrap gold is not low quality or worthless. A broken 18k gold bracelet contains the same percentage of pure gold as a brand new one. The difference is simply that scrap gold is sold for its metal value rather than as a finished piece of jewelry.

How Is the Value of Scrap Gold Calculated?

Scrap gold value is determined by two main factors: karat purity and weight. Karat measures how much pure gold is in an item. 24 karat gold is pure gold. 14 karat gold is 58.3 percent pure gold. 10 karat gold, the minimum standard for gold jewelry in the United States, is 41.7 percent pure gold.

Once the karat is confirmed through testing, the item is weighed and the pure gold content is calculated. That pure gold weight is then multiplied by the current spot price to determine the base metal value. For example, a 10-gram 14k gold chain contains approximately 5.83 grams of pure gold. That amount is then priced against the live spot market.

At Carolina Gold Exchange, every step of this process is performed in front of you. We explain the karat, show the weight, and walk through the calculation so you understand exactly how the offer is determined. You can also check current gold prices on our price comparison page.

Why Selling Scrap Gold to a Dealer Is Different Than a Pawn Shop

Pawn shops and gold buyers operate on fundamentally different models. A pawn shop is primarily a lending business. When a pawn shop buys gold outright, it needs to cover the overhead of a retail storefront, loan management, storage, and a wide inventory of unrelated merchandise. These costs typically result in lower offers on precious metals.

A dedicated precious metals dealer like Carolina Gold Exchange focuses exclusively on buying and selling gold, silver, platinum, and coins. Pricing is tied directly to the live spot market rather than an arbitrary in-house estimate. There are no loans or holding periods involved. You bring in your gold, it is tested and weighed in front of you, and a cash offer is made the same day based on current market value.

This difference matters. If you are comparing offers, we encourage you to read our detailed comparison of coin shops vs. pawn shops or visit our price comparison page to see how live spot pricing translates into real offers.

Do I Need an Appointment to Sell Scrap Gold?

No appointment is required. Carolina Gold Exchange welcomes walk-ins during normal business hours. Whether you are bringing in a single ring or a bag of mixed gold jewelry, our team evaluates every item individually and provides a same-day cash offer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scrap Gold and Silver