You have seen them a million times, those “cash for gold” commercials in which you are instructed to drop your unwanted gold jewelry into a brown envelope, mail it in and receive cash back –  and by the looks of the happy people in the commercial, it will be lots of cash!   Have you ever wondered if the old jewelry collecting dust in the back of your dresser could fetch any worthwhile cash? The necklace that has been sitting with a broken clasp since high school, or the no-longer appreciated gifts of an ex-boyfriend?   If you’re  on the fence regarding the legitimacy of selling your old or unwanted gold jewelry for cash (or store credit at Amidon Jewelers), let us help you sort fact from fiction in order to decide if selling your jewelry for cash is for you.   When you first decide to sell your gold for cash, do your homework. Before you sell, make sure your jewelry isn't worth more in its current condition that it would be worth melted down. Antique jewelry, for instance, is usually not something you want to sell for scrap pricing.   Begin by calculating your jewelry’s worth. Make note of any stamped karat mark, and weigh the piece on a good kitchen scale. Gold is traditionally weighed in penny-weights or troy ounces; calculate the weights and the current gold prices to get an estimate of what your gold may be worth. You can also check against the gold pricing chart at Amidon gold.   The price of gold fluctuates constantly, and no two buyers are going to quote you the same price. Beware of mall chain jewelry stores, pawn shops, and other locations that claim to offer the best prices for scrap gold, when in reality they’re notorious for short-changing on scrap gold buyouts. If you believe you have a good idea of the scrap value of your gold, you’re already ahead of the game; hold out for at least 50 percent of the meltdown value.   You can sell broken, mismatched, even damaged jewelry, and some stores like Amidon Jewelers pay cash or offer store credit for old scrap gold.  All types of jewelry can be considered, but  some of the most common pieces people offer to sell for meltdown value include:   - Bent or broken jewelry - Cuff Links - Gold Earrings - Estate and Bridal - Gold Rings - Tangled or Broken Chains - Gold Necklaces - Dental Gold - Gold Coins - Gold Earrings - Gold Watches   We all have moments when cash is tight and we begin scanning our belongings for sell-able items. With so many advertisements out there promising top cash for your unused gold jewelry, you only have yourself to protect you from the sharks.   Do your homework. Avoid gold buyers with a history of undercutting customers. Find a solid jeweler like Amidon, who will explain the estimate process as they perform it, answer all your questions, and offer you fair market value or store credit for your scrap gold jewelry.   ###