Read on to discover how the purity of your gold decides how much cash lands in your pocket.
When you sell gold, purity and hallmarking are not mere technicalities, but the basis of equitable value. In Brisbane (and Australia as a whole), knowing how pure your gold is can make all the difference in what you receive.
What Is Purity?
Gold’s a soft metal, so on its own, it bends and scratches pretty easily. That’s why jewellers usually mix it with other metals like silver or copper to make it tougher. This mix is what we call an alloy.
Purity’s measured in karats (K) — the higher the karat, the purer the gold it’s got. Sometimes you’ll also see gold marked in percentages or with numbers like 999 or 99.99, especially when you’re talking about bullion bars or coins.
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24K – pure gold (approximately 99.9%)
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18K – 75% gold, 25% other metals
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14K – 58.5% gold
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9K – 37.5% gold
Now, let’s say you’ve got two rings, both weighing 10 grams. One’s 9K and the other’s 18K. Even though they weigh the same, the 18K ring has twice as much actual gold, which means it’s worth a lot more when you bring it in for valuation, to sell, or get a gold loan.
That’s the key thing most people don’t realize: it’s not just the weight that matters, but the purity. In Brisbane, gold buyers and pawnbrokers will test your gold purity using XRF machines for a quick and accurate calculation, done right in front of you. Plus, they weigh your gold using a weighing scale to determine its correct value (as per the purity and weight).. That way, you know exactly what you’re getting for your gold before you decide to sell or take a loan.
| Karat (K) | Purity % | Hallmark Stamp | Gold Content in 10g | Example Value (if spot price = $100/g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.90% | 999 | 10g pure gold | $1,000 |
| 18K | 75% | 750 | 7.5g pure gold | $750 |
| 14K | 58.50% | 585 | 5.85g pure gold | $585 |
| 9K | 37.50% | 375 | 3.75g pure gold | $375 |
Please note – The above table is merely an example to help readers understand how the gold price is calculated. To get an approximate value of your gold, you can multiply the weight of your gold based on its purity by the live market price of gold.
Hallmarks: What Do They Mean?
All gold jewellery, coins, bullion, and scrap carry a tiny stamp, often on the inner part of a ring band or on the fastening of a chain. It’s known as a hallmark that indicates purity. For instance:
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A 375 marking indicates 9K gold (37.5% pure).
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A 750 mark indicates 18K gold (75% pure).
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A 999 mark indicates 24K gold (pure).
Hallmarks on gold provide both the buyer and seller with a clear point of reference before performing the purity test. Nonetheless, genuine gold buyers in Brisbane will always assess the purity of your gold using an XRF (X-ray fluorescence) to ascertain its value after reading the hallmark of your gold.
How Purity Affects the Price of Your Gold?
Let’s understand this with an easy example.
Suppose the pure gold spot price (the current market price of gold) is AUD 100 per gram.
- 10g of 24K gold (100% pure)
= 10g × A$100
= A$1,000 - 10g of 18K gold (75% pure)
= (10g × 0.75) × A$100
= 7.5g × A$100
= A$750 - 10g of 9K gold (37.5% pure)
= (10g × 0.375) × A$100
= 3.75g × A$100
= A$375
✅ Summary:
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24K gold (10g) → A$1,000
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18K gold (10g) → A$750
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9K gold (10g) → A$375
Tips to Maximize What You Get
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When selling jewellery in Brisbane, always check the gold hallmark to confirm its purity. Visit your nearest Cash Your Gold store, and get a free evaluation for your gold or silver jewellery.
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Don’t assume heavier means more money. What truly matters is the purity of your gold. The purer the gold, the higher its value — no matter the weight. (Check the calculation above to see how purity changes the final amount.)
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Always ask how they test purity. A good buyer will tell you and do it in your presence.
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Get to know the live market rate. This information will help you understand how the purity and weight will add up for your final offer.
Real World Considerations You Should Know
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When you sell gold jewellery in Brisbane with dealers like Cash Your Gold, you’ll see live gold prices displayed on the website. This helps you understand the current rate of pure gold and ensures you get a fair offer.
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Test techniques such as XRF (X-ray fluorescence) are becoming the norm among gold buyers in Brisbane for assessing the purity of gold. It provides non-destructive, rapid measurement of what metals are contained in the piece.
Final Word
When you’re selling gold in Brisbane, being aware of the weight, purity, karat, and hallmark of your jewellery places you in a better position. The higher the purity, the more you will pocket.
When you sell gold jewellery in Brisbane at Cash Your Gold, your pieces are assessed fairly, right in front of you, ensuring that you are paid the best price for your precious metal (according to the live gold price).
We love it when our customers leave our store with a confident smile.
Are you ready to discover the true value of your gold purity in Brisbane?
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📍Visit us in Northside of Brisbane – Chermside, Southside of Brisbane – SunnyBank, and Browns Plains, Logan.
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📞 Call: 1300 678 175
