How much is my ring worth?

A ring's value comes from three things: the metal it is made of, the stones set in it, and the name or history behind it. The metal sets a floor you can work out at home today. The stones and the story decide everything above that floor.

Step 1: Find the stamp

Look inside the band with a magnifying glass or your phone camera's zoom. Most rings carry a purity stamp:

• 10K or 417: 10 karat gold, 41.7% pure
• 14K or 585: 14 karat gold, 58.5% pure
• 18K or 750: 18 karat gold, 75% pure
• PT950 or PLAT: platinum
• 925 or STER: sterling silver
• GP, GF, HGE or RGP: plated or filled, worth little as metal

No stamp at all? Resized rings sometimes lose their stamp, and older or handmade rings may never have had one, so a missing stamp is not proof of a fake. See every jewelry stamp.

Step 2: Work out the metal floor

Weigh the ring in grams on a kitchen or jewelry scale, then use today's melt values:

Set stones add weight, so subtract a little for them. Melt is a floor, not a price: a gold buyer pays less than melt to cover refining and profit, so get more than one quote before you sell. For an exact figure, use the melt value calculator.

Step 3: Look at the stones

For most engagement and gemstone rings, the stones are worth far more than the metal.

• Diamonds are valued on the 4Cs: carat, color, clarity and cut. A lab-grown diamond looks the same as a natural one but sells for far less, and both resell well below their retail price.
• Colored stones such as ruby, sapphire and emerald are priced on color, size, clarity, origin and treatment.
• Cubic zirconia and glass add little to resale value.

Step 4: Check the maker, age and condition

A signed ring from a well-known house such as Tiffany & Co., Cartier or Van Cleef & Arpels can sell for well above the value of its materials, especially with its original box or paperwork. Antique and estate rings, such as Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco pieces, can carry a premium for their design and craftsmanship. Damage, heavy wear and missing stones lower the value.

Which "worth" do you mean?

• Retail replacement value is what a similar ring would cost new. Insurance appraisals usually state this figure, and it is the highest of the three.
• Fair market value is what a willing buyer and seller would agree on. It is often used for estates and donations.
• Resale value is what a jeweler, pawn shop or private buyer will pay you today, usually far below the retail figure.

If you are selling, plan around resale value, and expect it to be well under the number on an insurance appraisal.

How to get a number for your ring

1. Photograph it with GemstoneAI. The app identifies the ring and its stones and estimates what it is worth from real pricing data. Your first scan is free.
2. For a valuable ring, see an independent appraiser. Find one in our free appraiser directory.
3. For a major diamond, get a lab report from a gemological lab such as GIA.

Scan your ring free

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How can I find out what my ring is worth for free?

Check the stamp, weigh the ring, and work out the metal value from today's melt prices. A photo scan with GemstoneAI then estimates the stones and the ring as a whole, and your first scan is free. For an expensive ring, pay for an independent appraisal.

Is my ring worth more than its gold?

Often. Stones, a famous maker or antique design can add far more than the metal. A plain band is usually worth close to its metal value.

How much will a pawn shop give me for my ring?

Less than retail, and for plain gold, less than melt value, because pawn shops and gold buyers price in refining costs and profit. Know the melt value before you go and get quotes from more than one buyer.