10K gold price per gram today

What 10K gold means

10 karat gold is 10 parts gold out of 24, about 41.7%. More than half of the metal is something else, usually copper, silver and zinc. That makes 10K the hardest and most scratch-resistant of the common karats, and also the cheapest per gram.

Because there is so little gold in it, 10K tends to look paler than 14K or 18K. It can also tarnish slightly over time, because of the higher share of other metals.

How to recognize 10K gold

Look for 10K, 10KT, 10KP or the number 417 on the clasp, inside a ring band or on a small tag near the clasp of a chain. Some old pieces carry “416”. Remember that a stamp is a claim by the maker, not a guarantee: see how to test gold at home.

Watch out for 10K GF or 10K GP. Those mean gold-filled or gold-plated: only a thin outer layer is 10K gold, and the rest is base metal. Under US rules, “gold filled” means the gold layer is at least 1/20 of the metal’s weight (16 CFR 23.3).

Is 10K gold worth selling?

Per gram it is worth well under half the price of pure gold. Small items like a single thin chain may be worth only a modest amount after the buyer’s cut, so weigh the item and check the melt value first. Larger items, such as heavy rings or several pieces together, add up quickly.

What buyers pay for 10K

One refinery that publishes its terms, Northern Refineries in the US, says it pays 96% of the fine gold it recovers from karat gold for lots of 3 troy ounces or more, and 94% for smaller lots, based on the market price on the day the order is completed (Northern Refineries settlement terms, checked October 19, 2026). That is a refinery price for people who ship scrap to them. Jewelry stores, pawnshops, cash-for-gold shops and mail-in buyers set their own prices, which are not published in the same way, and they can be much lower. The only way to know is to ask several buyers for a written price per gram for your karat.

See also: price per gram for every karat · hallmarks explained.