18K gold price per gram today
18K gold is 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals. It is stamped 750 and contains 75% gold.
18K value examples
| Item | Weight | Melt value today |
|---|---|---|
| Ring | 3 g | … |
| Chain | 10 g | … |
| Watch case (gold part) | 25 g | … |
Melt value at today’s price. Buyers pay less.
What 18K gold means
18 karat gold is 18 parts gold out of 24, exactly 75%. It has a richer yellow color than 14K, and it is softer, so it scratches and bends more easily. It is often used for fine jewelry and watch cases.
Like 14K, 18K comes in yellow, white and rose. White 18K is often plated with rhodium for a bright white finish. The plating has no meaningful melt value; the 75% gold content is what counts.
How to recognize 18K gold
Look for 18K, 18KT or 750. European jewelry and watch cases are usually stamped 750. If you also see “GF”, “GP” or “HGE” (heavy gold electroplate), the item is only coated (16 CFR 23.3).
Selling 18K gold
Because 18K holds 75% gold, it is worth about 28% more per gram than 14K (0.750 ÷ 0.585). Make sure the buyer tests and prices it as 18K and does not lump it in with lower karats. Designer or antique pieces can be worth more than melt value to a collector, so consider having those valued separately before selling them as scrap.
What buyers pay for 18K
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.