Estimate the potential pawn value of your jewelry. Please note, this is an approximation, and the final offer will depend on the pawn shop's assessment.
Pawn shops assess jewelry based on several key factors to determine its immediate resale or melt value. Unlike retail appraisals focused on brand and retail markup, pawn values are primarily driven by the intrinsic worth of the materials and the potential for quick sale. This calculator helps you understand the basic components influencing a pawn offer.
Factors Considered:
Metal Purity & Weight: The most significant factor. Pawn shops pay based on the current market price of the precious metal (gold, silver, platinum) after accounting for its purity (karat for gold, fineness for others). The weight in grams is multiplied by the purity percentage and the spot price of the metal.
Gemstones: While gemstones add aesthetic value, their contribution to a pawn loan is usually much lower than their retail appraisal value. Pawn shops often factor in the carat weight, type, and quality (cut, clarity, color) but may discount heavily due to the difficulty in quickly reselling individual stones or the risk of damage during the pawn process. Diamonds generally hold the most pawn value among gemstones.
Condition: The physical state of the jewelry piece is crucial. Items in excellent condition, with no damage, missing stones, or significant wear, command higher values. Pieces needing repair or with visible flaws will be valued lower.
Brand & Designer (Secondary): While not the primary driver for pawn loans, a well-known designer brand in excellent condition might slightly increase the offer, as it can be resold more easily. However, this is secondary to the metal and gemstone value.
Market Demand: Pawn shops aim to profit from resale. If a particular style is currently in high demand, they might offer slightly more.
How the Calculator Works (Simplified):
This calculator provides an *estimated pawn value* based on current approximate melt/scrap values for metals and a conservative valuation for gemstones. It uses simplified, blended rates for different metal purities and gemstone types.
Metal Value Calculation:
Metal Value = (Metal Weight in Grams) * (Purity Percentage) * (Approximate Scrap Price per Gram of Pure Metal)
Purity percentages are derived from the selected carat/fineness (e.g., 18K is 75.0%).
Gemstone Value Estimation:
Gemstone value is highly variable and depends on cut, clarity, color, and certification. This calculator uses a *very rough estimation* based on carat weight and type, representing a fraction of potential retail value, as pawn shops prioritize resale speed and minimal risk.
Condition Adjustment:
The estimated value is adjusted slightly based on the condition, with excellent condition items receiving a minor uplift and poor condition items a significant reduction.
Final Estimated Pawn Value:
The calculator sums the estimated metal value and gemstone value, then applies a condition-based multiplier to arrive at a final estimated pawn value. This value represents what a pawn shop *might* offer, typically aiming for 30-60% of the item's quick resale value.
Disclaimer:
This calculator is for informational purposes only and provides a rough estimate. Actual pawn offers can vary significantly based on the individual pawn shop, their current inventory needs, market fluctuations, and their specific assessment of your item's condition and resale potential. Always get multiple quotes from different pawn shops for the best offer.
// Base prices per gram for pure metals (these are approximate and fluctuate)
// These are example scrap/melt values, not retail.
var goldPricesPerGram = {
'24k': 65.00, // $ per gram of pure gold
'22k': 59.75, // 22/24 * 65
'18k': 48.75, // 18/24 * 65
'14k': 37.92, // 14/24 * 65
'10k': 27.08, // 10/24 * 65
'sterling': 0.70 // $ per gram of sterling silver (0.925)
};
var silverPricesPerGram = {
'925': 0.70 // Sterling Silver price per gram
};
var platinumPricesPerGram = {
'950': 40.00 // $ per gram of pure platinum
};
// Very rough estimates for gemstone value per carat (highly variable!)
// These are conservative estimates for pawn value, not retail appraisal.
var gemstoneValuePerCarat = {
'diamond': 100, // $ per carat
'ruby': 50,
'sapphire': 45,
'emerald': 40,
'other_precious': 30,
'semi_precious': 10,
'none': 0
};
// Condition multipliers (adjusts final estimate slightly)
var conditionMultipliers = {
'excellent': 1.0,
'good': 0.9,
'fair': 0.7,
'poor': 0.5
};
function getPurityPercentage(metalType, metalCarat) {
if (metalType === 'gold') {
switch (metalCarat) {
case '24k': return 0.999;
case '22k': return 0.917;
case '18k': return 0.750;
case '14k': return 0.583;
case '10k': return 0.417;
default: return 0;
}
} else if (metalType === 'silver') {
if (metalCarat === '925') return 0.925;
return 0;
} else if (metalType === 'platinum') {
if (metalCarat === '950') return 0.950;
return 0;
}
return 0;
}
function getMetalScrapValuePerGram(metalType, metalCarat) {
if (metalType === 'gold') {
switch (metalCarat) {
case '24k': return goldPricesPerGram['24k'];
case '22k': return goldPricesPerGram['22k'];
case '18k': return goldPricesPerGram['18k'];
case '14k': return goldPricesPerGram['14k'];
case '10k': return goldPricesPerGram['10k'];
default: return 0;
}
} else if (metalType === 'silver' && metalCarat === '925') {
return silverPricesPerGram['925'];
} else if (metalType === 'platinum' && metalCarat === '950') {
return platinumPricesPerGram['950'];
}
return 0;
}
function updateCaratOptions() {
var metalTypeSelect = document.getElementById('metalType');
var metalCaratSelect = document.getElementById('metalCarat');
var selectedMetal = metalTypeSelect.value;
metalCaratSelect.innerHTML = "; // Clear existing options
var options = [];
if (selectedMetal === 'gold') {
options = [
{ value: '24k', text: '24K (99.9%)' },
{ value: '22k', text: '22K (91.7%)' },
{ value: '18k', text: '18K (75.0%)' },
{ value: '14k', text: '14K (58.3%)' },
{ value: '10k', text: '10K (41.7%)' }
];
} else if (selectedMetal === 'silver') {
options = [
{ value: '925', text: 'Sterling Silver (92.5%)' }
];
} else if (selectedMetal === 'platinum') {
options = [
{ value: '950', text: 'Platinum 950 (95.0%)' }
];
} else { // 'none'
options = [
{ value: 'none', text: 'N/A' }
];
}
options.forEach(function(opt) {
var option = document.createElement('option');
option.value = opt.value;
option.text = opt.text;
metalCaratSelect.appendChild(option);
});
// Ensure 'none' is available if no metal selected
if (selectedMetal === 'none') {
var noneOption = document.createElement('option');
noneOption.value = 'none';
noneOption.text = 'N/A';
if (!Array.from(metalCaratSelect.options).some(o => o.value === 'none')) {
metalCaratSelect.appendChild(noneOption);
}
metalCaratSelect.value = 'none';
} else {
// If metal selected, ensure 'none' option is not default unless it's the only one
if(metalCaratSelect.options.length > 0 && metalCaratSelect.options[0].value === 'none' && options.length > 0) {
metalCaratSelect.value = options[0].value; // set to first valid option
}
}
}
function calculatePawnValue() {
var metalType = document.getElementById('metalType').value;
var metalCarat = document.getElementById('metalCarat').value;
var metalWeightGrams = parseFloat(document.getElementById('metalWeightGrams').value);
var gemstoneWeightCarats = parseFloat(document.getElementById('gemstoneWeightCarats').value);
var gemstoneType = document.getElementById('gemstoneType').value;
var pieceCondition = document.getElementById('pieceCondition').value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('result');
// Reset previous result
resultDiv.innerHTML = ";
// Input validation
if (isNaN(metalWeightGrams) || metalWeightGrams <= 0) {
metalWeightGrams = 0; // Default to 0 if invalid
}
if (isNaN(gemstoneWeightCarats) || gemstoneWeightCarats 0 && scrapValuePerGram > 0) {
metalValue = metalWeightGrams * purityPercentage * scrapValuePerGram;
}
}
// Calculate Gemstone Value (highly approximate)
if (gemstoneType !== 'none' && gemstoneWeightCarats > 0) {
var baseGemValuePerCarat = gemstoneValuePerCarat[gemstoneType] || 0;
gemstoneValue = gemstoneWeightCarats * baseGemValuePerCarat;
// Apply rough condition adjustment to gemstone value
if (pieceCondition === 'fair' || pieceCondition === 'poor') {
gemstoneValue *= 0.5; // Significantly less value if damaged
} else if (pieceCondition === 'good') {
gemstoneValue *= 0.8;
}
}
var subTotal = metalValue + gemstoneValue;
var conditionMultiplier = conditionMultipliers[pieceCondition] || 1.0;
// Final estimated pawn value – this should be conservative
// Pawn shops typically offer a fraction of the scrap/resale value.
// We apply the condition multiplier and then a further reduction
// to represent a realistic pawn offer (often 30-60% of the calculated value).
var estimatedPawnValue = subTotal * conditionMultiplier * 0.5; // ~50% of adjusted value as pawn offer
// Ensure the value is not negative and format it
estimatedPawnValue = Math.max(0, estimatedPawnValue);
var formattedValue = estimatedPawnValue.toFixed(2);
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Estimated Pawn Value:$' + formattedValue + '';
}
// Initialize carat options based on default metal type on load
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', updateCaratOptions);