Robert says most class rings are 10K gold. That means it's 48.5% pure gold. We send our gold to be refined to the company I linked to below. There is a helpful calculator to help determine how much your ring may be worth.

We send lots of scrap metal to him and he has been very good to us. He is located in the LA area (City of Commerce, CA).

Good luck! You may get $$ back but remember that class rings are always way over priced, so don't expect the gold value to be anywhere near what you pay for the ring. LOL!

Here is a link that might be useful: David H Fell

There are many reputable jewelers in our area who are buying gold. I would go that route before going to a pawn shop. I also read something a while back about checking around for prices as to how much you will get. Apparently some pay different percentages. Goldie is right the different karets of gold make a difference in what is being paid. Gold was up over $100 but that is pure gold. Not sure what the rate is today.

I have a good bit of yellow gold and actually went through and got all this out, thinking I might sell it as I haven't word yellow gold in years. I've not looked into this, but I should - before the price goes down.

Good luck!

tina

Should have read what I wrote, obviously I meant, gold was up over $1000, not $100.

I was just looking for that lost Gold thread myself the other day, as I have very nice wedding ring set with diamonds (gorgeous and unused . . . long story!) that I want to finally do something with. I was thinking about Craig's List, but Jen's post about that poor guy who was murdered for a diamond ring he'd listed on CL quickly talked me out of that! I'm VERY grateful for that heads-up, Jen!
Now, I'm thinking of taking it all to a local jeweler and having a nice cocktail ring made from them. I don't want to take any chances on CL anymore with valuable things like jewelry!
Lynn

Well, I took the ring to the jeweler today to see if we could trade it in a a new one. Turns out that only certain companies can make a Kettering University college ring and he isn't one of them. He did buy DH's old highschool ring for $170 though. I will just use the $ to help with the new one.

Oh, and I left the store with plans for a new Mother's ring for myself! I only have the two girls and two stones didn't look too good so I am adding a thrid stone. I am going to use the stone from the month that DH and I got married. I must be extra emotional right now because I got all teary-eyed telling DH about it! Geez!

Neica, yes, the "school" rings are a rip off because only certain companies are licensed to make them. No competition means you pay the big bucks.

Why stop with the stone for the month you got married? You should do your birthstone and DH's as well! (... Do you have any pets? LOL!) Those rings look great with lots of stones.

Golddust, too funny! I was going to originally get the girls' stones, mine and DH's but the ring that I really like only has 3 settings in it. Here is a link to the ring I'm thinking about: http://www.stuller.com/products/121002/?groupId=5092

I read about dental offices keeping gold crowns they remove and making money by selling them. So I had mine returned to me when it was removed. I still have the pieces but have not looked into it yet.

My ring from first marriage was white and yellow gold. Jeweler would only give me 10 bucks because it was not worth separating it out.

Necia, that's a great idea! For DD's 16th birthday in March, we had a ring made for her with her birthstone, aquamarine, flanked on either side by DH's & my birthstones, both amethysts . . . meaning that she'll always be between our hearts forever.
As for high school class rings . . . what a HUGE waste of money, IMO!! As the oldest in my family, I got one and wore it my junior and senior year . . . and never wore it again! Heck, the last thing I wanted as a college freshman was to be seen wearing a high school class ring! I talked my next in line sis into getting a nice birthstone ring instead. From then on, my four sisters all got beautiful birthstone rings and my 4 brothers got gorgeous gold signet rings. All still wear them ~ and love them ~ today, many, many years later . . . while I have this over-priced high school class ring that I never wear, sitting in my jewelry box . . . and no jeweler wants to buy some 10K, dated, nothing ring!
Our now 25 y/o DS wouldn't listen to my "sage" advice and insisted he had to have a class ring. How long did he wear it???? TWO years, until he headed off to college!!! He's never worn it again . . . and probably has no idea where it is now! My 16 y/o is more wise, though; she's learned from all this and is already designing her own graduation ring . . . an emerald cut aquamarine flanked by two diamonds. Smart girl!
Lynn