Gold and silver from Metroplex households
Estate boxes in Plano, broken chains in Fort Worth, a coin jar from a Richardson closet.
Precious-metal leads here are usually personal, not commercial. A move out of a 1990s Plano house turns up class rings and flatware. A Fort Worth estate may have worn silver coins mixed with costume pieces. Photograph both sides of anything stamped, and do not weigh plated jewelry in with the solid pieces.
The spot cards are a reference from the market, not an offer. A partner buyer sets the bid after they see karat and weight. Bring a government photo ID to complete a sale.
Local prices vary by yard. Send a photo for a quote. The figures above are live market spot prices from gold-api, for reference only — not a local scale ticket.
Dallas–Fort Worth Scrap is an independent referral service that connects you with local scrap yards.
Sort gold and silver before a DFW appraisal
Separate likely solid gold, sterling silver, plated pieces, and costume jewelry before sending photos or visiting a buyer. Look for marks such as 10K, 14K, or 925, but treat stamps as clues rather than proof. A mark can be worn, misleading, or missing. Keep pieces with different markings in separate groups so the partner buyer can assess them more clearly.
A small magnet can help with an initial check: solid gold and silver are not magnetic, while some other metals are. But this is only a screening step. Clasps, springs, and mixed-metal parts may react differently, and a nonmagnetic item is not automatically precious metal. Avoid testing jewelry with acids or scratching it unless a buyer explains the risks and agrees to the test.
Do not polish or chemically clean old silver before an appraisal. Cleaning can remove surface detail or affect the appearance of collectible items. Photograph markings, clasps, and both sides in clear light, and note whether a piece is broken or missing parts. Keep any stones, boxes, or paperwork with the item, but ask whether they affect the offer rather than assuming they add value.
How DFW buyers assess coins, flatware, and mixed pieces
Silver coins can be valued for their metal content or for collector demand, and those are not always the same thing. Keep coins separate from ordinary silver and avoid cleaning them. If you know where they came from or have original packaging, share that information. A buyer can explain whether a coin needs a separate evaluation instead of being treated only as scrap metal.
Sterling flatware is often marked 925 or sterling, but some pieces have weighted handles or non-silver components. A hollow handle may contain filler, so the whole item's weight does not represent silver weight. Share photos of the marks and construction, and ask how the buyer handles weighted pieces. Do not cut handles open to check; that can damage the item and create a safety risk.
A referral request connects you with an independent partner buyer; this site does not buy precious metals or set the final bid. Ask the buyer how they separate karats, account for stones and nonmetal parts, and explain the weighing process. Compare offers using the same items and terms. If the explanation is unclear, pause and ask questions before agreeing to a sale.
Questions
What do gold karat marks mean?
Karat indicates the proportion of gold in an alloy: higher karat means a greater gold content. Marks such as 10K or 14K can help sort items, but they do not establish authenticity by themselves. A buyer may use additional testing and assess each piece separately, especially when marks are worn or parts appear to be mixed metal.
Is gold-filled or gold-plated jewelry the same as solid gold?
No. Gold-filled and gold-plated items have a layer of gold over a base metal, rather than being gold throughout. Their value and buying treatment can differ from solid gold. Look for wording such as “GF” or “plated,” but do not rely on a stamp alone. Ask the partner buyer how they classify the piece before including it with solid gold.
Should I remove stones from jewelry before showing it to a buyer?
Do not remove stones yourself. Taking them out can damage the setting or the stone, and it may not improve the offer. Show the complete piece and ask whether the buyer evaluates stones separately or considers only the metal. If you have documentation for a stone, bring it along, but ask whether it is relevant to the buyer’s assessment.
How should I handle old or collectible coins?
Keep coins in their current condition and separate them from loose jewelry or flatware. Cleaning, polishing, or rubbing can affect collector interest. Share any packaging or records you have, and ask whether the buyer evaluates the coins for collector value as well as metal content. If the offer treats them only as metal, you can seek another evaluation before deciding.
Why can a piece weigh more than the precious metal in it?
Jewelry and household silver may include stones, solder, steel springs, weighted handles, or other non-precious parts. The item's total weight is not necessarily the amount of gold or silver being valued. Ask the buyer how they separate or account for those components, and confirm which items are included before accepting an offer.