Examples of Items in Your Home That May Contain Gold

When most people think of gold and silver in their home, they think of fine holloware, jewelry and precious coins. But many don’t realize they may be sitting on a lot of gold in their everyday items.

The amount of gold in household items can vary significantly. However, with gold’s high market value, even small amounts can be worth recovering. And for items like jewelry or dental crowns, which contain higher amounts of gold, it’s even more worth collecting and bringing them in for evaluation.

At Jack Hunt, we appraise and purchase pieces that contain gold–even items you might not expect. Here are some items in your home that may contain gold.

Jewelry

In addition to more recently purchased fine jewelry, antique and vintage jewelry often contains high quality solid gold. This includes:

• Gold rings, bracelets, charms, necklaces, earrings and brooches
• Older watches and pocket watches
• Broken jewelry pieces — the gold is still valuable, even if the item can no longer be worn or repaired.

Eyeglasses & Dental Devices

Gold’s durability and flexibility, in addition to its biocompatibility in the body, have made it a top choice for eyeglasses and dental devices going back decades. Dentists used gold to fill cavities for years. The amount of gold can vary, but it’s definitely worth bringing them in for evaluation.

• Eyeglass frames: Gold is often used in eyeglasses, not just for a fashionable look, but also sometimes for internal components due to its strength. Don’t overlook your nana’s old glasses — they may be hiding a decent amount of solid gold.
• Dental pieces: In the past, crowns and fillings were often made with high percentages of gold and other metals. In addition, gold has been used to make caps and wiring used in the mouth. As technology has advanced, they’ve become less common, but gold alloys are still used today.

Collectibles, Awards, and Decorations

You may be surprised at the number of collectibles and decorative items in your home that contain gold. These may include:

• Coins: Some collectible coins may be made from gold or have a gold coating. This includes US and foreign coins.
• Trophies and awards: Depending on the item, they may contain pieces of real gold.
• Religious medals, pottery and statues: Gold can be found in ceremonial and religious decorative pieces.

How To Identify Gold In Your Household Items

It can be difficult to tell whether your items contain real gold or a good dupe. Here’s how to find out:

• Look for hallmarks and markings. There may be stamps on the item that indicate gold content, such as “10K,” “14K,” or “750” (indicating 75% gold, which is 18 karat).
• Perform a magnet test. Gold is not magnetic, so testing your item with a strong magnet can help differentiate gold from other metallic items. If the item is magnetic, it’s not gold (or silver).
• Get a professional evaluation. If you’re unsure about whether an item contains gold, bring it to a professional for an appraisal. At Jack Hunt, we can test items for gold using our state-of-the-art spectrometer, a machine that uses laser light to determine the exact chemical makeup of an item without damaging it.

If you’re looking to liquidate assets or get them appraised, be sure to check this list before throwing away old items. They may be worth more than you realize due to their gold content. But remember, don’t try to clean them before bringing them in for appraisal — you’ll be doing more harm than good.