Find the karat stamp, usually on the clasp or the tag beside it, then weigh the chain. A hollow chain looks as big as a solid one but holds much less gold, and GF, GP or HGE marks mean it's only filled or plated.
Why the type of chain matters
Two gold chains can look the same size and the same color and still be worth very different amounts. What a gold buyer pays depends on how much actual gold is in the chain, and that comes down to three questions:
- Is it solid gold, hollow gold, or only covered in gold?
- What karat is the gold?
- How much does it weigh?
Step 1: Find the stamp
Chains are usually marked on the clasp, on the small ring next to it, or on a flat tag near the clasp. You may need a magnifier or your phone’s camera zoomed in.
| Mark | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| 10K / 417 | 10 karat gold (41.7%) |
| 14K / 585 | 14 karat gold (58.5%) |
| 18K / 750 | 18 karat gold (75%) |
| 22K / 916 | 22 karat gold (91.6%) |
| GF, 1/20 12K GF | Gold filled: a gold layer bonded over another metal |
| GP, RGP, HGE, GE | Gold plated or electroplated: a thin gold layer |
| 925 | Sterling silver, sometimes gold-plated |
One thing to watch for: the clasp is sometimes a different metal from the chain. A clasp marked 14K proves only that the clasp is 14K. If the rest of the chain has no mark, test it too. See what gold stamps mean for more marks.
Step 2: Solid, hollow or covered?
Solid gold chains are gold all the way through. They feel heavy for their size, and the links hold their shape when you squeeze them gently.
Hollow gold chains are real gold, but each link is a thin gold tube with nothing inside. This makes a big, bold chain much lighter and cheaper to make. Signs of a hollow chain:
- It feels surprisingly light for how thick it looks.
- Links have small dents or flattened spots.
- At a broken or cut end, you can see the link is a tube, not a solid wire.
Hollow chains are still stamped with a karat, such as 14K. Because a buyer pays by the weight of gold, a hollow chain is worth much less than a solid chain that looks the same. Your scale is the best guide.
Gold-filled and plated chains have only a layer of gold over a base metal, usually brass or copper. Under US rules from the Federal Trade Commission, “gold filled” means the gold layer is at least 1/20 of the metal’s weight, and “gold electroplate” can be a very thin layer. Gold buyers usually pay little or nothing for these. Signs include a GF, GP or HGE stamp, and worn spots where a different color shows through, often on the clasp or where the chain rubs. See gold-filled vs gold-plated vs vermeil.
Step 3: Quick checks at home
- Magnet test. Gold isn’t magnetic. If the chain sticks firmly to a strong magnet, it’s not solid gold. A clasp may still react because of a small steel spring inside, so test the chain itself. Passing the magnet test doesn’t prove it’s gold, though.
- Look at wear spots. Solid gold stays the same color when it wears. A copper, gray or silver color showing through means plating.
- Compare weight and size. A thick chain that weighs very little is usually hollow, plated, or both.
For more tests and their limits, see how to test gold at home. A buyer can check the karat accurately with acid or a testing machine; see how buyers test gold.
Step 4: Weigh it and work out the value
Weigh the chain in grams on a scale that reads to at least 0.1 gram. If a pendant or charm is attached, weigh it separately, because it may be a different karat or have stones. See how to weigh gold at home.
Then put the karat and weight into our gold calculator. It gives you the melt value, which is the value of the pure gold in the chain at today’s price.
Buyers usually offer less than melt value to cover testing, refining and their costs. See spot price vs scrap value and how to tell if a gold offer is fair.
When a chain may be worth more than melt
Most chains sell for their gold. A few may be worth more as jewelry, such as a signed designer piece or a chain in like-new condition. If a chain has a well-known maker’s mark, ask a jewelry buyer for a resale price as well as a scrap price.
Broken chains are usually worth the same as whole ones to a gold buyer, since the gold is melted either way. Bring every piece, including the clasp.
Quick summary
| Type | Gold content | What a buyer usually pays for |
|---|---|---|
| Solid gold | Gold all through | Full gold weight |
| Hollow gold | Real gold, thin walls | Gold weight, which is low for its size |
| Gold filled (GF) | Thin bonded layer | Little |
| Gold plated (GP, HGE) | Very thin layer | Little or nothing |
These values are estimates, not financial advice. Buyers set their own prices.
Last reviewed November 2, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.