Trusted Gold and Silver Buyers

How To Identify Worthless Scrap

How To Identify Worthless Scrap  Gold, Silver, and Metal

A lot of worthless scrap metal  might look like precious gold or silver. Many times all that glitter here is not Gold. Refinity as well as other dealers would not purchase or refine items that are not precious metals. Please use the following tips to identify your metal and jewelry pieces as valuable metal.

Some examples of worthless scrap that we will not refine are shown here. Please look at your metal scrap carefully, before you send it in.

Is my Jewelry or Scrap Metal Worthless?
Things to Look For:
If the metal is discolored or tarnished  -  it has no metal value for refinement
It the metal flakes or rubs off  -  it has no metal value for refinement
If the jewelry does not contain a hallmark such as 10K, 14K 18K  -  Then it has no metal value for refinement
If the piece of jewelry is magnetic  -  It has no metal value for refinement
If the flatware dinning set is marked Stainless Steal  -  It has no metal value for refinement
If your Silverware does not contain the marking STR, Sterling, Sterling Silver or .925.  -  Then it has no metal value for refinement

Examples of Worthless Scrap Metal

Look for tarnish and discoloration. Most karat gold does not tarnish, rub off or flake. It also is not magnetic.

If your scrap metal is tarnished, is discolored and is magnetic, then it is basically worthless.  You would be wasting your time attempting to sell it for the metal content.  It may have some antique value, rather then metal value.

Check For Karat Markings - Discoloration

If your jewelry is marked with a 10K, 14K, or 18K,  then it DOES have metal worth and can be refined.
Send your 10K, 14K and 18K pieces to us for your quick cash

Discoloration and lack of karat hallmarks is a good indication of plated base metal (gold filled jewelry) which is basically worthless.

Some gold filled jewelry may be marked 1/20 14K, 1/20 10K or 1/20 18K. This is NOT karat gold. It is heavily plated gold, and although we will buy this “gold filled” jewelry, it will be at A MUCH LOWER RATE. Costume jewelry which is flash plated has absolutely NO VALUE. Only the 10K, 14K and 18K metals are considered to have any value.

Make sure you check for all the hallmarks on your jewelery to determine if it is true Gold, Silver, or Platinum.  If your jewelry does not have the proper hallmarks then it is most likely not worth refining.  Make sure the pieces have the proper mark of 10K, 14K or 18K for gold and STR, Sterling, Sterling Silver or .925. for Silver.

Costume Jewelry- without Markings is worthless

Most costume jewelry is plated and of no value. These items will be light in weight and have no karat markings.

Check your costume jewelry for the specific markings of 10K, 14K or 18K.  If these markings do not appear on your costume jewelry, then they have no value.  Check for discoloration and magnification as well.

Only Sterling Silver for Flatware Dinning pieces – Not Stainless Steal

All sterling silver will be marked STR, Sterling, Sterling Silver or .925.

If the items are not marked, it is not sterling silver. We do not take flatware such as knives because of the stainless steel blade. We also do not take sterling items that are weighted at their base with Rosin (like a candlestick holder). Note: You can remove the Rosin base from a  Sterling silver candlestick, and we will refine it, but you must make sure that it is Sterling and has the karat hallmark for Sterling Silver.

Be sure to check your individual pieces for all the criteria of valuable metal. Once you have identified your pieces request a prepaid Refinity Mailing Kit and send your scrap pieces for your quick cash.

No Middle Man, Highest Payouts.   If you have question you can call us at 1-800-400-4430