Gold-filled is a construction, not a purity. The honest answer is usually small, and for plated it is zero.
What a kilo of it holds
The table prices a 100 gram lot of each grade at the current benchmark of
$4,133.30 a troy ounce. A hundred grams is a
shoebox of costume chain, which is the scale at which the question starts to be worth asking.
Gold content and melt value of 100 g of each grade.
Grade
Gold layer
Pure gold
Melt value
1/20 12k gold filled
5.00 g
2.50 g
$332.22
1/20 14k gold filled
5.00 g
2.92 g
$387.59
1/10 12k gold filled
10.00 g
5.00 g
$664.44
1/10 14k gold filled
10.00 g
5.83 g
$775.18
1/40 12k rolled gold
2.50 g
1.25 g
$166.11
gold plated
0.000 g
0.000 g
nil
Plated returns nothing, and that is the correct answer rather than a limitation of the
calculator. There is no stated minimum weight on an electroplate, the deposit is measured in
microns, and what is there costs more to recover than it is worth.
Reading the mark
A gold-filled mark has two parts: the fraction of the weight that is the gold layer, and the
karat of that layer. So 1/20 12k GF is one twentieth of the weight in 12 karat gold. Twelve
karat is half gold, so the piece is 2.5% gold by weight. A 30 gram gold-filled chain therefore
holds about three quarters of a gram of gold.
Rolled gold plate, marked RGP, uses the same idea with a thinner layer, commonly 1/40. Anything
marked GP, HGE, GEP or simply "gold tone" is electroplated and has no stated content at all.
The hallmark guide lists the marks side by side, including the
ones designed to look like karat stamps.
Selling it
Gold-filled scrap trades by the pound to refiners who handle low-grade material, and the price
is a fraction of the computed content because recovery from a bonded layer is harder than from
solid karat gold. Do not mix it into a karat gold lot: a buyer who spots one GF clasp has a
reason to discount the entire bag, and a fair one will simply hand it back.
Vintage gold-filled is often worth more as jewellery than as metal. Edwardian and Art Deco
gold-filled watch chains, lockets and pocket watch cases sell steadily at prices no refiner
would match, because the layer is thick enough to have survived a century of wear and the
design is the point.
Gold filled questions
What does 1/20 12k GF mean?+
It is a construction, not a purity. One twentieth of the total weight is a bonded layer of 12 karat gold, and the rest is brass or another base metal. So 5% of the weight is 12k, which is itself half gold: 2.5% of the piece is actually gold.
Is gold-filled jewellery worth anything?+
A little, and only in quantity. A single gold-filled chain holds a fraction of a gram of gold. A few kilos of scrap gold-filled is a real lot that a refiner will take, which is why it is bought and sold by the pound rather than by the piece.
What is the difference between gold-filled and gold-plated?+
Thickness, by orders of magnitude. Gold-filled is a mechanically bonded sheet at a legally stated fraction of the weight. Plating is a microns-thick electro-deposit with no minimum weight, and it is worth effectively nothing at melt.
Will a pawn shop buy gold-filled?+
Usually not. The gold content is too small to justify testing and the resale is costume. Refiners who specialise in low-grade material will, but they buy by the pound and pay a fraction of the computed content.
What do the marks GF, RGP, HGE and GP mean?+
GF is gold filled, and carries a stated fraction such as 1/20. RGP is rolled gold plate, a thinner bonded layer. HGE is heavy gold electroplate and GP is gold plate, both electro-deposited and both worth nothing at melt. The presence of a karat number does not make a piece karat gold.
Can I recover the gold from gold-filled at home?+
Do not try. The chemistry involves strong acids and produces toxic fumes, and the yield on a domestic quantity is worth a few dollars. Sell it as a lot to somebody set up for it.
Recommended Gold Testing & Smelting Equipment
Laboratory-grade scales, non-destructive electronic testers, and digital melting furnaces for accurate scrap valuation and refining.
Digital Electric Gold & Silver Melting Furnace (1kg to 3kg, 1150°C / 2100°F)
Commercial digital smelting furnace with high-density graphite crucible, insulated heating chamber, and heavy-duty crucible tongs. Heats up to 2100°F (1150°C) with precise digital PID temperature control to cleanly melt scrap gold jewelry, sterling silver, and brass into tradeable bullion bars in under 45 minutes.
Laboratory-grade electronic gold analyzer that instantly determines karat purity from 10K to 24K and verifies platinum without messy acid drops or destructive scratching. Rapid self-calibration ensures quick, reliable scrap valuation without damaging collectible jewelry.
0.001g High-Precision Analytical Milligram Jewelry Scale (50g x 0.001g)
Laboratory-grade analytical milligram balance measuring down to 0.001 grams, 0.005 carats, and 0.0001 troy ounces (ozt). Features a clear protective draft shield, tare function, and stainless steel calibration weights to catch fine weight fractions before smelting.
Multi-Cavity High-Density Graphite Ingot Mold for Bar Casting
Machined high-purity fine-grain graphite mold designed for pouring clean 1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz, and 10 oz gold and silver bars. Delivers high thermal stability, rapid heat dissipation, and a smooth cavity finish for effortless ingot release.
Master Gold & Silver Chemical Acid Scratch Assay Kit with Touchstone & Loupe
Complete precious metal appraisal kit featuring 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K gold testing acids, silver testing solution, a genuine dense testing touchstone, and an illuminated triplet jeweler loupe to distinguish solid karat gold from heavy plating.
Kevlar-reinforced split-cowhide foundry gloves rated for temperatures up to 2000°F with extended gauntlet forearm protection, paired with a high-impact anti-glare face shield designed for safe scrap metal handling and pouring.
Compare essential equipment specifications for establishing an efficient scrap gold testing and melting workstation:
Equipment Type
Primary Purpose
Capacity / Accuracy
Key Advantage
Electric Smelting Furnace
Melting scrap jewelry, dental gold, and coins into bullion
1 kg to 3 kg crucible capacity
Clean flameless PID temperature control up to 2100°F
Electronic Karat Tester
Instant purity check on intact jewelry and high-end watches
10K to 24K gold and platinum ranges
Non-destructive testing with no acid stains or scratches
Analytical Milligram Scale
Precise scrap weight measurement before refining
50g capacity at 0.001g (0.0001 ozt)
Catches fine weight margins standard kitchen scales miss
Multi-Cavity Ingot Mold
Casting molten scrap metal into tradeable bullion bars
1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz bar cavities
High-density graphite prevents sticking and oxidation
Acid Touchstone Assay Kit
Distinguishing solid karat alloy from heavy vermeil or plate
10K, 14K, 18K, 22K acid standards
Time-tested chemical confirmation for scrap buyers
Scrap Valuation Pro Tip: Melt Loss & Non-Destructive Testing
When melting scrap jewelry lots, expect an average 1% to 3% melt loss due to burn-off of non-precious solder joints, skin oils, and enamel. Before melting high-value items, verify karat content using a non-destructive electronic tester. Acid scratch testing can leave noticeable etch marks and may read false positive on heavy gold-filled or rolled gold plate items (such as 1/10 10K RGP or vermeil).
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