Is the pawn shop trying to s***w me, i took a ring up there 14 k and they told me it weighed 7 oz, then?

Question

someone told me they don't weigh gold in ounces, but i thought they did, and it was 28.6 grams was an ounce...what's up? do they just want me to "give" them my ring for 30 bucks, which is what they told me it's worth????

Answer 1

Does your ring really weigh almost half a pound? I doubt that they actually told you it weighs 7 ounces.

It was probably 7 *grams* that your ring weighs. And since 14K gold is only actually 58 percent gold, you have less than 4 grams of pure gold there.

I see 14K gold rings selling at online jewelers for less than $200, so to a pawn shop -- well, maybe you could bargain him up to $50 for yours, but I'd be surprised if you get any more than that. Don't forget that pawn brokers aren't going to give you the amount that the item is actually worth -- they have to make their profit somewhere when they sell the item.

Answer 2

It's the old puzzle of which weighs more a pound of gold or a pound of feathers. The correct answers is a pound of feathers! The reason for this is that gold is measured by using the Troy system of weights while feathers are measured using the Avoirdupois system of weights.



Troy ounce

31.10 grams

12 oz = 1 pound

Used to weigh precious metals, gemstones, etc.



Avoirdupois ounce

28.35 grams

16oz = 1 pound

Used to measure every day items

I would find some place else to sell my gold. Scrap 14K gold is bringing in retail (what you should get) about $250/troy oz.

Answer 3

pawn shops only give you about a 1/3 of what your stuff is worth.  That is how they make money.  Gold is measured in ounces.  But 14k gold isn't pure gold.  So your ring was only 58% gold.  Surely you weren't expecting him to pay you for the other 42% of worthless metal.