People ask how we know a chain is real gold, what a stamp means, and whether we test behind a curtain. Here are straight answers from Apex Gold Silver Coin at 605 Walnut St SW in Winston-Salem about how we test scrap gold before we make an offer.
Do you test gold in front of me?
Yes. We test and weigh on the counter while you watch. We say what we are checking and why, then put a number with the karat and weight we found. There is no back-room mystery step for a normal walk-in lot.
Is a stamp enough, or do you still test?
Stamps help. Marks like 10K, 14K, 18K, 417, 585, and 750 are common starting points. They are not the whole story. Worn stamps, unmarked pieces, filled or plated jewelry, and mixed piles show up every week. We still test so the karat matches what is actually on the scale.
For a plain-language look at what those karat numbers mean for pay, see Selling 10K, 14K, and 18K Gold Jewelry in Winston-Salem.
What happens if pieces are different karats?
We sort by karat when we can, weigh each group, and price from the gold content we confirm. Higher karat means more gold per gram, so 18K usually pays more per gram than 14K, and 14K more than 10K, all else equal. Spot moves day to day, so the cash number follows the market that day.
How much do you pay for scrap gold?
For scrap gold jewelry we buy as melt, we generally pay about 75% of melt for the gold content we confirm. That is gold only—not costume jewelry, and not coined bullion priced as coins. If you also have coins in the same bag, we sort those on the counter. Coins often pay higher than jewelry scrap when they are real bullion or better collectibles. More on that split: Gold Coins vs Scrap Gold in Winston-Salem.
Do stones and settings count in the melt price?
No. Scrap gold pay is for the gold only. Stones, non-gold settings, and anything we cannot melt as gold do not count in that percentage. We will tell you how we handle stones on the piece when we look at it. You do not need to remove stones before you come in.
Do you buy watches as scrap gold?
No. Watches are a separate trade. Karat gold jewelry and scrap come to the coin shop counter at 605. High-end watches such as Rolex, Omega, and Breitling go next door to Apex Gold Silver Watches at 607 Walnut St SW. Do not expect a jewelry-scrap melt price on a watch trade.
What should I bring?
Bring the gold itself—chains, rings, bracelets, earrings, dental gold, broken pieces, mixed karat piles—and a government-issued photo ID. Boxes and receipts help but are not required. No need to polish or clean the pieces. Cleaning does not raise melt value. Inherited jewelry boxes are common; same process as other inherited gold and coins. No appointment for a normal walk-in. Our gold buyer page has more on what we buy.
Where are you and what are your hours?
Monday–Friday 10am–4pm, Saturday 12–3pm, closed Sunday. Apex Gold Silver Coin, 605 Walnut St SW, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Phone (336) 505-9503 only. You can also use our contact page.
People drive in from Greensboro, Lexington, Mount Airy, Reidsville, and nearby. That is the service area. The shop is one location on Walnut Street. Tania runs the counter day to day. Jeff is the owner.
Ready to walk in?
Bring your scrap gold and a photo ID during hours. We will test, weigh, and explain the offer on the counter. Call (336) 505-9503 if you have a large lot and want to confirm cash on hand.
