Platinum is about 1.7× denser than gold. A platinum ring feels heavier than a gold ring of the same shape, but per troy ounce platinum prices differently — usually lower than gold. We show you both numbers.
Sell platinum jewelry in San Diego.
Platinum is denser than gold and the market for it is thinner — that changes the math. We explain how platinum buying works before we name a number.
Why people sell their platinum here.
Most platinum jewelry is stamped Pt950 (95% pure), Pt900, or Pt850. We weigh, identify the stamp, and calculate value based on the exact platinum content.
If your platinum ring has a stone or is a recognized branded piece, the whole-piece value can exceed melt. We evaluate both ways and offer the higher of the two.
We acid-test or XRF-test every white metal piece before pricing. White gold (often 14K or 18K rhodium-plated) and platinum look identical to the eye but price very differently. The test takes seconds.
Before you visit
Three things to know before you walk in.
At home · weight
Honestly, you don't need a fancy scale.A kitchen food scale is accurate to about ±1g, and that's enough to know what you're walking in with. We re-weigh to 0.01gon the counter once you're here — but the home estimate keeps your visit short and your expectations honest.
At home · stamps
We get asked all the time — where's the stamp?Try the clasp on a chain, inside the band of a ring, or the back of a pendant. You're hunting for small marks: 10K, 14K, 18K, 585, or 750. Can't find one? That's normal. Pick “Not sure” on the calculator and we'll test it together when you come in.
On the counter · the math
80% of melt is the honest top. Here's why.Gold passes through many handsbefore it becomes cash — refiners, dealers, market makers — and prices move throughout the day. That's why no honest counter pays 100% of melt on scrap. Anyone promising that is losing money or quietly shorting you somewhere you can't see.
But not every piece is scrap. Some rings get cleaned and re-homed. Some chains stay chains. Price is always negotiable on resaleable pieces— and we'll tell you which side your piece sits on. That's why we built this site: so you walk in informed, not lowballed across five shops.
See the number first
Estimate at home, verify on the counter.
Pre-set to platinum for sell platinum jewelry. The in-person number gets sharper with our calibrated scale and acid test, but starting at home keeps the visit short.
Quick home estimate
Enter three things: the metal, the weight from your scale, and the stamp if you can find one.
Estimated offer
$868
80% of today's $1,085 melt value · Platinum · 950 · 18.4g
Offer spectrum · % of melt
- 70%Walk away$759
- 75%Fair offer$813
- 80%Sell-it-now$868
Below 70% is a weak offer. 75% is a good number. 80% is the sell-it-now mark.
Educational estimate. Final number requires verified weight and professional metal testing in person.
Family-run · Gaslamp Quarter since 1992
A San Diego counter where the math is on the table before the offer.
Buy Sell Gold San Diego routes visits to a family-run shop in the Gaslamp Quarter that has been buying gold jewelry, silver coins, platinum, diamonds, and more since 1992. Cash on the spot, no appointment needed — and if you mention this site, or say Ezra sent you, you'll get our best rate at the counter.
Buying and selling gold in the Gaslamp Quarter since 1992.
Walk-ins, regulars, and word-of-mouth referrals from across San Diego county.
Real volume means real spot-price hedging — and real offers we can stand behind.
Or say Ezra sent you when you walk in. Online visitors get our preferred counter rate.
FAQ
Sell platinum jewelry — common questions
How can I tell platinum from white gold?
Look for a stamp — platinum is marked 'Pt', 'Plat', '950', '900', or '850'. White gold is marked '14K', '18K', '585', or '750'. If you can't find a stamp or aren't sure, bring it in; an acid test or XRF reader tells us in seconds.
Why is platinum sometimes worth less than gold?
Platinum's industrial demand (catalytic converters, fuel cells) drives its price more than jewelry demand does. Gold has more universal store-of-value demand. The platinum-gold price ratio shifts; we always price against today's spot.
Do you buy platinum settings without the stones?
Yes. If you've removed a stone from a platinum setting, we can buy the setting for its platinum content. Bring it in any condition — bent, partial, or broken — it doesn't reduce the metal value.
Next step
Ready to sell platinum jewelry?
Walk into our Gaslamp Quarter counter. Mention buysellgoldsandiego.com or say Ezra sent you for our best rate.
Family-run since 1992Cash on the spotGaslamp QuarterMention site for preferred rate
Disclosure: Online estimates are for informational purposes only and are not a final purchase offer. Offer ranges are educational examples based on industry experience. Final payout depends on verified weight, professional testing, item inspection, market price review, buyer costs, and compliance with applicable laws.