Gold-filled jewelry is often misunderstood — and often undervalued. While it’s not solid gold, it’s far more than just gold plating. Whether you’re a collector, reseller, or just someone clearing out a jewelry box, knowing the ins and outs of gold-filled items can help you avoid tossing valuable material or selling it for less than it’s worth.
Let’s break down what gold-filled really means, the most common marks to look for, and how you can actually sell gold-filled for scrap — if you know where to go.
🟡 What Is Gold-Filled Jewelry?
Gold-filled (often abbreviated as GF) refers to a base metal — usually brass or copper — that has been mechanically bonded with a thick layer of gold. Unlike gold plating, which can wear off quickly, gold-filled items are more durable and long-lasting. In fact, the gold content in gold-filled jewelry must legally be at least 5% of the total item’s weight.
The gold layer is often 10K, 12K, or 14K, and it’s fused to the base metal using heat and pressure. The result? Jewelry that looks like gold, wears like gold, and holds more value than plated items — but at a fraction of the cost of solid gold.
🧾 Common Gold-Filled Jewelry Marks
If you’re not sure whether something is gold-filled, check for hallmarks or stamps. Here are some of the most commonly used GF marks:
- 1/20 12K GF — Means 1/20th of the total weight is 12K gold
- 1/20 14K GF — 1/20th of the item’s weight is 14K gold
- 1/10 10K GF — Older items often used this higher ratio of gold
- 12K GF or 14K GF — Sometimes abbreviated without the fraction
- RGP — Rolled Gold Plate (less gold than GF, but often confused with it)
- GE or GP — Gold Electroplated (not GF)
- Gold Filled spelled out
🔍 Tip: Use a jeweler’s loupe and a magnet. Gold-filled is not magnetic, and markings are often tiny or partially worn off.
🕰️ When and Where Was Gold-Filled Jewelry Made?
Gold-filled jewelry has been produced since the late 1800s, but it really boomed in popularity during the:
- Early 1900s — Art Nouveau and Edwardian eras
- 1940s–1950s — WWII era & post-war affordability movement
- 1970s–1980s — Fashion revival of vintage styles
It was especially popular in the United States, where many companies like Wells, Krementz, Hickok, Elgin American, and Forstner specialized in high-quality gold-filled items.
Common gold-filled products include:
- Pocket watch chains and fobs
- Brooches and hat pins
- Lockets and pendants
- Eyeglass frames
- Tie bars and cufflinks
- Vintage rings and bracelets
- Religious medals and charm bracelets
💰 Can You Sell Gold-Filled Jewelry for Scrap?
Yes — but most pawn shops, jewelers, and scrap gold buyers won’t take it. Why?
Because gold-filled jewelry isn’t “easy” to refine unless you’re doing it in bulk. The gold recovery process involves chemically separating a thin outer layer of gold from a large quantity of base metal, which most small buyers aren’t equipped to do.
But that doesn’t mean it’s worthless.
In bulk, gold-filled material can be sold for its gold content. The price is usually a fraction of the spot price of gold, often closer to what scrap sterling silver is worth — sometimes $15–$25 per troy ounce of gold-filled material (depending on the karat, market, and processor).
🏪 Where Can You Sell Gold-Filled Jewelry?
While many places turn it away, The Vintage Reseller in Roanoke and Vinton, Virginia does buy gold-filled jewelry — both locally and nationwide.
Whether you’re selling:
- Broken old pieces
- Tangled chains
- GF eyeglass frames
- Jewelry from estates
We offer fair prices for gold-filled items by weight, and we use state-inspected, calibrated NTEP-certified scales, just like we do for our scrap gold and silver buys.
📦 How to Sell Your Gold-Filled Items
- Separate gold-filled from plated and costume jewelry
- Group it by type (chains, pins, eyeglass frames, etc.)
- Weigh it if you have a scale (grams or ounces)
- Contact a buyer like The Vintage Reseller to get a quote
We even accept mail-in purchases for larger quantities, with tracked shipping recommended.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Gold-filled jewelry might not make you rich overnight, but it’s far from worthless. With gold prices rising, even lower-yield materials like GF can add up — especially if you have a box full of vintage odds and ends.
So before you toss that tangled chain or broken brooch, check the mark. You might just be holding a little piece of golden history — and a small payday.