Selling Gold for Cash or Bitcoin

How Much Is 24k Gold Worth Per Gram Today?

By Michael Tanguma, Founder & CEO of Heirfolio. Reviewed by Diana Cruz, GIA Graduate Gemologist. Updated continuously.

TL;DR. As of today, 24k gold is worth ${{ liveSpot24kPerGram }} per gram at spot — that's pure gold, 99.9% fine. Bullion buyers pay 96-99% of spot for recognized bars and coins; jewelry buyers pay 80-95% for 24k pieces. The number below updates every 60 seconds against the live London gold fix. Below it, the math, the dealer spread on bullion versus jewelry, and how 24k differs from every other karat in how it's sold.

Live 24k gold price per gram

${{ liveSpot24kPerGram }} per gram · PER GRAM · 24K · PURE GOLD · Updated at {{ timestamp }} · Source: London gold fix

What this number means

The price above is the spot price of 24k gold per gram, computed from the live London gold fix. Because 24k is 99.9% pure gold, the spot price is the melt value — there's no alloy to discount. It's also called 999 gold or 999.9 fine gold in international markets.

For 24k specifically, there's a meaningful difference between the price for bullion (bars and coins) and the price for jewelry. Bullion sells closer to spot. Jewelry, even at 24k, sells with a wider spread because buyers have to verify, weigh, and often refine before resale.

→ Get a real quote in 60 seconds

How 24k gold pricing works

Gold purity is measured in karats out of 24. 24k is the top of the scale.

Karat	Pure gold content	Common uses
24k	99.9%	Investment bars, coins, ceremonial Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry
22k	91.7%	Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Gulf jewelry
18k	75.0%	European and American luxury designer pieces
14k	58.5%	American workhorse jewelry
10k	41.7%	American mass-market jewelry

To compute 24k gold's melt value per gram:

(spot price of pure gold per gram) × 0.999 = melt value of 24k per gram

In practice, the multiplier is so close to 1.000 that 24k melt value and spot price are used interchangeably. So if pure gold trades at $97.65 per gram (about $3,037 per troy ounce), 24k is worth roughly $97.65 per gram at spot. The live number at the top of this page runs that calculation every 60 seconds.

→ Use the gold melt value calculator

Bullion vs jewelry: two different markets

24k is the only karat where a meaningful share of pieces are sold as bullion rather than jewelry. The buyer behavior splits cleanly:

Bullion (bars and coins). The major refiners and mints — PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint, Credit Suisse, MKS Pamp — produce 24k bars from 1 gram up to 1 kilogram, and coins like the Canadian Maple Leaf, American Buffalo, Australian Kangaroo, and Chinese Panda. These pieces carry serial numbers, assay cards, and tamper-evident packaging. Bullion dealers (APMEX, JM Bullion, Kitco, Gainesville Coins, SD Bullion) buy and sell them at a published bid-ask spread — typically 1–4% of spot for the bid.

Jewelry (chains, bangles, ornaments). 24k jewelry is common in Asia and the Middle East, less common in the West. Even at 99.9% purity, jewelry buyers pay a wider spread because they have to authenticate, weigh, often refine, and sometimes pay for the inconvenience of irregular shapes. Spreads on 24k jewelry typically run 5–20%.

The practical implication: a 1-ounce PAMP Suisse bar at $3,037 spot sells for roughly $2,950–$3,000 to a major dealer. A 31-gram unmarked 24k chain (same gold weight) might sell for $2,500–$2,800 — a real difference, despite identical metal content.

What you'll actually get paid (the spread question)

The spread covers refining costs, operating margin, inventory risk, and customer acquisition. On 24k, those costs are lower than on 14k because:

There's no alloy to separate. Refining yield is essentially 100%.
Recognized bullion needs no refining at all. A PAMP bar resells to the next buyer as-is.
The per-gram value is higher, so the dollar spread on a small percentage is still profitable for the buyer.

Typical spreads on 24k by channel:

Where you sell	Typical spread on 24k
Major bullion dealer for recognized bars/coins	1–4%
Direct platform with published spread (e.g., Heirfolio)	4–8%
Local coin shop for recognized bullion	3–8%
Mail-in buyer for 24k jewelry	8–18%
Local jeweler buying 24k jewelry for melt	10–22%
Pawn shop	25–50%

If you have a 1-ounce (31.1 gram) 24k gold bar and spot is $3,037:

Spot value = $3,037

Channel	What you'd be paid
Major bullion dealer (2% spread)	~$2,976
Heirfolio (5% spread)	~$2,885
Local coin shop (6% spread)	~$2,855
Mail-in buyer (12% spread)	~$2,673
Pawn shop (35% spread)	~$1,974

That's a $1,000+ difference between the best and worst legitimate channel for the same single bar. The bullion-vs-jewelry distinction and the channel choice are the two biggest levers on what you'll actually receive.

→ Paste any quote into our spread checker — see what's fair

How to verify your gold is really 24k

For recognized bullion, verification is mostly authentication of the issuer. For 24k jewelry, the same karat tests apply as for any other gold.

1. For bullion — check the packaging and serial

PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint, and other major refiners issue bars with serial numbers, assay cards, and tamper-evident packaging (CertiPAMP, Veriscan, etc.). The dealer scans or visually verifies these. Cut packaging or missing serial cards reduce the buyback price even on genuine pieces.

2. Look for the hallmark on jewelry

24k jewelry is commonly stamped: 24K, 24KT, 999, .999, 999.9, 9999, or G24K. Chinese 24k jewelry often shows 足金 (zú jīn, "pure gold") or 千足金 (qiān zú jīn, "thousandth pure gold").

3. Magnet test (free, 30 seconds)

Gold isn't magnetic. A magnet that sticks rules out solid gold. Necessary but not sufficient.

4. Acid test ($15 home kit)

Apply the 24k acid to a tiny scratch in an inconspicuous spot. If it holds, the piece is 24k.

5. XRF testing (professional)

X-ray fluorescence reads the exact composition non-destructively. Required for serious buyers on any unsealed 24k piece.

→ Read the full karat verification guide

Common 24k piece weights

A rough sense of what 24k pieces typically weigh:

Piece type	Typical weight	Melt value at today's spot
1 gram bar (PAMP, Valcambi, RCM)	1 gram	${{ bar_1g_melt }}
5 gram bar	5 grams	${{ bar_5g_melt }}
10 gram bar	10 grams	${{ bar_10g_melt }}
1 troy ounce bar	31.10 grams	${{ bar_1oz_melt }}
1 kilogram bar	1,000 grams	${{ bar_1kg_melt }}
Gold Maple Leaf coin (1 oz)	31.10 grams	${{ maple_leaf_melt }}
Gold Krugerrand (1 oz)	31.10 grams (gold content; coin weighs more due to alloy)	${{ krugerrand_melt }}
Chinese 24k bangle	20–60 grams	${{ chinese_bangle_melt }}
24k Vietnamese tael (lượng) bar	37.5 grams	${{ tael_melt }}

These are spot values for the gold content. Bullion sells close to these numbers. Jewelry sells 5–20% below depending on channel. The gold melt value calculator computes both.

Should you sell 24k bullion or hold it?

A different question than for jewelry. Bullion is a liquidity instrument — it's designed to be sold. The question is timing and tax treatment, not channel sentiment.

Sell if:

You need the cash for a near-term goal.
You're rebalancing into another store of value (Bitcoin, allocated storage, treasury bills).
You're consolidating fragmented bullion (a drawer full of 1g bars) into allocated storage at a major mint.

Hold if:

You bought it as a long-term reserve and the original thesis hasn't changed.
Spot is in a drawdown and you don't need the liquidity.
You're planning to pass it to heirs (in which case, document it now — see Pooled vs Allocated Gold for storage choices).

Either way, document what you have. A drawer of unmarked bars without paperwork is harder to sell and harder for your heirs to value.

Should you melt 24k jewelry or sell it whole?

Most 24k jewelry sold in the U.S. ends up melted because the resale market for ornamental 24k is small here. Two exceptions:

Recognized Chinese 24k bangles — pieces from Chow Tai Fook, Luk Fook, Chow Sang Sang, or other named Hong Kong houses may resell at or above melt to a buyer who knows the brand.
Cultural or religious pieces with intact provenance and a recent receipt — a diaspora-focused buyer may pay slightly above melt to resell rather than refine.

For everything else (plain Asian chains, ornamental pieces without a brand or paperwork), expect melt-value pricing.

Why 24k specifically?

A note on why 24k is the bullion standard and what that means for resale.

24k is the only karat that's recognized globally as a monetary instrument. Central banks hold 24k bars (LBMA-deliverable, 400 troy ounces, 99.5%+ minimum). Investment-grade bullion is 24k. The COMEX and Shanghai Gold Exchange settle in 24k equivalent. The price you see at the top of this page is the global price of pure gold.

That global recognition has two practical implications:

24k is the easiest gold to sell anywhere in the world. A Maple Leaf coin sells in Hong Kong, Dubai, Zurich, or New York at roughly the same price (adjusted for local dealer spreads).
24k jewelry, especially traditional Asian pieces, often trades close to bullion value in markets where 24k jewelry is the cultural standard (China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, parts of India). In the U.S., the buyer base is thinner, so the spread is wider.

The other side of pure gold: it's soft. 24k bends, scratches, and dents easily. This is why 24k jewelry is almost always heavier than equivalent designs in 14k or 18k — extra mass to compensate for the metal's softness. It's also why 24k pieces are usually saved for ceremonial wear rather than daily use.

What changes the price you see on this page

The number at the top updates every 60 seconds. Spot moves because:

Macroeconomic conditions — inflation expectations, real interest rates, U.S. dollar strength.
Geopolitical events — gold rises during uncertainty.
Central bank buying — when the Fed, ECB, China's PBOC, India's RBI, or Turkey's central bank moves, the market moves.
Industrial demand — gold is used in electronics.
ETF flows — the major gold ETFs (GLD, IAU, SGOL) hold real 24k. Inflows push spot up.

Day-to-day moves of 0.5–1.5% are normal. Larger moves (3–5% in a day) happen a few times a year on big data releases or geopolitical events. Most legitimate bullion dealers re-price every 5–15 minutes during market hours. Heirfolio quotes are locked for 60 seconds once you accept.

Frequently asked questions

How much is 24k gold worth per gram today?

As of the latest London gold fix, 24k gold is worth ${{ liveSpot24kPerGram }} per gram at spot. Because 24k is 99.9% pure, the spot price and the melt value are essentially the same. The number on this page updates every 60 seconds.

What is 999 gold and is it the same as 24k?

Yes. 999 is the international hallmark for 99.9% pure gold — the same as 24k. Pieces stamped 999, .999, 999.9, 9999, 24K, or 24KT are all the same purity. Chinese 24k jewelry often shows 足金 (pure gold) or 千足金 (thousandth pure gold), and 999.9 is sometimes labeled as "five nines" in the bullion industry.

Why is bullion priced closer to spot than 24k jewelry?

Bullion needs no refining and minimal authentication for recognized bars and coins. A major dealer can buy a PAMP Suisse 1-ounce bar and resell it the same day to the next customer. Jewelry, even at 24k, requires verification, weighing, and often refining because the shape and packaging aren't standardized. That extra work shows up as a wider spread.

How is 24k different from 22k or 18k?

24k is 99.9% pure gold. 22k is 91.7%. 18k is 75%. Higher purity means more gold per gram and a higher per-gram value, but softer metal that wears faster. 24k is the bullion standard and the ceremonial-jewelry standard in Asia. 22k is the diaspora jewelry standard (India, Pakistan, Philippines, Gulf). 18k is the global designer fine jewelry standard.

Is 24k jewelry actually 100% gold?

Almost. 24k is defined as 99.9% pure (or 99.5% for LBMA-deliverable bullion at the lowest tier; 99.95% for "four nines"; 99.99% for "five nines"). The tiny fraction that isn't gold is trace metals that survive refining. For practical purposes, treat 24k as pure gold.

Where should I sell 24k bullion for the best price?

For recognized bars and coins (PAMP, Valcambi, RCM, Perth Mint, U.S. Mint, Krugerrand, Maple Leaf, etc.), the major bullion dealers — APMEX, JM Bullion, Kitco, SD Bullion, Gainesville Coins — pay 1–4% below spot. Local coin shops pay 3–8% below spot. For 24k jewelry, a direct platform like Heirfolio or a specialist Asian-jewelry buyer typically pays best. Avoid pawn shops on bullion specifically — they often pay 25–50% below spot for pieces that should sell at 96–99%.

Should I buy 24k jewelry as an investment?

Generally, no — at least not in the U.S. market. The making charge (the labor and design markup) is rarely recoverable at resale, so you start underwater. If you want metal exposure, bars and coins are more efficient. If you want jewelry that also holds value, 22k pieces from the right house (Indian, Hong Kong, Gulf) come closer to bullion-equivalent pricing because the cultural market for resale is thicker.

What does "tael" mean on Asian 24k gold?

A tael (兩 / lượng) is a traditional Chinese and Vietnamese weight unit, equal to about 37.5 grams (the exact value varies slightly by region — Hong Kong tael is 37.429 grams, Taiwan tael is 37.5 grams, Vietnamese lượng is also 37.5 grams). 24k bars sized in taels are common in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Vietnam. To convert: tael weight × spot per gram = melt value.

Are 24k gold bars taxable when sold?

In the U.S., gold bullion sold at a gain is taxed as a collectible at a maximum federal rate of 28%, plus state tax. The cost basis is what you paid (or, if inherited, the fair market value on the date of the original owner's death — known as a step-up in basis). Keep records of purchase price and date. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation. See Inheritance Tax on Jewelry for the inheritance-specific treatment.

How long does it take to sell a 24k gold bar?

Major bullion dealers typically settle in 1–3 business days after they receive and verify the piece. Shipping the bar adds 2–4 days. So end-to-end, plan on 5–10 days for the cash to land in your account. A local coin shop can settle same-day for cash or 1–2 days for a check. Heirfolio settles in 1–2 days after assay.

Tools mentioned in this article

Gold melt value calculator — input weight + karat, see live melt value
Karat converter — convert between karats and pure-gold percentages
Spread checker — paste any dealer's quote, see what spread they're keeping