Sell Gold, Silver & Jewelry in Boonville
Gordon Jewelers buys gold, silver, platinum, coins, and bullion at competitive prices based on live spot pricing. We are the trusted gold buyer for Boonville, Columbia, and communities across Mid-Missouri. Every piece is tested and weighed in front of you on a state-certified scale.
No appointment needed. No pressure. No obligation.
Precious Metals & Coins
What We Buy
We buy gold, silver, platinum, coins, and bullion in almost any form. These are the categories we see most often, but if you have something that isn't on this list, bring it in. We'll test it and let you know what it's worth.
Gold & Silver Jewelry
Rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and pendants in any karat gold or sterling silver. Wearable or not, we buy by weight and current spot price.
Broken or Damaged Jewelry
Broken chains, single earrings, bent rings, missing stones. The metal is still valuable regardless of condition.
Coins & Bullion
Gold and silver coins, bars, rounds, and bullion. American Eagles, Maple Leafs, Krugerrands, pre-1965 silver coins, and more.
Class Rings
Most class rings are 10k gold and worth more as metal than sentiment for many customers. We buy them by weight.
Vintage Watch Cases
Older watch cases and bands stamped with gold or silver markings. We buy the precious metal content, not the watch movement.
Flatware and Silverware
Sterling silver flatware sets, serving pieces, and individual items stamped .925 or "Sterling." We do not buy silverplate (EP, EPNS, EPC, or "Triple Plate")
A note about plated and filled items. Gold-plated (GP, HGE, RGP), gold-filled (GF), and silver-plated (EP, EPNS) items have little to no recoverable precious metal content. We do not purchase these items, but we'll test your piece and tell you honestly what it is. No charge for testing, even if the answer isn't what you hoped.
Transparent Process
How It Works
The entire process happens in front of you. No back rooms, no guesswork, no surprises. Most visits take about 15 minutes.
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Bring It In
Walk into our Boonville showroom with whatever you'd like to sell. No appointment needed. Bring everything you're unsure about. We're happy to test and sort through a bag of mixed pieces.
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We Test and Weigh
We check for stamps and hallmarks first, then verify the metal using acid testing and a pen tester. Every piece is weighed on a state-certified scale. All testing is done in front of you at the counter.
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We Make an Offer
Based on the weight, purity, and current spot pricing, we calculate an offer and explain exactly how we arrived at the number. No hidden formulas. If the piece has stones set in it, we factor those in as well.
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Get Paid
Accept the offer and receive payment on the spot. If the offer isn't what you expected, you're free to decline and walk out with everything you brought. No pressure, no obligation, no hard feelings.
More Than Selling
Trade-In and Repurposing
Selling isn't the only option. If you're interested in a new piece from our showroom, we'll give you 20% more on the value of your old jewelry as trade-in credit toward the purchase. Trade-in credit is applied at the time of purchase and is not redeemable as cash.
Many customers come in to sell and leave with something better. An old chain becomes the gold for a custom ring. A grandmother's diamond gets reset in a modern setting. Stones from one piece become the centerpiece of something entirely new.
If you're curious about turning old jewelry into a new design, our custom team can walk you through the options. And pieces we purchase in good condition may be cleaned, restored, and offered in our estate jewelry collection at significant value.
Interested in custom design? Old gold, inherited stones, and sentimental pieces are some of the best starting points for a custom project. Learn about our custom design process.
Before You Visit
How to Read Jewelry Stamps
A small stamp inside a ring band, on a clasp, or behind a pendant tells you what the piece is made of. This is the first thing we check before any testing. Here's what the most common stamps mean.
Gold Stamps
- 10K / 417 — 41.7% pure gold
- 14K / 585 — 58.3% pure gold
- 18K / 750 — 75% pure gold
- 24K / 999 — 99.9% pure gold
- GF / 1/20 — Gold-filled (not purchased)
- GP / HGE / RGP — Gold-plated (not purchased)
Silver Stamps
- 925 / Sterling — 92.5% pure silver
- 900 — 90% silver (pre-1965 coins)
- 999 / Fine Silver — 99.9% pure silver
- Silver Plate / EP / EPNS — Plated (not purchased)
Platinum Stamps
- 950 Plat / PT950 — 95% platinum
- 900 Plat / PT900 — 90% platinum
- IRID PLAT — Platinum-iridium alloy
- PLAT — At least 95% platinum
Can't find a stamp? That's common on older pieces, handmade jewelry, and some estate items. Bring it in and we'll test it. Many unstamped pieces turn out to be real gold or silver. No charge for testing, even if the answer is surprising.
Gold Education
Understanding Gold Karats
The karat number tells you how much of the metal is actually gold. Higher karat means more pure gold per gram, which means a higher value when selling.
- 24 Karat99.9% pure gold. The purest form, with a deep rich yellow color. Too soft for most jewelry, mostly found in coins, bullion bars, and some Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry. Highest value per gram.
- 18 Karat75% gold, 25% alloy metals. A warm, saturated yellow common in European jewelry and high-end American pieces. More valuable per gram than 14k and 10k.
- 14 Karat58.3% gold, 41.7% alloy. The most popular karat in the United States. Balances color, durability, and cost. The majority of jewelry we buy is 14k.
- 10 Karat41.7% gold, 58.3% alloy. The minimum to legally be sold as "gold" in the US. Common in class rings, fashion jewelry, and affordable chains. Lower value per gram but still worth selling.
- Gold-Filled (GF)A layer of gold bonded to a base metal core, stamped GF, 1/20, or 1/10 followed by a karat number. Despite the name, gold-filled is not solid gold and contains very little recoverable metal. We do not purchase gold-filled items.
- White, Yellow, RoseColor does not change the gold content. 14k white gold, 14k yellow gold, and 14k rose gold all contain 58.3% pure gold. The color comes from different alloy metals. Same karat, same value.
Silver Education
Understanding Silver Grades
Silver purity varies more widely than gold. Knowing the grade of your silver helps you understand what it's worth before you walk in.
- Fine Silver .99999.9% pure silver. Found in bullion bars, rounds, and coins like the American Silver Eagle. The highest silver purity and the highest value per ounce.
- Sterling .92592.5% silver, 7.5% copper alloy. The standard for silver jewelry, flatware, and decorative items. Look for the .925 or "Sterling" stamp.
- 90% Coin SilverPre-1965 United States dimes, quarters, half dollars, and silver dollars. These everyday coins contain 90% silver and are one of the most common items we buy. If the coin is dated 1964 or earlier, it's 90% silver.
- 40% SilverKennedy half dollars minted between 1965 and 1970 contain 40% silver. Less valuable than 90% coins but still worth bringing in.
- Silver-PlatedA thin wash of silver over base metal, stamped EP, EPNS, or "Silver Plate." No meaningful melt value. We'll test your piece and let you know honestly.
Coins & Collectibles
Coins, Proof Sets, and Collectibles
We buy and sell coins based on their precious metal content, not collectibility. We are not a rare coin dealer. That said, some coins do carry numismatic value, meaning a collector might pay more for the coin than the metal inside it is worth. If we think a coin has collectible potential beyond its melt value, we'll let you know.
Common coins we buy include American Gold Eagles, American Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, South African Krugerrands, Morgan silver dollars, Peace silver dollars, pre-1965 90% silver coins, and proof sets. If you have a collection you're unsure about, bring it in and we'll go through it piece by piece.
Never clean coins before bringing them in. Cleaning destroys what collectors call "originality," the natural patina and toning that grading services look for. A cleaned coin can lose 20 to 50 percent of its collector value overnight. Even if you're selling for melt, leave them as they are. Bring them exactly as you found them.
Filling holes? If you're building a date and mintmark set, our estate case often has circulated Morgans, Peace dollars, and other series coins worth browsing. Stop in and see what we have.
Protect Yourself
Counterfeits and Fakes
Counterfeit coins, bars, and jewelry have become more sophisticated in recent years. Gold-plated tungsten bars, counterfeit American Eagles, and stamped brass jewelry sold as 14k are more common than most people realize, especially in online marketplaces, estate purchases, and private sales.
This is one of the reasons we test every piece in front of you. Our acid testing and electronic testers catch fakes that look and feel convincing to the naked eye. If something isn't what it claims to be, we'll tell you. That way you know exactly what you're holding before you sell, trade, or pass it on.
If you've purchased gold, silver, or coins online and want to verify what you have, bring it in. We'll test it at no charge.
Want to learn what to look for? Our counterfeit identification guide shows real examples of fake coins, bars, and jewelry, including what they look like inside. Read the guide.
How Pricing Works
Spot Pricing and Weights
Understanding how precious metals are priced helps you know what to expect before your visit. Here are the basics.
- Spot PriceThe live global trading price for one troy ounce of pure metal. Spot prices change throughout the day based on market trading. Gold, silver, and platinum each have their own spot price. We use the current price in our offer.
- Troy OuncePrecious metals are always measured in troy ounces. One troy ounce equals 31.1 grams. When you see gold or silver prices quoted "per ounce," it means per troy ounce.
- GramsWe weigh everything in grams and calculate in grams. A 10-gram 14k gold chain contains about 5.83 grams of pure gold (14k gold is 58.3% pure gold × 10g). Simple math, no conversion tables needed.
- How We CalculateTake the pure gold content in grams, divide by 31.1 to get troy ounces, then multiply by today's spot price.
- Dealer SpreadAll buyers have one. Our offer will be a percentage of the spot value, not 100% of spot price. The difference accounts for refining costs, market risk, and business overhead. We aim to offer competitive rates and we're transparent about how we calculate. You're always welcome to compare offers.
What about gemstones? Small accent stones are included in the gold weight because recovering tiny stones during refining isn't practical. Larger stones like center diamonds are evaluated separately and included in your offer. If you'd like to keep your stones, we're happy to remove them, though the labor will be factored into your offer. If you're repurposing into a custom design, stone removal is included at no cost. This is one of the reasons repurposing gets you the most value for your jewelry.
Common Questions
Exchange Questions
Everything you need to know before your visit.
It depends on the weight, purity, and current spot pricing. A 14k gold ring will be worth less per gram than an 18k gold ring because it contains less pure gold. We calculate everything in front of you using live spot prices and a state-certified scale. The best way to get a number is to bring the piece in.
No. Walk into our Boonville showroom during business hours and we'll test and weigh your items on the spot. Most visits take about 15 minutes.
We start by checking for stamps and hallmarks. Then we verify the metal using acid testing and a pen tester. Every piece is weighed on a state-certified scale. All testing is performed in front of you at the counter. We never take your items to a back room.
No. Gold-plated (stamped GP, HGE, RGP) and gold-filled (stamped GF) items do not contain enough recoverable precious metal to purchase. We're happy to test your piece at no charge and tell you honestly what it is. We only buy solid karat gold (10k, 14k, 18k, 24k), solid silver, and platinum.
No. For jewelry, cleaning doesn't change the metal content or the offer. For coins, cleaning can destroy collector value and cost you money. Bring everything exactly as it is. We'll handle it from there.
When you sell, you receive payment for the metal value of your pieces. When you trade in, we give you 20% more on that value as credit toward a new purchase from our showroom. Trade-in credit is applied at the time of purchase and is not redeemable as cash. If you're already thinking about a new piece, trading in gets you more value.
Yes. Old gold can be melted and reused, and stones from existing pieces can be reset into entirely new designs. Many of our best custom projects started with inherited jewelry that didn't fit the owner's style but contained beautiful materials worth keeping. Learn about our custom design process.
We issue payment by check on the spot if you accept. Our offers are based on that day's live spot price, so they're valid for that visit only. If you come back another day, we'll recalculate based on current market pricing.
Gordon Jewelers in Boonville is about 25 minutes from Columbia and serves sellers across Mid-Missouri. We buy gold, silver, platinum, coins, and bullion, testing and weighing every piece in front of you and paying on the spot. Many Columbia-area customers make the short drive for transparent pricing and an honest evaluation.
