Wondering what your old gold class ring is worth? And if you should keep it for a while longer because you may get some money selling off the gold class ring?
Well, then this article shares essential insights into everything you should know about class rings, as well as their value. Note that this ring is also known as a graduation, a senior, or grad ring, and it refers to the ring that is worn by alumni or students in commemoration of their graduation, often applying to college, high school, or university graduating classes.
What is a 10K gold class ring made of?
A 10k gold class ring is often a ring made of solid gold, with ten parts of pure gold, and the remainder 14 parts made of other metal alloys – this translates to 41.7% of pure gold that is alloyed with other metals that make up 58.3% of the gold ring. Depending on the metal variants added to the gold to create 10k gold, you could have rose gold, white gold, and yellow gold.
The reason for the metal blending has to do with the fact that pure gold is a bright yellow metal, which is also quite soft and malleable. In the pure state, therefore, gold cannot be used to create durable solid gold jewelry, hence the alloying.
The common metals added to gold to create the alloy are include copper, silver, palladium, nickel, or zinc. Depending on the proportion of the metals added to the gold, the result is a gold ring that comes in rose gold, yellow gold, and white gold (although white gold has to be rhodium-plated for the white, lustrous sheen).
Thanks to alloying, the gold class rings are quite durable and scratch-resistant, and they last really long with the right care.
How much is a 10k gold class ring worth?
If the class ring is made of actual or solid 10k gold and not gold plated, you will be happy to know that the ring has some great value, depending on its weight.
To determine the value of the ring, you’d first need to be aware of the current value of gold. Know that the value of actual gold fluctuates quite often, which means that you’d have to keep your eyes peeled because of the constant price changes. And like any other investment, you have to be quite patient, timing your sale for just the perfect time.
To determine the actual value of the 19k gold class ring, the first thing you need to do is to divide the gold piece’s karat value by 24, then multiply this number by the current price of gold/ per gram. This means that if you have a 10k ring that weighs 5g, it be worth about $21.44 per gram if the current cost of 24k gold is $51.45.
But knowing the current value of gold and the weight of the ring is not enough – you also need to know how to negotiate for the best price because the buyers, especially brokers, will have to take their cut of the meat. You’d only get the best out of the ring if you are a good negotiator.
You also need to confirm the authenticity of the gold ring. There are many gold class rings on the market which aren’t really made of solid gold but are gold-plated.
And if the piece of a class ring purchased is made of metals other than solid gold, the value would be quite low, and in other cases, it might not be worth much. Bear in mind that most of the plated jewelry will have gold whose thickness is only micrometers thick, and some of it might have flaked away, meaning that gold-plated gold rings wouldn’t be worth much.
Pros and cons of 10K gold class ring
Pros
- 10k gold is a durable, high-strength version of gold
- The ring is hard and lasts pretty much a lifetime
- It’s valuable
- Various options – rose gold, yellow gold, or white gold
- Most of the vintage class rings are quite valuable
Cons
- Paler finish compared to 14k and 18k gold rings
- Risk of allergies and skin irritation
Should you buy 10k gold class rings?
Well, if you are looking for a valuable and meaningful gold class ring, but you wouldn’t want to break the bank buying the ring, you may want to look for a 10k gold class ring.
You also need to make sure that the ring is from a reputable brand or store – you don’t want to buy a gold class ring for a loved one, only for it to turn into this poor-quality ring that makes you feel bad about your purchase.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best quality gold ring for a high school or college graduate, the 10k gold class ring might be an excellent option for you.
It’s valuable, and if you own one, you will be happy to know that the ring is actually worth something.
Read more ring topics here or visit our homepage for more!
Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.