Why gold is melted
- Mixed pieces of different purity become one uniform sample
- Solder, dirt and other materials separate out
- Hollow or filled jewellery shows its true gold weight
- The melted bar can be tested accurately for purity
The gold melt process, step by step
- 01
Weigh before melting
The gross weight of all pieces is recorded in front of you.
- 02
Remove stones and non-gold parts
Stones, beads, threads and lac filling are taken out.
- 03
Melt in a crucible
Pure gold melts at about 1,064°C. Jewellery alloys melt at slightly lower temperatures.
- 04
Add flux
A flux such as borax helps draw impurities into the slag.
- 05
Pour into a mould
The molten gold cools into a small bar or button.
- 06
Weigh after melting
The bar is weighed again, so any melting loss is visible.
- 07
Test the purity of the bar
The bar is tested, giving a reliable purity for the whole lot.
Melting loss: what to expect
When jewellery is melted, the weight usually drops a little. Dirt, lac, oxides and some metals in solder burn off or separate into the slag. Clean, solid pieces lose very little. Old, dirty or filled jewellery can lose more.
There is no single correct figure, so always ask to see the weight before and after melting, written down.
Your rights at the counter
- Watch the weighing before and after melting
- Get both weights in writing
- Ask for the purity of the melted bar
- Agree to melting before it happens
Once jewellery is melted, the design cannot be restored. If you are not sure, take your gold back unmelted.
Is melting always needed?
No. Hallmarked jewellery and clean single pieces can often be valued with non-destructive testing. A transparent buyer explains why melting is needed and gets your agreement first. At Value Money Gold, testing and weighing happen in front of you, and nothing is final until you accept the price.