Stones, meena and clasps: the parts that are not gold

A stone-set piece weighs more than the gold in it, because stones, meena (enamel), lac filling, thread and clasp springs all add weight that is not gold. Before any value is worked out, the non-gold parts are taken out or deducted, and only the gold is counted. If you are selling old gold from Noida Extension or anywhere in Greater Noida West, watch that step closely. It is where a weight can quietly shrink, and it is easy to see if you ask.

Why does my stone-set piece weigh more than the gold in it?

The scale shows the weight of everything on the pan. It does not know what is gold and what is not.

A necklace with stones has stones. A kundan or polki piece has stones, and often a lac or wax filling behind them to hold the setting. A piece with meena has enamel fired onto the gold. A mangalsutra has black beads and thread. Jhumkas often have small pearls or glass drops. Even a plain chain has a clasp, and some clasps carry a steel spring inside.

None of this is gold, and none of it is paid for as gold. So the number on the scale is the starting point, not the gold weight.

This surprises many first-time sellers. Someone remembers a set as "thirty grams" from the family bill, and the counter reports a lower gold weight. Often the difference is not a trick. It is the stones and filling. Often, but not always, which is why you should watch the step described below.

How are the stones and meena separated before the gold is counted?

There are three ordinary ways, and a good buyer will tell you which one applies to your piece.

• The stones come out. Where stones are held in prongs or a simple setting, they can be lifted out. The gold is then weighed on its own. This is the cleanest method, because you can see the result on the scale.
• The non-gold weight is estimated and deducted. Where stones are glued, set in lac or locked in a closed setting, taking them out would damage the piece or is not practical. The buyer weighs the piece whole, then deducts an allowance for the non-gold parts.
• The piece is melted down. Some settings cannot be separated by hand at all. Then the gold content has to be established from what is left after melting.

The second method is the one to question. An estimate involves judgement, and judgement is where a seller can be short-changed. Ask how the allowance was decided and ask to see the stones that were removed or the part that was set aside.

Meena works differently. Enamel is fused to the gold, so it cannot simply be picked off. It adds weight, and it can affect how a piece reads on a karatmeter. Ask whether the reading was taken on a clean gold surface, such as the back of the piece or a plain portion, and not on enamelled areas. The post on how a karatmeter reading is taken explains why the spot tested matters.

What should I watch while the non-gold parts are separated?

You are allowed to watch every part of this step. Stay at the counter and keep your eyes on the scale. Here is what to check:

1. The whole piece is weighed first, in front of you. Look at the display. Note the number.
2. Stones are removed where they can be. Ask for them to be placed in front of you, not swept away. They remain yours. Take them back if you want them.
3. The scale shows zero before each weighing. This is basic, and it is easy to check.
4. Every deduction is said aloud. If a weight is taken off, you should hear what it is for. "Stones and filling" is an answer. "Normal deduction" is not.
5. You see the gold weight on its own. The figure that goes forward to the value calculation should be the gold weight alone, shown on the display.
6. Ask what happens to the clasp. A gold clasp counts as gold. A spring or hook that is steel does not. A buyer should be able to say which is which.

If any step is done out of your sight, or you are told to wait outside, treat that as a reason to stop. You can pick up your gold and leave without selling. Our post on questions to ask before you sell gold lists more of these.

Does the shop pay for the stones too?

No. We buy gold only. We do not buy, value or test stones, pearls or beads, and we do not put a price on them. If your piece has stones you want to keep, they come back to you. If they are loose after removal, you take them.

This is also a reason to be wary of any buyer who says the stones "add value" to a gold purchase. Whatever the stones may be, a gold-only counter pays on gold, and the stones should not appear in the calculation at all, in either direction.

If the stones matter to you, because the piece is a family heirloom or the stones carry meaning, that is a sound reason to keep the piece whole. See what to do with gold you will never wear for the other options.

Is it better to remove the stones myself first?

Usually not. Prying out stones at home can bend prongs, crack enamel and cost you gold weight, because small bits of gold break away with them. A jeweller or a buyer with proper tools does this more cleanly.

There is one exception. If you plan to keep certain stones, and you are comfortable with what the removal may do to the setting, tell the counter before the piece is weighed. Do not do it on the way there. A piece that arrives intact is easier to assess, and you can see for yourself what comes out of it.

Also do not scrape off enamel or lac to make a piece look lighter or cleaner. It changes nothing in the value of the gold, and it may damage the piece.

What if the gold weight comes out lower than I expected?

Start from the piece, not from memory. Old bills often show the gross weight, meaning everything including stones. Some bills show the net gold weight separately. Bring the bill if you have it. If you do not, the post on selling gold without the original bill covers what to do.

If the gold weight is lower than you thought, ask the counter to show you the deduction and what it covers. Then compare it with what you can see: how many stones, how much filling, how large the enamelled areas are. A heavily stone-set choker will show a bigger gap than a lightly set pendant. That is expected.

If the explanation does not match what you see, you can pause, take the piece back and get a second opinion. There is no clock on you. Why two shops quote different rates is worth reading before you do, because a different number is not always a different honesty.

Once the gold weight is settled, the rest follows in a fixed order: purity is tested, the day's rate is applied, and the figure for your piece is worked out at the counter. How that goes is covered in how we value your gold. If you would like to see how a stone-set piece would be handled before you decide, call or WhatsApp 9217742656 and ask. You can send a photo of the piece and ask what to expect, and no commitment is attached.

If you are ready to come in, our Noida Extension page has the address and hours. For the plain version of how a cash sale works, see cash for gold in Greater Noida West. If you prefer Hindi, gold bechna hai says the same things in the words most people use at home.

Questions people ask

Why is the gold weight lower than the weight on my old bill? The bill usually shows the gross weight, which includes stones, meena, lac and clasp parts. Only the gold is counted, so the gold weight is lower. Ask to see the deduction and what it covers.

Do gold buyers pay extra for stones in jewellery? Not at our counter. We buy gold only and do not buy or value stones. Stones are taken out and returned to you, or deducted from the weight before the gold is worked out.

Can I ask to see the stones removed from my piece before the gold is weighed? Yes, and you should. Watch the full piece weighed, the stones taken out, and the gold weighed alone. If you want to ask about a particular piece first, call or WhatsApp 9217742656.

How the karatmeter reading is taken · Why the published rate is not your payout