Selling gold in Spain: what you get per gram
The price paid per gram is the international spot price of pure gold multiplied by the fineness of the piece, less the buyer's margin, which typically runs between ten and thirty per cent depending on the establishment.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- 18 carat gold is worth 75 per cent of the pure gold price.
- The buyer's margin usually runs 10 to 30 per cent.
- The spot price is published twice a day and moves daily.
- Sales require identification and are entered in a register.
Two offers for the same broken chain can differ by 40 per cent. That is not luck; it is three variables anyone can work out before walking in.
The calculation
First, the day's spot price per gram of pure gold. Second, the fineness of the piece: 0,750 for 18 carat, 0,585 for 14, 0,375 for 9. Multiplying the two gives the intrinsic metal value. Third, the margin the buyer deducts to cover refining, melting and profit. With pure gold at 80 € per gram, a gram of 18 carat holds 60 € of metal and is paid at 42 € to 54 €.
| Fineness | Intrinsic value | Paid at a 20 % margin |
|---|---|---|
| 999 | 80,00 € | 64,00 € |
| 916 | 73,28 € | 58,62 € |
| 750 | 60,00 € | 48,00 € |
| 585 | 46,80 € | 37,44 € |
| 375 | 30,00 € | 24,00 € |
| Sterling silver | per silver spot | larger margin |
| Usual margin range | 10 to 30 % |
When a piece is worth more than its weight
A signed piece, one with recognisable design, good gemstones or historical interest sells far better as jewellery than as metal. Melting destroys that value irreversibly. Before selling by weight it is worth having a valuation, particularly for anything made before 1970, where craftsmanship and design can be worth 2 to 5 times the metal it contains.
How to avoid being underpaid
Weigh the pieces at home on a scale accurate to 0,01 grams, which costs 12 € to 25 €. Separate by fineness, because mixing 9 and 18 carat means everything is paid at the lower rate. Insist the weighing is done in front of you on a certified scale. And obtain at least 3 offers: on a 22 gram 18 carat chain the spread between best and worst frequently exceeds 250 €.
Clasps, springs and soldered parts in another metal are deducted from the weight, and that deduction should be itemised before you accept.
The paperwork
Buying precious metals from private individuals requires official identification and the transaction is entered in a register available to the authorities. Payment is by cash within the legal limits or by transfer. Keep the receipt: it evidences provenance if the question ever arises and it is what the capital gain calculation rests on in a tax return.
Frequently asked
+What is paid for a gram of 18 carat gold?
Seventy five per cent of the pure gold spot price, less a margin of 10 to 30 per cent.
+Should I melt an old piece?
Not without a valuation. Items made before 1970 can be worth several times their metal content.
+Can I negotiate the margin?
Yes, and with three offers the spread on a 22 gram chain often exceeds 250 €.
+What documents are needed?
Official identification. The transaction is entered in a register available to the authorities.
+Is the sale taxable?
The capital gain is declared in the income tax return, so the receipt should be kept.
Sources
- 1London Bullion Market Association, LBMA (August 2026)
- 2Boletín Oficial del Estado, BOE (August 2026)