What you should actually expect to be offered
Fewer buyers handle platinum than gold — pawn shops often quote it poorly or refuse it. Specialist precious-metal buyers are usually the only strong offer in town.
Reading platinum marks
Look for “PLAT”, “PT950”, “950”, “PT900” or “900” inside rings and on clasps. US law allows “Platinum” unqualified only at 950+ parts per thousand. Pieces marked “10% IRID PLAT” are 90% platinum, 10% iridium — common in vintage American rings.
Why platinum offers vary more than gold
The platinum scrap market is thinner: fewer refiners take it, testing is harder (platinum's density overlaps some fakes), and spot has been volatile against gold. Many general buyers deliberately lowball platinum because they can't move it fast. That makes the melt yardstick even more valuable — and shopping the piece to a specialist worth the extra day.
Catalytic converters are a different market
Converter recycling pays per unit by model code, not by melt math, because recovery rates vary. If you have converters, get quotes from dedicated converter buyers — this calculator is for jewelry, bars and scrap platinum metal.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a platinum ring worth?
Weigh it, subtract stones/settings mentally, and use PLAT950 purity: grams × 0.95 ÷ 31.1035 × spot. Expect 35–80% of that number depending on the buyer.
Is platinum worth more than gold?
Not necessarily — the ratio moves. Check both live prices on this site; per gram, gold has often exceeded platinum in recent years.
Do pawn shops buy platinum?
Many do reluctantly and quote low, because they resell it slowly. A specialist precious-metal buyer is usually the stronger offer for platinum.
Other metals
Gold calculator · Silver calculator · Palladium calculator · Copper calculator · Nickel calculator · Brass calculator