Proper documentation: Seek certificates proving the gold's purity and the piece's authenticity, especially for designer jewelry. Solid construction: Heavier, denser pieces contain more gold by weight.

Despite the current mania, Clark, the gold market analyst, noted that jewelry owners bringing in old pieces “probably won’t get rich off of it.” Many will try nonetheless.

The best gold for everyday use is 14K, while 18K is typically reserved for more special pieces. "Pure gold is going to be softer than 14-karat gold would be, so that's why you tend to see 14-karat ...