[header] How to calculate the value of scrap gold [title] Use a magnifying glass to decipher the karat number on each piece. [step] The first thing you have to do is find out. Separating your gold by its karat weight will not only help you begin to assess its value, but it can point out items that are not even gold. 
[substeps] If it is unreadable, you could choose to have the gold tested by a reputable dealer. There's also the possibility that some of the gold is actually just gold-plated, which a dealer would determine with certainty by performing a chemical test.