You're in Miami with gold you're ready to turn into money — a Cuban link that never leaves the drawer, a broken 14K bracelet, an inherited San Lázaro pendant, a class ring, a handful of mismatched earrings. You've seen the "we buy gold" signs from Little Havana to North Miami, and every one of them promises "top dollar" without ever showing a number. Here's exactly how to know what your gold is really worth, and how to collect up to 90% of its melt value — whether you drive up I-95 or never leave your house.
1. The Problem With Most Miami Gold Buyers
Miami has no shortage of places that buy gold. Walk a dozen storefronts between Hialeah and downtown and you'll get a dozen different offers — and almost never an explanation of how any of them was calculated. That's not an accident. When a buyer won't show you the math, the number can be whatever they want it to be.
We do it differently. We're DD Pawn Loans, a licensed Florida pawnbroker in Pompano Beach with a 4.9-star rating across 500+ Google reviews, and we publish our formula so you can check our offer before you ever get in the car or tape up a box.
2. The Melt Math — Run It Yourself Before You Sell
Every honest gold offer starts from melt value: what the pure gold in your item is worth at today's price.
Melt value = weight × purity × live spot price.
What purity actually means
- 10K (stamped 417) = 41.7% pure gold
- 14K (stamped 585) = 58.3% pure gold
- 18K (stamped 750) = 75% pure gold
Watch the units
Gold's spot price is quoted per troy ounce, which is 31.1 grams — not 28. Some buyers weigh in pennyweights, which can make the number harder to follow. We work in grams, out loud, in front of you.
Weigh your piece, multiply by the purity, multiply by today's spot, and you have its melt value. We pay up to 90% of that number. Want it done for you? Our free gold estimator runs the same math in seconds.
3. Everything Is Tested on Camera, in Front of You
Here's what sets us apart: we test your gold on camera, with you watching, every single time. 230K+ people follow @ddpawnloans on TikTok, where these on-camera appraisals are posted — the weighing, the Sigma electronic testing, the acid confirmation, the math, the offer. Nothing happens to your gold out of your sight.
The appraisal is free and no-obligation. If you don't like the number, you walk out with your gold and a handshake. Curious about the process itself? See exactly how we test gold.
4. Two Honest Ways to Sell From Miami
We're not going to pretend we're around the corner from Brickell. We're in Pompano Beach — from downtown Miami that's about 33 miles, roughly 40–50 minutes up I-95 North. So here are the two paths that actually make sense, depending on what you're selling.
Path 1: Drive up I-95 for a large lot
If you're selling a heavy Cuban link, a jewelry box of 14K and 18K pieces, or anything where a few percentage points means real money, the drive pays for itself. On high-value gold, the gap between a lowball walk-in offer and up to 90% of melt can be worth far more than about 40–50 minutes on I-95. From Wynwood or North Miami you're on the highway in minutes; from Brickell it's one straight shot north. Walk in during store hours — Mon–Thu 10am–7pm, Fri 9am–8pm, Sat 10am–7pm (closed Sunday). Coming from Broward instead? We also serve sellers through our Fort Lauderdale gold page.
Path 2: Free insured mail-in for everything else
For a single chain, a broken bracelet, or anything that doesn't justify the trip, use our mail-in gold program — available statewide:
- Free insured FedEx label — both directions, always
- Your package is opened and tested on camera, same as in person
- Offer within 24 hours of arrival
- Accept and get a same-day wire or mailed check
- Decline and we ship everything back — free, insured
The full step-by-step is at how mail-in gold works. Same math, same cameras, zero driving.
5. We Know Miami Gold — Because We Buy It and We Stock It
A lot of buyers treat every piece as scrap. We don't, because Miami gold isn't generic. The Cuban link chains Miami is famous for are a style we buy and keep in our own showcase. Same with religious pendants — San Lázaro, saints, crosses — pieces that carry weight in gold and in meaning, especially for families in Little Havana and Hialeah where they've been passed down for generations. We stock them, we sell them, and we buy them.
Why does that matter to you as a seller? Because a buyer who only melts gold prices everything at scrap. A buyer with a retail case full of gold chains can recognize when your piece is worth handling as jewelry — and price accordingly.
6. Not Sure You Want to Sell? Borrow Against It Instead
A buy-only gold storefront can't offer this — a licensed pawnbroker can: we can lend against your gold instead of buying it — $200 minimum up to $100,000 — so grandma's San Lázaro pendant stays yours. There's no credit check, nothing is reported to credit bureaus, and the loan is non-recourse: if you can't repay, the item settles the debt — no collections, no credit damage. The finance charge and maturity date are disclosed in writing on your pawn ticket, as required by Florida's Pawnbroking Act, and Florida law requires a valid government photo ID for every pawn transaction. Details at collateral loans.
7. Miami Gold Sellers Ask Us
Is it worth driving from Miami to Pompano Beach to sell gold?
For a large or high-value lot, usually yes. Run your pieces through the gold estimator first — if the melt value is substantial, the difference between a lowball walk-in offer and up to 90% of melt can be well worth about 40–50 minutes on I-95. For smaller lots, skip the drive and use the free insured mail-in instead. Either way, the appraisal is free and you're never obligated to sell.
How do you test my gold?
On a scale in grams, then Sigma electronic testing with acid confirmation — all on camera, in front of you (or on camera as we open your mail-in package). The test is free and you see every step. Full breakdown: how we test gold.
What happens if I mail my gold in and don't like the offer?
We ship everything back to you with a free, insured return label. You risk nothing by getting a number — the label is free both directions, the offer comes within 24 hours of arrival, and declining costs you $0.
More questions? See our FAQs or contact us.
8. Get Your Number Today — In Person or by Mail
You now know the formula: weight × purity × live spot, and we pay up to 90% of that melt value — tested on camera, math on the table, no obligation. Call or text us at (561) 774-9292 with any questions, then choose your path: drive up I-95 or request your free insured mail-in label.
DD Pawn Loans
2751 W Atlantic Blvd #101, Pompano Beach, FL 33069
Call or text: (561) 774-9292
- Mon–Thu: 10am–7pm
- Fri: 9am–8pm
- Sat: 10am–7pm
- Sun: Closed