Be wary of anyone who quotes you a fixed price "per piece" for gold in Senegal. Gold has no flat rate: its value changes every day and is calculated down to the gram. The good news? This calculation rests on three simple factors — and once you know them, no one can confuse you anymore.
| Karat | Purity | Price per gram (spot, USD) | Jayma Or buy-back price |
|---|---|---|---|
| … | |||
Do you want to buy a piece of jewelry and know whether it's fairly priced? Do you want to estimate what an inheritance tucked away in a drawer is worth? In both cases, you need the same thing: to understand how the price of gold in Senegal is really formed.
At Jayma Or, every day in Dakar we buy gold jewelry, broken gold, scrap, coins and bars. We test and weigh in front of you, based on the world rate of the day, and we pay cash, the same day. Our trade is gold expertise — here's everything we know about its price, with full transparency.
In this guide, you'll discover:
- the three factors that set the price of gold (and why a "fixed price" is a warning sign);
- the essential difference between the shop purchase price and the real value of the gold;
- what the different karats are really worth (24K, 21K, 18K, 14K);
- how to check a price yourself, in a few seconds.
The three factors that set the price of gold
In Senegal as everywhere in the world, the value of the gold contained in a piece of jewelry rests on three elements — not one more:
- The purity (the karat). This is the proportion of real gold in the metal. 24-karat gold is 99.9% pure. 21-karat gold contains 87.5% gold, 18-karat gold 75%, and 14-karat gold 58.3%. The rest is other metals (copper, silver, etc.) that don't count toward the "gold" value.
- The exact weight. The piece is weighed to the gram, and even to the tenth of a gram, on a precise scale. An "eyeball" estimate is worthless.
- Today's rate. The world price of gold (the "world rate") moves every day according to international markets. It's what sets the price per gram at a given moment.
So the formula is always the same: weight × purity × today's price per gram = the value of the gold in your piece. That's why no serious professional can give you "the price of a gold ring" in the abstract. Today's buying rate is also displayed in real time on our homepage, karat by karat: it's your reference benchmark.
Shop price or value of the gold: don't confuse them
Here's the confusion that costs Senegalese people the most. The price you pay in a jewelry shop is not the value of the gold in the piece. In the shop, the price adds up:
- the gold itself (the only part that can be resold);
- the craftsmanship — the artisan's work, sometimes considerable;
- the brand, the design, the finish, the stone setting;
- the merchant's margin.
In concrete terms: two rings of the same weight and same karat can show very different prices in the window, depending on the craftsmanship and the brand. But at resale, only the gold they contain matters. That's why the purchase value and the resale value are never identical — and that's perfectly normal.
If your goal is to sell, read our complete method: how to sell your gold jewelry in Dakar in 5 steps.
What the different karats are really worth
The karat is the most misunderstood factor. Remember one simple rule: the higher the karat, the more gold the piece contains, and the more it's worth per gram.
- 24K (999): 99.9% pure gold. Very rare in everyday worn jewelry because it's too soft; mostly in coins and bars.
- 21K (875): 87.5% gold. Very common in West Africa, prized for its rich yellow color and high value.
- 18K (750): 75% gold. The international jewelry standard, sturdy and refined.
- 14K (585): 58.3% gold. More resistant, less rich in gold — therefore a lower value per gram.
Try it: two 10-gram chains, one in 21K and the other in 14K, are not worth the same thing, far from it — the first contains much more real gold. To go further, see our articles on the different types of gold and gold alloys.
How to check a price yourself
You don't need to be an expert to check a price. Here's how to proceed:
- Identify the karat. Look for the hallmark on the piece (24K, 21K, 18K, 14K, or 999, 875, 750, 585). Missing or illegible? A quick test determines it with certainty — see the methods for checking gold purity.
- Have the piece weighed. Insist on a real scale, and that the weighing is done in front of you.
- Note today's rate for the karat concerned, shown on our homepage.
- Do the math. Weight × price per gram for the karat = the order of magnitude of the gold's value. That way you arrive already knowing what your gold is worth.
This simple habit protects you better than any advice: an offer is always judged against today's rate, never "by feel."
Why ask Jayma Or for an estimate
Because the price of gold moves every day, the best information is still a current estimate, done on your actual piece. We are an established gold buyer and expert in Dakar, and our way of working comes down to one word: transparency.
- Price based on the world rate of the day, publicly displayed.
- Testing and weighing in front of you, price explained as karat + weight + rate.
- Cash payment, immediate, if you decide to sell.
- Trusted courier to your home or office if you can't come to us.
- Need cash without selling for good? Discover gold custody and buyback agreements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the price of gold change every day?
Because it follows the world rate, set continuously by international markets. So today's price per gram isn't yesterday's or tomorrow's. That's why we display the current rate rather than a fixed tariff.
Do you sell gold jewelry?
Our main trade is buying and appraising gold. If you wish to buy, contact us: we'll guide you honestly and give you the right price benchmarks based on today's rate, without letting you overpay for craftsmanship.
Does the price depend on the condition of the piece?
For the value of the gold, no: a broken, scratched or mismatched piece still contains the same amount of gold. Only the karat, the weight and the rate count. Craftsmanship and aesthetics affect only the selling price in the shop.
Is a WhatsApp estimate reliable?
A photo lets us give you a useful first range. The final price is confirmed after testing and weighing, in the shop or with our courier — it's the only way to measure the karat and weight exactly.
Is the estimate free?
Yes, completely free and with no obligation. You leave with clear information, whether or not you decide to sell.
Take action: get a current estimate
You now know what really sets the price of gold in Senegal: karat, weight and today's rate. The last step is to get a real figure on your own jewelry.
Request a free estimate, with no obligation: send a photo of your jewelry by WhatsApp to +221 78 111 66 87, or make an appointment. We give you a clear price, based on today's rate, and we pay cash if you sell.
Before any purchase or sale, check the current rate shown on our homepage, then get in touch: in a few minutes, you'll know exactly what your gold is worth.