"With gas prices the way they are we figured 'Let's get rid of our junk'," said Kim Clark.

The North Strabane resident was one of several hundred people who cleaned out their jewelry boxes and took gold items to a two-day event, which took place at the Comfort Inn in Washington. The items were inspected and appraised and some of it, much to the delight of those who came bearing their broken and unused items, was purchased by representatives of Joyce's Jewelry, a Uniontown jeweler.

The weekend event netted the jewelers gold, which will be sold to refineries to be smelted for reuse. For Clark and others who brought in the long forgotten contents of their jewelry boxes, it was "found money." For Clark nearly $300 for the trip to the beach.

The prices being paid for old jewelry varies, but is based the value of gold that day, upon the amount of gold - as indicated by the carat amount stamped on the piece, such as 10k, 14k, or 18k- and the weight, in grams, of the piece.

Gold parties

Consumers are being bombarded with ads from people wanting to buy their old and broken jewelry, including ads for gold parties and places where the old jewelry can be mailed. However, local jewelers and law enforcement officials said it is best to deal with an established jeweler.

In Pennsylvania, jewelry dealers must be state-licensed and are required to obtain a license from each county in which they deal. They must also keep meticulous records, getting driver's licenses or other photo identification from the sellers. They must also submit their records to state police.

"Go to a reputable dealer," was state police Trooper John Woodruff's advice to those looking to sell gold jewelry. "Get the fair value."

Woodruff, who is responsible for collecting the jewelers' transaction sheets that arrive daily at the state police intelligence unit's headquarters in Washington, said police keep the sheets for two years. They routinely search them, looking for items that have been stolen and resold to those who buy gold.

Earlier this year, transaction records Howard Springer kept helped lead police to the killers of the retired police chief and his wife, Nancy. Springer, who ran a home-based precious metals business was robbed and murdered by four men who had earlier sold him stolen jewelry and coins, Woodruff said.

Jewelers, like those from Joyce's, often hold gold buying events at different venues.

"It's a convenience for the people," explained Paul Oravetz. "It's better if people can be there for the process. They can rest assured they are getting the most for their jewelry"

Gold sellers arrive with their unwanted items in purses or shopping bags and even suitcases, hoping to leave with cash in their pockets.

"People bring in gold teeth, old watches," said Oravetz. "It's a reflection of the economy. It's just sitting there in their jewelry boxes."

The Joyce's representatives said they usually do about 150 transactions a day during their weekend events.

Leave them smiling

"We leave people smiling," Oravetz said.

Jewelers are not the only ones that buy old gold.

Stores such as Treasure Hunt, a coin and stamp company in Mt. Lebanon, also buys gold coins and gold jewelry

"We weigh it and pay by the gram," explained Patty Ducarme, who added that the items are then sold to a whole seller who resells it to refineries.

Treasure Hunt doesn't just buy coins and broken jewelry-they also buy old items, things that aren't broken, but that people don't wear anymore.

"We get class rings, Masonic rings, old wedding rings," she said.

Some of the old jewelry contains stones, some have been already removed.

Mixed with alloys

The gold content of jewelry, which has other alloys mixed with it because gold is too soft to hold some shapes, is not as pure as gold coins, but is still valuable, Ducarme explained.

Jewelers and other reputable dealers know what to look for, said George Kunzma, owner of Heritage Jewelers in Bethel Park.

Some of the jewelry that sellers bring to him could be resold as jewelry, but most is worth for the gold, he said.

"You have to know what you are looking at," Kunzman said, adding. "If you're not going to wear it now is the time to sell."