SearchThe TraxNYC Buyer's Guide: How to Buy a Gold Chain, a Diamond or a Watch
From the counter at TraxNYC, 47th Street.
What are you shopping for?
Our jewelry buying guide, piece by piece. Tap what you are buying.
Gold chains
Engagement rings
Diamond studs
Tennis chains
Watches
Gold by the gram
Silver chains
Hip hop pieces
Or jump to a question:Is it real gold?What should it weigh?Which karat?Lab-grown diamond or natural diamond?How big is a carat?Can I return it?How is the price set?
The short answer
How to buy a piece of jewelry, from us or from anyone: five checks, in this order.
- 1The karat. The stamp says how much of the metal is gold: 417 is 10K, 585 is 14K, 750 is 18K.
- 2The grams. The price follows the grams, not the width, and our listings print them.
- 3Solid or hollow. Our gold chains are solid unless the listing says hollow or lightweight.
- 4The stones. Lab-grown diamond or natural diamond: both are diamond, priced differently. The listing says which.
- 5What comes with it. An official appraisal on everything but silver, and Trax's karat guarantee.
See the five checks as one picture, to save or share
Not sure yet? Talk to a personal jeweler: call 212-872-9692 or text us, seven days.
From the counter
“The jewelry business is about trust. You will not learn everything there is to know before you buy, so buy from someone who will still be around, and who treats you with dignity. I have seen customers start over with a new jeweler because they picked the one who fooled them best: the one who made them feel good at the counter and bad once they understood what they bought.”
Every listing
Read a listing the way we do
Karat
14K · stamp 585, 58.3 percent gold
Weight
89.00 grams · the price follows the grams
Width
7 mm · across one link
Length
24 inches · it sits at the lower chest
Solid or hollow
Solid · its title says solid
Our 14K Solid Miami Cuban Chain: the listing states the karat, 89.00 grams, 7 mm and 24 inches, and its title says solid. See the listing.
No weight line, or a different length? Text 212-872-9692 with the link and ask for the grams.
On a diamond listingOriginColorClarityCarat weight
The origin first, lab-grown diamond or natural diamond: 98% of our diamond listings state it. Where a listing does not, ask the desk before you pay.
What a photo cannot show: what is inside a link, and where a diamond formed. Solid or hollow · Lab-grown diamond or natural diamond
How to buy a gold chain
Which karat?
14K for a chain worn every day, 10K for width and rough wear, 18K for the deeper color.
Solid or hollow?
Solid to carry a pendant. At the same width, a hollow Cuban weighs a little over a third of a solid one.
What should it weigh?
On our makes, a 14K solid Miami Cuban runs about 1.25 grams an inch at 4 mm and 1.92 at 5 mm.
How much of the metal is gold
stamp 417
stamp 585
stamp 750
stamp 999
The stamp is the share of gold in thousandths. 24K is our gold bills, .999 fine. Swatch colors are drawn, not photographed.
Same width, not the same grams
Grams an inch, our 14K solid makes. Read the grams on every listing before the width. How much a gold chain weighs
Solid or hollow: what is inside the link
gold all the way through
a gold tube shaped into the same link
Inside a Cuban link. We cut a gold Miami Cuban apart and made it into gold Cuban rings. 50 million views on YouTube, read September 26, 2026.
A link cut in half, drawn. In a photo the two look alike. A hollow link gives the width for much less gold, and a thin one can kink: it is not a pendant chain. Hollow or solid gold chains
Where it sits, and how the width reads
one in nine of the chains we sold
22 and 24, nearly tied, took more than half
Shares of the chains we sold in the last twelve months.
How the width reads
A pendant wants 22 or 24. Measure a chain you already wear before you order. Men's gold chain length guide
See our four gold chain charts: karat, solid or hollow, length and style
Our own charts. Tap one to open it full size.
From the counter
“If you want a big look without spending a fortune, start with a 10K light link: real gold, built with a hollow core. A semi-hollow Franco or a palm link in 10K is sturdy, looks great on the neck and gives you real value for the money. And it is still gold. Gold always carries its worth, just like an 18K or a 24K chain does.”
“From there you can move up: a 14K light link, a solid 18K chain made to order, or platinum on the links that come in it.”
Made to order
Any link in our chain book, made for you
Pick the link and the width from the book, then the length, the karat and the color.
10K14K18K22KYellow, white or roseOne, two or three tone
The book prints each weight for a 14K bracelet at 8.5 inches, and a finished piece can run about 10 percent either way. It covers silver, platinum and palladium too.
“Our chain book comes from a chain maker in Los Angeles, a great company. They make every link in it, so we can order any of them as needed.” Trax
Browse the chain book: every link, by width and weight
Custom work takes weeks, not days, and a piece made for you cannot be returned (see our refund policy).
Call 212-872-9692Text a personal jewelerEmail custom@traxnyc.com
From our case
Solid 14K · 3 mm Best seller14K Solid Palm Link Chain, 3 mmSee the piece
Solid 14K · 5 mm Best seller14K Solid Miami Cuban Chain, 5 mm, 22 inchesSee the piece
Every card marked best seller on this page is among the best sellers of its kind over the 90 days to September 27, 2026. The price is on every listing.
The Miami Cuban guide10K, 14K or 18KEvery width to scaleShop gold chains↑ Pick another piece
How to buy a diamond or an engagement ring
What do the grades mean?
The 4 C's: cut, color from D down to Z, clarity from FL down to I3, and carat, which is weight: 1 carat is 0.2 grams.
Lab-grown diamond or natural diamond?
Both are diamond. A natural diamond is priced against a weekly trade list; a lab-grown diamond has none, and its price has fallen year after year.
How do I compare two stones?
Keep the origin the same and change one grade at a time.
The 4 C's at a glance
Each grade from the best to the lowest.
Cut
Color
Clarity
What our case holds, counted September 25, 2026: of the engagement center stones that state a grade, F is the most common color (45%) and VS1 the most common clarity (29%).
How big a carat looks
Carat is weight, not size. Round diamonds, face up, about this wide.
Drawn to scale with each other. The median engagement center in our case weighs 2.00 carats.
Lab-grown diamond or natural diamond
Natural diamond
Priced against a weekly trade list.
Lab-grown diamond
No trade list, and its price has fallen year after year.
A screening machine. It sorts natural diamonds from lab-grown diamonds. 3.7 million views on YouTube, read September 26, 2026.
Both are diamond. Your eye cannot tell a lab-grown diamond from a natural diamond, and neither can a pen tester. A screening machine sorts them, and a gem lab settles it.
See the whole 4 C's chart, ours
From the counter
“Choose lab-grown diamonds if you want the look, you do not mind wearing lab-grown, and you would rather put your money into gold or other gems. Choose natural diamonds if the piece is meant to be passed down to someone you love, because that question always comes up.”
From our case
The 4 C's guideLab-grown diamond or natural diamondHow to choose an engagement ringShop engagement rings↑ Pick another piece
How to buy diamond stud earrings
One ear or both?
Usually both: 2 Ctw means two carats total weight, one carat in each ear. Read the variant.
How big is a carat?
A one-carat round is about 6.5 mm across; two carats in each ear is about 8.2 mm.
Which backs?
A few of our listings name screw backs; most do not say, so ask the desk before you buy.
Read the pair, not the stone
Ctw is the two earrings added together.
2 Ctw: one carat in each ear
Two carats in each ear
About 6.5 mm and 8.2 mm across, drawn to scale with the carats above.
From our case
The stud earrings guideWomen's studsMen's studs↑ Pick another piece
How to buy a tennis chain
What is a pointer?
The size of each stone: a 7 pointer carries stones of about 0.07 carat each, and bigger stones make a wider chain.
What sets the price?
The stones first, then the gold and the making.
How do I check one?
Shake it gently by one end: a stone that clicks is loose. Every prong tip should lie flat on its stone.
How wide each stone size runs
One stone of each size in its gold setting, drawn to scale with each other.
The middle width of our diamond tennis listings at each pointer, read from the title, counted September 25, 2026.
Jon Jones at the counter. The UFC fighter stops by after a win and picks out custom tennis chains, 2024. 196,000 views on YouTube, read September 26, 2026.
From our case
From the counter
“With tennis chains, you can stop looking. Ours are built in one factory that makes nothing but tennis chains, with precise, labor-intensive work, so every link sits properly with the next: not too stiff and not too soft. Telling a good one in your hand takes experience, and the first thing to look for is links that are too loose. With ours, you can stop worrying. I believe they are the best-made tennis chains there are.”
The tennis chain guideShop tennis chains↑ Pick another piece
A quick test
Myth or fact? Six things we hear across the counter
Guess first, then tap a card for our answer.
“It says 14K on the clasp, so it is 14K.”
Not provenA stamp can be struck on anything: it is the first check, not the last. The three checks at home
“A magnet does not pick it up, so it is real gold.”
MythGold does not pull to a magnet, but no pull proves nothing. Why the magnet is only a screen
“A carat is a size.”
MythA carat is weight: 1 carat is 0.2 grams. A one-carat round is about 6.5 mm across. See the carats drawn
“A pen tester can tell a lab-grown diamond from a natural diamond.”
MythA pen tester reads both as diamond. A screening machine sorts them, and a gem lab settles it. Watch the machine
“A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond.”
FactIt is carbon in the same crystal as a natural diamond, 10 on the Mohs scale. Moissanite and cubic zirconia are the look-alikes that are not diamonds. The question in full
“Two chains of the same width weigh the same.”
MythAt 4 mm, our 14K solid Franco runs about 2.14 grams an inch and the Miami Cuban 1.25. See the grams
Diamond or moissanite. Two stones heated, set on ice and scratched against each other. 42 million views on YouTube, read September 26, 2026.
Next test: four photos, two lab-grown diamonds and two natural diamonds.
How to buy a watch
What should the listing say?
The reference number, the year, the dial, the metal, and whether the card or papers come with it.
Can I see it first?
Yes. Ask the watch desk for a video, or see it at the counter on 47th Street.
Can I return it?
No. Watches are final sale under our refund policy, so settle every question before you pay.
TraxNYC is an independent jeweler and is not affiliated with Rolex.
From the counter
“With a pre-owned Rolex, we pick pieces that keep our name's integrity, and a lot goes into that. That job is left to the specialists in our firm, and we only work with vendors who hold high standards, especially overseas, in Japan. The best pre-owned Rolexes come from Asia, from auctions, and we do our best to source as many of those as we can.”
The pre-owned Rolex guideEvery pre-owned RolexMen's watches↑ Pick another piece
How to buy gold by the gram
What is it?
Our Trax gold bills: .999 fine 24K gold in 1, 5 and 10 grams, each signed by hand by our founder.
How is it priced?
Its grams at the day's gold price, plus the making and our margin. Gold moves both ways, and this is not investment advice. How a price is set
Can I sell it back?
Yes, in person. “We test the karat and weigh it in grams while you watch, then quote you a number.”
The gold by the gram guideToday's gold price↑ Pick another piece
How to buy a silver chain
Is 925 real silver?
Yes: 92.5 percent silver, the rest mostly copper, which makes it hard enough to wear.
Does it tarnish?
Yes, and it comes back: soap, warm water and a polishing cloth.
Does it come with an appraisal?
No. Silver jewelry does not come with an appraisal; the karat guarantee covers sterling silver all the same.
What 925 means
the rest, mostly copper
When it darkens:Soap→Warm water→A polishing cloth
How to buy hip hop jewelry
What do I check?
Four facts on the listing: the karat, the grams, solid or hollow, and natural diamonds or lab-grown diamonds.
What does iced out mean?
Set with diamonds so the piece throws light like ice; the stones can be natural diamonds or lab-grown diamonds.
Which chain carries a Jesus piece?
A 14K Jesus piece of about 33 grams hangs straight on a 6 mm solid Cuban at 24 inches.
Match the chain to the pendant's grams
For a pendant, match the width to its grams, and wear it at 22 or 24 inches. Which chain for a pendant
Busta Rhymes unveils the biggest Cuban ever made at TraxNYC, 2023. 850,000 views on YouTube, read September 26, 2026.
From the counter
“Hold a Cuban up by one end. A well-made one hangs straight down: the links do not spin, twist or curve. Getting that right comes down to who made the chain and how they made it.”
From our case
The hip hop jewelry guideWhich chain for a pendantShop Jesus pieces↑ Pick another piece
For every piece
Before you pay, and when it arrives
How the price is set
the grams×the karat's share of gold×the day's gold price+the making+the margin
Gold moves every day and the making does not, so a price from last week or from a video can differ from the listing today.
The whole method is in how a gold chain is priced; today's gold price is on our gold price page.
From the counter
“When you bring a chain in to sell, you are offered the scrap price, less the labor and the costs. We are upfront about our prices. We sell chains for a profit, not for scrap, because handling your purchase properly, securing it and supporting you as a client afterward, is part of what you are buying. If a price does not sit right with you, call and talk it over with one of our salespeople.”
What comes with every piece
With every purchase
An appraisal
From our showroom page: “Every purchase comes with an official appraisal: carat and gram weights, diamond grade and color, current market value, and our corporate seal.” “Silver jewelry does not come with an appraisal.”
The karat guarantee
No time limit
Trax's word covers anything you buy from us in a gold karat or sterling silver. If a piece ever tests under its metal, text or call 212-872-9692 with your order number, or write to service@traxnyc.com.
Before you decide
Seen first
“Every stone is shown in person or on video before you decide.”
Returns
14 days
Our refund policy: “Eligible merchandise may be returned within fourteen (14) calendar days of confirmed delivery, as determined by the shipping carrier's delivery confirmation.”
Watches, and custom or personalized items: “strictly non-returnable and non-refundable”.
When it arrives: three checks at home
1The stamp
On the clasp or its tongue, the tag beside the clasp, the end link: 417, 585 or 750.
A first screenA stamp can be struck on anything: the first check, not the last.
2The scale
Weigh it on a scale that reads grams and compare the weight line on its listing.
Compare to the listingMost kitchen scales round to the whole gram: one gram either way is the scale.
3The magnet
Gold does not pull. Hold the magnet to the links, away from the clasp: the spring inside a lobster clasp is steel and pulls on a real chain.
A first screenNo pull proves nothing: the magnet is a screen, not a verdict.
Read the three together; when they disagree, a jeweler tests with acid or an x-ray reading. The whole routine: Is it real gold? How to check a chain from us.
See the three checks as one picture
How to spot fake gold. Our 2019 video on telling real gold from fake. 1.6 million views on YouTube, read September 26, 2026.
From the counter
“Under-karat chains are a real problem: a chain stamped as more gold than it holds. It happens more than it should. A real jewelry business would never do that to you.”
“When the box arrives, check that your piece is exactly what you expected. If it is not, for any reason, do not worry: we stand behind you 100 percent. At TraxNYC we are not after your money. We want happy customers; that is the secret of our business. So check your piece and its condition, and whatever the circumstance, rest assured we will make it right.”
Talk to a personal jeweler
Not sure which piece fits? Ask a personal jeweler.
Our personal jewelers on 47th Street answer by phone and text seven days. Tell us what you are shopping for, and we will send you the pieces that fit.
What buyers say about shopping with us
★★★★★
“First time buying after seeing your youtube videos for the longest time. Great business, presentation, and quality. 20/10 Trax will be back!”
★★★★★
“Gf loves the bracelet, and i called Trax and they shipped it to me overnight so i was able to give it to her in timefor valetines day. Thank you Trax great service”
★★★★★
“Really loved the necklace a beautiful piece came with authenticity papers and a really nice box. Great customer service and fast service!”
★★★★★
“Repeat customer for over 5 years. The quality of the diamonds and precious metals as well as the craftsmanship at TraxNYC is unmatched.”
A few of the five-star reviews buyers left on our listings, chosen by us, quoted as written and trimmed only for length.
We have about 4,470 reviews on Google. How to check us before you buy: our reviews page.
Every TraxNYC buyer's guide
The questions buyers ask us across the counter, one guide each. Pick the one that fits what you are buying.
Gold chains
Miami Cuban chains
Franco, Figaro, Cuban, curb and rope
10K vs 14K vs 18K gold
How a gold chain is priced
Which chain for a pendant
Herringbone chains
925 silver chains
Hip hop jewelry+How much a gold chain weighs+Hollow or solid gold chains+Men's gold chain length guide+Men's gold chain sizes, to scale
Diamonds
Lab-grown diamond or natural diamond
The 4 C's of diamonds
Diamond stud earrings
Diamond tennis chains+How to choose an engagement ring
Watches
Gold by the gram
Checking, care and sizing
Questions buyers ask before they buy
What should I look for when buying a gold chain?
The karat stamp, the grams on the listing, solid or hollow, a width that suits what it carries, and the length. For a pendant, match the width to its grams: under about 10 grams, a 2.5 to 4 mm solid link; 10 to 30 grams, 4 to 6 mm; over 30 grams, 6 mm and up.
How do I buy a gold chain online?
Read the karat, the grams, the width, the length and solid or hollow on the listing, and text 212-872-9692 with the link for anything it does not say. When the chain arrives, weigh it against the listing. At our counter, every chain is weighed, stamp-checked and appraised.
How can I tell if gold is real?
Three checks at home, read together: the stamp (417, 585 or 750 for 10K, 14K or 18K), the scale against the grams on the listing, and a magnet on the links, away from the clasp. A stamp can be struck on anything and no pull proves nothing; a jeweler settles the rest with acid or an x-ray reading.
Is a lab-grown diamond a real diamond?
Yes. It is carbon in the same crystal as a natural diamond, 10 on the Mohs scale, with a refractive index of about 2.42. It is not a simulant: moissanite and cubic zirconia are the look-alikes that are not diamonds. What differs is where it formed and how it is priced.
Which karat is best for everyday wear?
14K. It is hard enough for daily wear, it holds a pendant, and it is what we stock most and sell most. 10K is harder still, a fair pick if you are rough on jewelry. 18K is the softest of the three, for the piece worn a few times a week.
What comes with my purchase?
An official appraisal with its carat and gram weights, diamond grade and color, current market value and our corporate seal, on everything but silver jewelry, and the karat guarantee behind the metal. An appraisal is not a lab grading report: if you want one for a stone, ask the desk before you order.
Can I return a piece?
Jewelry can come back within fourteen days of confirmed delivery, on the terms in our refund policy. Watches and custom or personalized items cannot, and resizing and other alterations are done for you and are not returnable, so settle the size and the length first.
What length chain should I buy?
For most men, 22 or 24 inches: of the chains we sold in the last twelve months, those two, nearly tied, took more than half. 20 inches sits just below the collarbone, 22 at mid chest, 24 at the lower chest, and a pendant wants 22 or 24. Measure a chain you already wear before you order.
From the counter
“I started on 47th Street at 18. I bought a digital camera and began photographing jewelry to sell, and over twenty-two years, going on twenty-three, I learned the wholesale side, the retail side and the manufacturing.”
“Buy jewelry you fall in love with: something that makes you happy every time you put it on, a reward for your hard work. And it has to be right, and it has to fit right. Otherwise there is no point.”
What buyers say about shopping with us is on our reviews page. The showroom is at 64 W 47th St, Booth F-1, in the Diamond District, on 47th Street since 2004; see the showroom page for the hours.