Value of US Military 10k Yellow Gold Rings – Army, Navy, Air Forces, & Marines (USMC)

Military memorabilia is popular worldwide, and U.S. military rings are no exception. They are cherished by service members, veterans, military enthusiasts, and collectors alike. With intricate, classic designs, these rings are some of the most interesting pieces that pass through our shop.

For many American families, military service runs deep. Whether it’s Vietnam, Korea, World War II, or more recent conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan, most people have a connection to someone who has served. Personally, my grandfathers served in the Army and Air Force during Vietnam and Korea, and I have uncles who were Marines. Because of that, seeing these military gold rings feels a little special.

What better way to discuss the value of gold rings than by taking a closer look at U.S. military gold rings?

How We Value Gold Rings Differently

One of the great things about selling your gold rings to Cash for Gold Mailer is that we aren’t just a faceless, assembly line of gold evaluators. Many online competitors hire evaluators to do basic math—they calculate gold value based on weight and purity, then offer a price based on intrinsic value alone. We don’t do that.

As a family-owned business with decades in the antique and collectible trade, we know the difference between gold that’s only worth its melt value and gold that has additional collectible value. If a piece is worth more as a collectible, we pay you accordingly. That said, with gold at all-time highs, intrinsic value often represents the bulk of a ring’s resale price.

Not All Military Rings Are Officially Issued

It’s important to note that most military rings are not officially issued by the U.S. military. Instead, companies like Jostens, Balfour, and MTM Rings specialize in crafting military rings for service members, veterans, and collectors. So if you come across an Iwo Jima ring, it wasn’t handed to a Marine who actually raised the flag on Mount Suribachi—it’s a commemorative piece.

That said, if you have a historically significant ring, we’ll make sure you get a fair price!

Determining the Value of a Gold U.S. Military Ring

Without further ado, let’s take a look at how gold is priced and what the intrinsic value of a gold US military ring would be. If you have something similar, you can also use our gold price calculator to determine the intrinsic value of your gold. But here’s a quick breakdown of the steps for determining the value of your gold ring:

1. Determine the gold purity (e.g., 10K, 14K).
2. Weigh the ring in grams.
3. Multiply purity by total weight to determine the amount of pure gold in the ring.
4. Multiply pure gold weight by the current gold price per gram. Boom! You’ve got your intrinsic value.

US Army Air Forces – 10K Yellow Gold Ring

When evaluating the intrinsic value of a gold ring, several key factors come into play—metal purity, weight, and current gold prices. Let’s take a look at this United States Army Air Forces 10K Yellow Gold Ring (size 8) that came through our store. This ring, crafted from 10K gold, holds historical and sentimental value, but its financial worth is primarily determined by its gold content. Unlike rings adorned with gemstones, this piece relies solely on its metal composition, making it a straightforward candidate for intrinsic value calculations.

 

To determine the base value, you first need to assess the gold purity. 10K gold (step 1) consists of 41.7% pure gold, with the remainder being alloy metals such as copper and silver for added durability. Pure gold is 24k, so you can determine that percentage by dividing the karat measurement by 24, or 10/24 in this case. We have fancy equipment we use to confirm the purity of the gold, but you’ll often see a gold mark (an example is shown below with the first Navy ring). But there are other ways to determine the gold purity.

Next, knowing the ring’s weight is crucial—gold rings typically range between 5 to 15 grams, though exact measurements vary. As you can see from the photo on the scale here, this US Army Air Forces ring weighs in at 7.5 grams (step 2).

Since we have the weight and the purity (% of the piece that is pure gold), we can multiple them together to get the actual amount of gold in the ring: 7.5g * 41.7% = 3.1275 grams of pure gold. (step 3)

As of writing this in February 2025 gold sits right near an all-time high at $91.99/g. In troy ounces, that’s $2,861.26. If you’re measuring in ounces, make sure you use troy ounces (how most prices of gold are shown), because you need 1.09714286 regular ounces of gold to make 1 troy ounce. That would mean a regular ounce is about $2,607.92, a big difference if you’re doing your math wrong and expecting a larger payouts. To reduce confusion, it’s easier just to use grams. You can get the current price of gold at goldprice.org.

Now, we just multiple the price of gold per gram by the weight of pure gold in the ring to find its value: $91.99 x 3.1275 = $287.70 (step 4)

However, market factors such as brand, historical significance, and craftsmanship can add premiums beyond intrinsic worth. In the case of this Army Air Forces ring, its military heritage may make it more desirable to collectors, increasing its resale value beyond the gold alone. Because of these factors and its excellent condition, we were able to pay this customer more than usual for his gold ring.

US Army Air Forces – Combat Navigator 10K Yellow Gold Ring

I’m going to spare you the details on the calculations I went through above for the rest of the rings, but they’re still so cool to look at and can also help understand how important weight is when it comes to the value of these rings.

This United States Army Air Forces Navigator Combat ring is crafted from 10k solid yellow gold and features a bezel setting with a striking oval cabochon black onyx stone. This men’s ring is size 10.75 and pays tribute to the military with its distinctive style. Having a size 10.75 ring compared to the size 8 ring above contributes to its bigger weight and value.

The black onyx stone symbolizes strength and protection, making it a meaningful piece for those connected to the Air Forces or looking for a bold and masculine accessory.

When determining the price, any jewels should be removed from the ring and evaluated separately. Black onyx isn’t worth as much as gold, and other pieces may have diamonds or gemstones in them as well. While this is a consideration, for simplicity I’m going to go through the calculations as if the entire weight was gold. Usually, other stones like this don’t have a significant impact.

1. Determine the Gold Purity: 10k
2. Determine the total weight of the ring: 17.3g
3. Multiple (1) and (2) to determine the amount of pure gold in the ring: (10/24) * 17.3g = 7.20833333333
4. Multiple (3) by the price of gold per gram: 7.20833333333 * $91.99 = $663.09

Here, you can see why size and weight have such a large impact on value. Worth over double the first ring, more weight means more gold, which means higher payouts. Purity is extremely important too, although all the rings in this blog are 10k. If you’d like to learn more about the impact of purity, you can read more about it in our blog here.

But just for a fun example, if this ring were 14k gold instead of 10k gold, the calculation would look like this:

1. Determine the Gold Purity: 14k
2. Determine the total weight of the ring: 17.3g
3. Multiple (1) and (2) to determine the amount of pure gold in the ring: (14/24) * 17.3g = 10.0916666667
4. Multiple (3) by the price of gold per gram: 10.0916666667 * $91.99 = $928.33

Purity is very important when evaluating gold prices! Most jewelry is either 10k or 14k, as that makes it more durable for everyday wear.

US Army – 10k Yellow Gold Blue Topaz Ring

The United States Army 10K Yellow Gold Blue Topaz Ring (size 9.5) is another great example of a US military ring that is often sold to our shop. Crafted here in the US, this ring features a blue topaz stone set in a yellow gold band with a purity of 10K. The design is both elegant and patriotic, making it a unique and meaningful accessory for those who have served or support the U.S. Army.

1. Determine the Gold Purity: 10k
2. Determine the total weight of the ring: 15.4g
3. Multiple (1) and (2) to determine the amount of pure gold in the ring: (10/24) * 15.4g = 6.41666666667
4. Multiple (3) by the price of gold per gram: 6.41666666667 * $91.99 = $590.27

US Marines (USMC) – IWO JIMA 10K Yellow Gold Ring

This United States Marines ring is crafted in 10k yellow gold and features a single natural white diamond with a total carat weight of approximately 0.05CT. The diamond has a clarity grade of SI and a color grade of H/I, set in a round shape. Diamonds with these very small carat sizes really aren’t worth anything – they’re purely for visual appeal – so it doesn’t really have an impact on the gold value calculation.

This men’s ring is size 10.5, weighing 18.3 grams – a larger weight for a larger size like we saw in earlier examples. It showcases the emblem of the United States Marines, making it a distinctive and meaningful piece of jewelry for those connected to the military or admirers of its symbolism.

Imagery on one of the sides depicts Iwo Jima. Famously, the Battle of Iwo Jima, fought from February 19 to March 26, 1945, was a pivotal World War II conflict in which U.S. Marines stormed the heavily fortified island to secure a strategic airbase. After five weeks of brutal combat, the U.S. emerged victorious, famously raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi, a moment immortalized in one of history’s most iconic photographs as well as on the side of this ring.

1. Determine the Gold Purity: 10k
2. Determine the total weight of the ring: 18.3g
3. Multiple (1) and (2) to determine the amount of pure gold in the ring: (10/24) * 15.4g = 7.625
4. Multiple (3) by the price of gold per gram: 6.41666666667 * $91.99 = $701.42

US Marine Corps (USMC) 10K Yellow Gold Ring

The United States Marine Corps 10K Yellow Gold Ring is a men’s jewelry piece in size 10. Crafted in 10 karat yellow gold, this ring features the emblem of the Marine Corps, making it a meaningful and patriotic accessory for those affiliated with or supporting the branch. This ring is a bold and stylish way for individuals to show their pride and respect for the Marine Corps.

The smaller size and design does result in less weight, meaning less gold value. You can also see that it’s a bit more worn, so collectors are less likely to pay a large premium on a ring like this.

1. Determine the Gold Purity: 10k
2. Determine the total weight of the ring: 6.6g
3. Multiple (1) and (2) to determine the amount of pure gold in the ring: (10/24) * 6.6g = 2.75
4. Multiple (3) by the price of gold per gram: 2.75 * $91.99 = $252.97

US Army Air Forces – Moody Field Pilot 10K Yellow Gold & Diamond Ring

The U.S. Army Air Forces Moody Field Pilot ring is crafted in 10k yellow gold, featuring a single round white diamond with a total carat weight of approximately 0.10CT. The diamond has a clarity grade of I1 and a color grade of H/I. Again, pretty minimal value on the diamond itself, but it does make for a great centerpiece for the ring. We’d remove the diamond when performing the value calculation and pay you a bit for the diamond separately (assuming the ring would be melted down – which isn’t really the case for military rings like this).

This men’s ring in size 11 pays tribute to the Air Forces with its design and symbolism. You can see the Moody Field Pilot symbols and design son the side of the rings. Total weight comes in at 18.4 grams.

1. Determine the Gold Purity: 10k
2. Determine the total weight of the ring: 18.4g
3. Multiple (1) and (2) to determine the amount of pure gold in the ring: (10/24) * 18.4g = 7.6666666667
4. Multiple (3) by the price of gold per gram: 7.6666666667 * $91.99 = $705.26

US Navy – 10K Yellow Gold Ring

The United States Navy 10K Yellow Gold Ring is a men’s ring in size 10, crafted from 10k yellow gold. I didn’t mention it earlier, but yellow gold doesn’t affect the melt value. This ring features a design specifically honoring the US Navy (USN), with the anchor displayed prominently on the front of the ring. The sides have eagle emblems on them and show a little bit of wear.

1. Determine the Gold Purity: 10k
2. Determine the total weight of the ring: 7.7g
3. Multiple (1) and (2) to determine the amount of pure gold in the ring: (10/24) * 7.7g = 3.20833333333
4. Multiple (3) by the price of gold per gram: 3.20833333333 * $91.99 = $295.13

US Navy – 10K Yellow Gold Ring

The product is a United States Navy ring made of 10K yellow gold, designed for men with a ring size of 9.5. Very similar to the last one – was actually purchased from the same customer. It has a smaller size and sleeker designer than some of the big rings we looked at earlier, so the intrinsic value of its gold is going to come in a bit lower.

1. Determine the Gold Purity: 10k
2. Determine the total weight of the ring: 8.2g
3. Multiple (1) and (2) to determine the amount of pure gold in the ring: (10/24) * 8.2g = 3.41666666667
4. Multiple (3) by the price of gold per gram: 3.41666666667 * $91.99 = $314.30

Summary of US Military Ring Values

As stated at the beginning, US Military Rings can sometimes carry a premium if they are wanted by collectors, rare, and/or in great condition. The examples above aren’t what we offer for these rings – we may even pay more than the amounts shown in some cases – but it’s a way of showing the simple calculations when determining the value of a gold piece.

With interesting history, well-crafted designs, and a strong following, looking at gold pricing with US military rings is a lot more fun than handfuls of broken gold chains. Which we buy too, of course, and you can calculate the value of in the same way.

Selling military rings can be hard if they’ve been in the family for a long time and have sentimental value. If you’re in the position to keep them and pass them down, that’s a great thing to do. But if you need the money and they don’t mean much to you anymore, we’d love to buy them from you. To get started, request a free cash for gold mailer now!

POSTED IN: Gold Rings, home_featured2, Military Rings, Selling Gold Rings, US Air Force Rings, US Army Rings, US Marine Corp Rings, US Navy Rings, Yellow Gold