Jewelry, Watches & Precision Luxury Goods worked example

Scrap Recovery Value at 68% refiner recovery rate: a worked example in jewelry, watches & precision luxury goods

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop refiner recovery rate to 68%, then walk the calculation through step by step. Estimate the recoverable dollar value of precious metal scrap from jewelry production, including casting sprues, filing dust, polishing sweeps, floor sweepings, and rejected pieces. Helps goldsmiths and production managers track how much value can be reclaimed through refining and decide when to send scrap to the refiner.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Total scrap weight collected: 150 grams (held at the documented default)
  • Metal value per gram (purity-adjusted): 38 $ / gram (held at the documented default)
  • Refiner recovery rate: 68 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 95)
  • Fixed refining and shipping fees: 75 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Gross recovery value = scrap weight × metal value per gram × refiner recovery rate / 100.
  • Net scrap recovery value works out to 3,951 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Recovery value per gram of scrap works out to 26.34 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Gross recovery value works out to 3,876 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed refining and shipping fees works out to 75 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where refiner recovery rate sits at 95% and the headline result is 5,490 $, this scenario comes in 28.03% below the baseline at 3,951 $.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to refiner recovery rate, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. It assumes the metal value per gram is already purity-adjusted; mixed-karat or contaminated lots that the refiner assays differently can move the real settle, and spot price drifts between shipping and settlement.

Results at a glance

  • Net scrap recovery value: 3,951 $ (headline result)
  • Recovery value per gram of scrap: 26.34 $ / piece
  • Gross recovery value: 3,876 $
  • Fixed refining and shipping fees: 75 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Scrap Recovery Value calculator, set refiner recovery rate to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.