Understanding Gold Bullion: What It Is and How the Market Works When You Sell

Gold bullion against a black background.

Gold bullion has long been the cornerstone of wealth preservation and a trusted store of value. Whether you’re an investor, collector, or someone looking to sell gold, understanding how gold bullion works can help you make confident, informed decisions. At Westlake Gold, we specialize in buying and selling gold bullion, coins, and other precious metals—offering competitive prices and expert guidance right here in Westlake Village.

Contact Westlake Gold today to get top offers for your gold.

What Is Gold Bullion?

Gold bullion refers to pure or nearly pure gold that comes in the form of bars, coins, or ingots. Unlike jewelry or collectibles, bullion’s value is based primarily on its gold content and weight, not artistic design or rarity. The most common forms of bullion include:

  • Gold bars: Typically produced by private mints or refineries and stamped with their weight and purity (such as “1 oz .9999 fine gold”).
  • Gold coins: Government-issued coins like the American Gold Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf, and South African Krugerrand are trusted worldwide for their authenticity and liquidity.

Investors purchase gold bullion as a hedge against inflation, currency fluctuations, and market instability. When you’re ready to sell, understanding how the gold market determines value is key to getting the best return.

How the Gold Market Works

Gold prices are driven by global supply and demand, currency strength, and economic trends. The spot price—the current market price for immediate delivery of gold—is updated by the minute. When you sell, the amount you receive is typically based on:

  1. The current spot price of gold
  2. The weight and purity of your bullion
  3. Market premiums and demand for specific coins or bars
  4. The buyer’s offer and refining costs

At Westlake Gold, we make the process transparent and straightforward. Our experts evaluate your gold bullion in front of you, explain how the market price applies, and offer top-dollar payouts on the spot. We track real-time gold prices daily, ensuring you always receive a fair and accurate offer.

Contact Westlake Gold today for a free consultation.

Why Sell to Westlake Gold?

As a trusted gold buyer serving the Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, and Westlake Village areas, Westlake Gold has built a reputation for honesty, precision, and expertise. We buy gold bars, coins, and other bullion products with no pressure and no hidden fees. Whether you’re liquidating part of an investment portfolio or selling inherited gold, our goal is to make sure you leave confident and satisfied.

Ready to Sell Gold Bullion?


Visit Westlake Gold today to get a free, no-obligation evaluation of your gold bars or coins. Transparent pricing. Competitive offers. Local expertise. Contact Us Today.

About Westlake Gold

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Lynne A.

left us a 5 star review

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Met with Joel to see if the silver and gold coins I found were worth anything. He was very nice and only one coin was worth a few bucks. He suggested just...

Lynne A. September 29, 2023
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Joel took time and patiently explained the value of my jewelry and how he calculated it. I believe I got a good, honest deal and I would highly recommend him.

Anne Andrews C. September 28, 2023
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I could not have been more pleased and satisfied with Joel at Westlake Gold. If you have spare jewelry and gold that you want to get top dollar for, this is the only place that you need to go. Do not go to downtown LA. Do not go to any jewelry store and especially do not go to a pawn shop! Joel is the only man that you need to see. He is professional, kind, and as sincere and honest as they come. He has a low overhead for his business and he is without question going to give you the best possible price for your valuables. I didn’t even know that some pieces that I had were worth more than I had expected… but Joel being as honest and sincere as they come made sure that I had what I needed and did with a gracious understanding and very friendly demeanor. After leaving this place, I was both impressed and so happy to see that there are still people out there that do care about others. Do not waste your time and go anywhere else… this is the man to see!!!

Steve Benezra September 20, 2023
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Very professional and detailed in their evaluation. I felt very comfortable.

Ali Farboud August 9, 2023
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The team at Westlake Gold was both kind and professional. Joel is very knowledgeable and fair - and I really enjoyed working with him on the sale of some estate jewelry. I highly recommend!

Dana Barrett July 10, 2023
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*Respectful, surprisingly great appraisal, very safe and honest.* Joel meets his customers in a clean and neat office inside of an office building, instead of many others in the area. This allows me to feel more comfortable to start with. He was very respectful, friendly, and courteous. The best part comes with the pricing. This was not my first time releasing old gold and jewelry, and I received way more than I thought I would have given my past experience with other jewelry buyers. Thank you, Joel. Wish I had met you in the past, but sure am happy I do now.

Birgitte Tan June 30, 2023
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I was very happy with the transaction and the money that he offered to us when I sold gold jewelry. He was very knowledgeable and kind to me and my...

Mithila U. June 2, 2023
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Great experience selling gold silver and jewelry. Joel is very skilled and explains the transaction.

Mike Kale May 19, 2023
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What a hidden treasure, pun intended. Overwhelmed with a large collection that I wasn't sure was costume or the real deal. impressed with how each piece was tested even the ones marked for authentication. professional and honest.

janie ahlberg May 14, 2023
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If you are looking for an honest appraisal and fair deal, this is the place to go! I walked in with what I thought was seven 1oz Canadian silver dollars worth $25 each, turns out they were 1oz Canadian platinum coins with worth $1,000+ each!! He operated with 100% integrity and patience with me. He took the time to educate me on coins. I will defiantly return!

John Strote May 12, 2023
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Highly recommend Westlake Gold. I had a bunch of estate jewelry to liquidate and I feel like I got a very fair price for my items. I definitely will return. Thank you!

Rana Mohr May 12, 2023
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I highly recommend Westlake Gold - Joel is very knowledgable about gold and diamonds and I loved his authenticity when giving me the information I needed. He’s very professional, and courteous. I’ll definitely be back in future!

hannah de boisblanc December 16, 2022
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Joel, thank you for your help with the silver we brought into your shop. You were very helpful and pleasant to work with.

Robin Johnson December 5, 2022
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Just met with Joel while taking care of selling my father's gold (after his passing). Joel was honest, fair, and professional. Highly recommend Westlake Gold.

Cathy Anderson August 2, 2022
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I highly recommend Westlake Village Gold! I took my Jewelry to several places,I receive the best price from Joel his customer service, Attention extremely detail. I knew the first few minutes of meeting him that you can trust this man, Definitely will be back.

Rebecca de la Torre September 14, 2020
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Joel always provide incredible customer service. Joel is very knowledgeable about gold and diamonds and is also very polite and I always enjoy my conversations with him when trying to sell him gold. I highly recommend working with Westlake Gold.

Patrick rohn September 10, 2020
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I bought two rings from Joel and was blown away by the experience. He is extremely honest, professional, and knowledgeable. He normally doesn't make jewelry sales to walk in customers, but just so happened to have exactly what we were looking for. And he even arranged to have our rings resized and polished. They are beautiful and exactly what we wanted.

Stephanie Bland March 30, 2020
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Very professional, knowledgeable and honest. More than fair, highly recommend.

Doug Weil January 9, 2020
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Joel is great at what he does. He helped me with valuing some coins I needed. If you need to find the value on any jewelry you must go here. Thank you so much for your help!

Probate Services Inc. November 2, 2017
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Joel was extremely knowledgable, professional, informative and expeditious in the overall process. I will be coming back if/when I have a need to sell silver, gold and/or jewelry!

Scott O'Malley July 14, 2016