Where to sell gold in the UK: routes, checks and how to compare offers
You can approach a specialist buyer in person or by post, ask a high-street business for an offer, consider an auction for an item with possible collector interest, or arrange a private sale. There is no single right route for every item. Start by finding out what you have, then compare what you would actually receive and what must happen before you decide.
This guide explains the choices and the questions to ask. For London Gold Centre’s current per-gram buying figures, use the sell-gold page; the figures are not fixed in this article.
Where can you sell gold?
Different routes assess different things. A metal buyer may focus on confirmed fineness and net precious-metal weight. An item with possible collector, design or brand value may need a different assessment. Keep those questions separate when requesting offers.
| Route | How it works | Ask before proceeding |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist buyer in person | Bring the item for an assessment and a proposed offer. | How are fineness and payable weight checked? What is the buying price in pounds per gram for that fineness? Can you decline? |
| Postal gold buyer | Send the item using the buyer’s stated process, then consider the valuation after assessment. | Which carrier service and compensation level apply? When is the offer set, and what happens if you decline? If using Royal Mail, check the cover and exclusions for the specific service; its damage and part-loss compensation policy is one policy to review. |
| High-street buyer or pawnbroker | A business may offer to buy an item outright. Pawning is different: it is a loan secured on the item, not a sale. | Is this a purchase or a loan? If pawning, what must be repaid to recover the item? Citizens Advice explains the pawn route. |
| Auction house | An auction specialist may assess whether the item fits a sale and agree terms for offering it. | What are the seller’s commission, other charges and reserve terms? An auction estimate is not a final sale price; see the auction house’s own fee explanation and reserve explanation. |
| Private sale | You find and agree terms with the buyer yourself. | How will the item be identified, assessed, paid for and handed over? Record the terms you both accept before parting with it. |
The questions in the table are a comparison aid, not an endorsement of any buyer or a prediction of the amount an item will bring.
What should you know about the item first?
Separate jewellery, coins, bars and other objects. Note any visible marks, but do not treat a photograph or home check as a final test. A UK hallmark can identify a metal’s fineness: for example, the British Hallmarking Council’s practical guidance explains that a 375 fineness mark means at least 375 parts gold in 1,000. An unmarked item is not automatically worthless; it needs appropriate assessment.
Weighing a whole ring or necklace does not reveal its payable metal weight. Stones, clasps, springs, fillers and other non-precious parts may need to be excluded. A recognised bullion item or a piece with possible collector, design or gemstone value may call for a separate assessment route. Our gold valuation guide explains the difference between a market reference, a per-gram buying rate and a final item-specific valuation.
Seven questions to ask any gold buyer
- What exactly are you valuing? Ask whether the offer is for precious-metal content alone or whether a coin, maker, design, stone or other feature is being assessed separately.
- What fineness and net weight are you using? Ask how the gold content was established and which parts of the item were excluded from the payable weight.
- What is your buying price in pounds per gram for this carat? Ask for the rate used for the item you brought, on the day of assessment. A general gold market figure is not the same as a buyer’s offer.
- How will you test the item? Ask what happens if a mark is unclear or a result is uncertain, and whether any proposed test could affect the item. Do not assume every buyer uses the same method.
- Are there charges or deductions? Ask for the amount you would receive after any applicable charges and how those charges are disclosed.
- What identification or paperwork do you require? Check this with the business for your particular transaction before travelling or posting. Our ID and paperwork guide provides background, but the exact requirement should be confirmed directly.
- Can I decline the offer, and what happens to my item then? Ask about the return or collection process, and how the agreed amount would be paid if you accept. For a postal route, read the return terms before sending anything.
Compare the same thing. A quote per gram is useful only when the fineness, net weight, item route and any deductions are understood. Write those details beside each offer, rather than comparing two headline figures with different assumptions.
How do you sell gold step by step?
- Describe and sort your items. Keep coins, bars and jewellery separate; note visible marks and any documents you already have. The hallmark guidance above is a starting point, not a substitute for assessment.
- Choose the routes worth asking. A standard metal-content offer and a specialist assessment can answer different questions. If an item may have collector or design value, ask how that possibility will be considered.
- Get comparable terms. Ask the seven questions above, including the pounds-per-gram buying rate where relevant. For a postal service, check packaging, carrier compensation, how the valuation is communicated and what happens if you decline. London Gold Centre’s postal service page describes its route.
- Decide after the assessment. An online calculator is a guide before physical checks, not a guaranteed final quote. Confirm the proposed amount and the treatment of your item before accepting. You can use our gold calculator to prepare questions, then request an item-specific valuation.
How can you compare offers in Hatton Garden?
If you visit several buying counters, bring the same description of the item to each one and ask each buyer to explain its fineness, net-weight and price-per-gram basis. Ask whether a coin or a piece of jewellery is being assessed only for metal content. Note any charges and the amount offered after them. A higher quoted rate for a different carat, or a figure based on gross rather than net weight, is not a like-for-like comparison.
London Gold Centre is at 5 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8AA. Walk-ins are welcome and an appointment is not normally needed for a standard visit. Contact the team first about multiple, unusual, specialist or high-value items. You can request a no-obligation valuation before deciding whether to proceed.
How does London Gold Centre assess an item?
Eligible precious-metal items are checked for metal and fineness. Valuation uses the net precious-metal content and the relevant market-linked rate at assessment. Where an item’s metal or fineness needs confirmation, the Hatton Garden team uses X-ray testing where suitable for that type of gold. Acid testing is not the first step: it is used only when necessary, as a last-resort check, or—if doubt remains—after the customer has agreed to the proposed price and the test.
See the current buying-rate table and selling options, or contact the team about a particular item. The online figures are guides before physical checks; this page does not quote or lock a price.