What does the 375 mark mean?
How the UK carats compare by pure gold content:
| Carat | Fineness | Pure gold % |
|---|---|---|
| 9ct | 375 | 37.5% |
| 14ct | 585 | 58.5% |
| 18ct | 750 | 75.0% |
| 22ct | 916 | 91.7% |
| 24ct | 999 | 99.9% |
Got the piece in front of you? Get a figure for it
375 is 9ct gold: 375 parts pure gold in every 1,000.
Send a photo of the piece and any stamp on WhatsApp. We will reply with a rough estimate for it. No obligation, and nothing needs posting.
No WhatsApp? Call 07944 014111, 8am to 9pm.
Not sure what the mark says? Use the hallmark lookup. Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market.
How a 9ct offer is worked out
Three measured facts decide the figure: the purity confirmed by XRF rather than read off the stamp, the payable weight once anything that is not gold is weighed out, and the live precious-metal market on the day your items are tested. 9ct is valued on its 37.5 per cent fine-gold content, so a hollow or stone-set piece is valued on the metal actually there, not on its gross weight.
Small 9ct pieces add up, so a drawer of odd earrings, broken chains and a worn band is worth sending together. Kitchen scales reading to the nearest gram are enough to sense-check whether posting is worthwhile; the written offer follows the XRF test. Typical weights help set expectations:
| Piece | Typical weight |
|---|---|
| 9ct plain wedding band | 3 to 5 g |
| 9ct 20" curb chain | 6 to 10 g |
| 9ct Oxford signet ring | 12 to 18 g |
| Heavy 9ct Cuban chain | 40 to 70 g |
For the full method with a worked example, see how we value gold, and for a rough estimate before you post, send a photo on WhatsApp.
What moves a 9ct gold offer
- The precious-metal market. Gold trades on a world market that moves every trading day, and a 9ct offer moves with it. Your written offer reflects the market on the day your items are tested.
- The pound against the dollar. Gold is priced internationally in US dollars, so the sterling value of a given amount of gold shifts with the exchange rate.
- Margin. A postal buyer works to a margin. How GoldPaid thinks about margin is set out on our position.
- Alloy variance. A stamp of 375 usually assays close to 375, but solder joints and old repairs can push a specific piece slightly above or below. XRF measures what is there.
- Item-specific deductions. Stones, springs, base-metal clasps and hollow fill come out of the payable weight, itemised on the written offer.
When is a good time to sell 9ct gold?
We do not predict the market and neither does anyone honest in this trade. What we can say is that the mechanics are transparent: the market moves, the assay tells the truth about what a piece is, and the written offer shows the working. For more on the gold price and selling by post, see the gold price and selling by post, and the market outlook piece covers the honest limits of any timing call.
Common questions
How much is 9ct gold per gram in the UK today?
9ct gold is 37.5% pure gold, commonly marked 375. A selling value cannot be established from that stamp alone: we also check the item’s composition, payable weight, stones and fittings. Send a photograph for a rough estimate where possible; the final figure follows inspection and appears in your written offer.
Is 9ct gold worth selling?
Yes. Small 9ct pieces add up, and a drawer of odd earrings, broken chains and a worn band is worth sending together. GoldPaid values each piece on its confirmed gold content, and the written offer follows the XRF test. Kitchen scales are enough to sense-check whether posting is worthwhile.
Do you value scrap and wearable 9ct the same?
Yes. GoldPaid pays on the confirmed gold content, not on whether a piece is intact. A broken 9ct chain and an intact 9ct chain of the same weight produce the same offer.
What if my 9ct piece has stones?
The stones are separated from the payable weight and either handled under our written diamond-and-gemstone policy or returned with the piece if you decline. Nothing is unset without your written instruction.
How does GoldPaid compare to a high-street buyer?
Honestly, it depends on the buyer and the day, so the useful answer is not a percentage. A high-street shop carries premises and staff a postal service does not, and the difference varies. Rather than quote a figure at you, we set five UK postal buyers’ own published terms side by side, each one quoted as written and dated, in UK gold buyer terms compared. Read it and check us against it.
Not the question you had? The full GoldPaid FAQ covers the rest, from postal cover and ID checks to what happens if you decline the offer.
Speak to us before you post
Please send us photos on WhatsApp, and we will help you. We give a rough estimate where possible and arrange postage with you after our conversation. Your final offer follows inspection.