Short answer
The best way to sell gold in the UK depends on the piece. Bullion coins and scrap gold pay nearest spot through specialist postal buyers; antique and signed jewellery often pays more at specialist auction; everyday 9ct and 18ct jewellery typically pays best through a postal buyer that prices on fine-gold weight rather than retail margin. High-street jewellers and pawnbrokers usually pay materially less per gram than postal precious-metal buyers.
High-street jeweller vs pawnbroker vs postal buyer, per-gram rates compared
The honest picture, set out without flattery: high-street jewellers and pawnbrokers usually pay 60-75% of fine-gold spot. Postal precious-metal buyers, the category we operate in, pay 90-95% of fine-gold spot on common scrap and 96%+ on bullion coins. The difference is not arbitrary: a high-street jeweller is paying for shop rent, staff, security and the working-capital cost of holding stock; a postal buyer melts to bar and refines, with very low retail overhead per transaction.
For a 30-gram 9ct chain at recent gold rates, the gap between 65% of spot and 92% of spot is roughly £170 in your pocket. The trade-off is the postal step: you post the parcel rather than walking into a shop. That suits some people's preferences and not others, and the comparison is worth making honestly before deciding which route fits your piece.
Auction vs postal, when antique and signed jewellery pays more elsewhere
For everyday scrap, broken jewellery, common-date sovereigns and modern bullion coins, postal precious-metal buyers pay nearest spot and there is little reason to look elsewhere. The piece is paid at its fine-gold content because that is, fundamentally, the value of the raw material.
For signed designer jewellery (Cartier, Tiffany, Bulgari, Boucheron and the like), for Victorian and Georgian antique pieces with collector interest, and for rare-date or proof bullion coins, specialist auction often pays materially more than the gold content because there is a separate market that values the piece as an object rather than as raw material. We will say openly on the written offer if a piece is in that category and would do better at auction, the written offer remains valid for fourteen days while you investigate the alternative route.
Online buyer vs postal buyer, what to check before posting anywhere
Several UK companies advertise online gold-buying services. The differences between them matter and they fall into four categories: the per-gram rate they actually pay (not just the rate they advertise), the cover on the parcel in transit, the return policy if you decline, and the speed and reference of the payment.
Per-gram rate honesty: many online buyers advertise high headline rates and then quote materially lower figures once the parcel arrives. The cleanest comparison is to send a single test photograph of one piece, with weight and carat, and ask each buyer for a quote in writing before you post anything anywhere. The figures are then directly comparable.
Cover and returns: Royal Mail Special Delivery covers up to £2,500 as standard; some buyers absorb the cost of higher cover, others pass it on. If you decline an offer, some buyers charge a return-postage fee; others (us included) cover the return at no charge. Ask before posting.
What the answer actually is for your piece
If your piece is everyday 9ct, 18ct or 22ct jewellery, chains, rings, earrings, scrap, broken pieces, a postal precious-metal buyer pays the best per-gram rate available without specialist routes. If your piece is a Cartier signed ring or a rare-date Victorian sovereign, send a photograph first and we will say honestly whether you are better served by an auction or a numismatic specialist.
The route that pays "best" is not the same for every piece. The honest comparison above is the start; the written offer from us, alongside one or two competing quotes, is the way to confirm the figure before committing.
How selling works here
- Start on WhatsApp. A couple of clear photos of your how to sell gold, honest guide are enough for us to give you a quick indicative figure at no charge.
- Claim your free postage. We issue a prepaid, tracked, signed-for Royal Mail Special Delivery label, or a QR code for the Post Office.
- Post in your own time. Any padded envelope works, and there is no deadline to meet.
- Get a written valuation. Each item is weighed on calibrated scales and read by XRF spectrometry, and the itemised offer is sent to you in writing.
- Accept or walk away. Acceptance means payment by Faster Payments; declining means a free, fully tracked return.
Postage, tracking and cover
Royal Mail Special Delivery cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used. Every parcel uses Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed, tracked from the counter to our door, signed for on arrival, and arranged with that compensation cover. For anything you think exceeds it, contact us first; we will arrange a suitable approach rather than leave a parcel underprotected. The detail sits on postage and insurance and is it safe to post gold?.
If you decide not to sell
There is never any obligation to accept. If the offer is not for you, simply decline, and we return everything free of charge by tracked, insured post, with no fee and no follow-up pressure. The full return process is on what happens if I decline the offer.
Getting paid
Once you accept your written offer, payment is made by bank transfer using Faster Payments, directly to your account. No cheques to wait on, no conditions attached.
What backs the offer up
- XRF spectrometry on every item, not a counter estimate
- A written, itemised breakdown before you decide anything
- Free insured postage in, free tracked return out
- No countdowns, no pressure, no fabricated reviews
- An owner-run business with a named founder who answers honestly
Common questions
Why do high-street jewellers pay less per gram?
They carry shop rent, staff, security and the working-capital cost of holding stock. A postal buyer's per-transaction overhead is lower so more of the gold value flows to you.
How can I check a buyer's advertised rate matches what they pay?
Send a single photograph with weight and carat and ask for a written quote before posting. Compare two or three quotes against the live per-gram fine-gold rate.
When is auction the better route?
Signed designer pieces (Cartier, Tiffany etc), antique Georgian and Victorian jewellery with collector interest, rare-date sovereigns, proof coin sets, these often pay more at specialist auction than as bullion.
Does the gold market price change much day to day?
Yes, by 0.5-2% on a typical day. Written offers reflect the rate on the day they are struck; if the offer sits for several days the rate is refreshed openly.
Is there any reason to use a pawnbroker rather than sell outright?
Only if you want the option to buy the piece back later. Pawnbroking is more expensive than outright sale because the loan-and-redeem fee is built in.