Short answer
There is no single best way to sell gold in the UK, because the right route depends on what you are holding. Bullion coins and scrap gold pay nearest spot through specialist postal buyers; antique and signed jewellery often does better at specialist auction; everyday 9ct and 18ct jewellery usually pays best through a postal buyer that prices on fine-gold weight. High-street jewellers and pawnbrokers tend to pay materially less per gram than postal precious-metal buyers.
How much does each route actually pay per gram, and why do they differ?
The honest picture, set out without flattery: high-street jewellers and pawnbrokers usually pay 60 to 75 per cent of fine-gold spot. Postal precious-metal buyers, the category we operate in, pay a good deal more of it on common scrap and more again 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, that spread is worth a few hundred pounds in your pocket. The trade-off is the postal step: you post the parcel rather than walking into a shop; the postal route from free label to written offer shows exactly what that involves. That suits some people's preferences and not others, and the comparison is worth making honestly before deciding which route fits your piece.
| Route | Typical share of fine-gold value | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| High-street jeweller | 60–75% | Same-day cash in hand, no posting |
| Pawnbroker | 60–75% | A loan against the gold rather than an outright sale |
| Specialist auction | Varies, can exceed metal value | Signed, antique and collectable pieces |
| Postal precious-metal buyer | 90–95% on common scrap, 96%+ on bullion coins | Everyday 9ct–22ct jewellery, scrap and coins |
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.
What should you check before posting gold to any online buyer?
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 cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used; 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.
Which route is right for your piece?
If your piece is everyday 9ct, 18ct or 22ct jewellery, chains, rings, earrings, charm bracelets and bangles, 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.
Where can I compare each route in more detail?
The summary above is deliberately short. Each route has its own detailed comparison, written to say plainly where the other side wins:
- Online versus a local jeweller, and when a jeweller pays a resale price instead of a metal price.
- Auction versus a postal buyer, with published UK seller commission and lot fees.
- eBay, Vinted and Facebook Marketplace, where marketplace selling genuinely beats a metal valuation.
- Pop-up and hotel gold buying events, and what to check before you go.
- Selling versus keeping it, because holding on is a legitimate answer.
The process, step by step
- Get in touch and show us. A WhatsApp photo of your how to sell gold, honest guide is all we need to give you an honest quick indicative figure before anything is posted.
- Get your free label. We send a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label, fully tracked. If you have no printer, a QR code for the counter does the same job.
- Send it at your own pace. Wrap it in any padded envelope and hand it in at a Post Office whenever it suits you.
- See the written offer. We weigh and XRF-assay every item, usually on the working day your parcel arrives, then send an itemised breakdown showing exactly how the figure was reached.
- Decide. Say yes and the money is sent by Faster Payments. Say no and your items come straight back, free and tracked.
Postage, tracking and cover
Your parcel travels on Royal Mail Special Delivery, and Royal Mail 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 cover 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, signed-for 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 within one working hour of acceptance, 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 tracked postage in, free tracked return out
- No countdowns, no pressure, no fabricated reviews
- An owner-run business whose founder, Rocco Clayfield, answers questions himself
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 and similar), antique Georgian and Victorian jewellery with collector interest, rare-date sovereigns and proof coin sets. Those 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.
Request a free prepaid Royal Mail label
Tell us where to send it. The label arrives by email, usually within about 30 minutes during working hours. Requesting one commits you to nothing: you get a written offer after the XRF assay, and if you decline, your items come back to you free.
Would you rather ask a question first, or send a photo? Message us on WhatsApp . It is the fastest way to get a sense of what something is worth before you post anything.