Published 2 June 2026
What 18ct gold means in practice
18ct gold is 75% pure gold by weight, alloyed with silver, copper and sometimes palladium. The British hallmark is usually 750. Because it carries twice the gold content of 9ct, an 18ct piece will always pay more per gram than its 9ct equivalent of the same weight.
Most fine jewellery from European, Italian and Middle Eastern makers is 18ct. Designer brands such as Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany and many independent goldsmiths use 18ct as standard. Wedding bands from the 1900s through to the 1960s in the UK are often 18ct or 22ct rather than 9ct.
How an 18ct postal offer is built
The starting point is the live precious-metal market on the day your parcel is tested. We apply the verified purity (around 0.75 for 18ct), multiply by the weight in grams and deduct a small refining cost. Stones, springs, clasps in another metal and non-gold solder are weighed out so you are not charged for them and not paid for them either.
If you are holding a branded designer piece, mention it on WhatsApp before posting. Some 18ct items pay more intact than melted, and we will say so before you commit.
What we look for on 18ct
On 18ct work we check three things. The hallmark, which should read 750 (or older marks like 18, 18ct or the crown-and-lion symbol depending on era). The colour, because 18ct rose, white and yellow each carry slightly different alloys but the same gold content. The construction, because hollow 18ct rope chains and electroformed pieces feel lighter than they look and we want you to know that up front.
White 18ct often has a rhodium plating that wears through to a warmer tone underneath. That is normal and does not change the gold content.
Posting an 18ct parcel safely
- WhatsApp 07763 741067 with daylight photos and a short note describing each piece.
- We confirm value-band fit and email a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label.
- Wrap each piece in tissue or a small zip-bag, pad the box, seal it.
- Drop the parcel over the counter at any Post Office and keep the receipt.
- We text you on arrival, then send a written offer once each item has been XRF-tested.
- Accept by reply for same-working-day bank transfer. Decline for free tracked return.
When 18ct is not actually 18ct
Two traps catch sellers. The first is "gold-filled" or "rolled gold" jewellery from the early twentieth century, where a thick layer of 18ct sheet covers a base-metal core. Without XRF this can be mistaken for solid 18ct because the surface tests correctly. The second is foreign jewellery stamped 750 that turns out to be 14ct or lower once tested through, especially older holiday-souvenir pieces.
We test each piece, not the parcel as a whole, so if one ring is solid 18ct and one is plated, your written offer separates them rather than averaging.
Designer 18ct: when to sell intact
Branded 18ct from a recognisable maker (Cartier Love bracelets, Bulgari Tubogas, Tiffany T) can pay more on the secondary collectors market than as scrap metal. If the hallmark, serial number or box and papers point to an intact resale, we tell you before testing rather than melting. Our job on the postal-gold service is to pay what the metal is worth and to flag when intact value is higher.
For broken designer pieces with no resale path, the metal offer is usually the right answer. You can also compare with our broken-jewellery guide.
Common questions
Will I get more for 18ct than 9ct of the same weight?
Yes, almost always. 18ct carries twice the gold content of 9ct, so a 10g 18ct chain pays significantly more than a 10g 9ct chain of the same form.
Does the colour of 18ct change the offer?
No. Yellow, rose and white 18ct all contain 75% gold. The alloying metals differ but the gold content is identical.
My piece is stamped 750 but feels light. Is it real?
Possibly hollow or electroformed, both of which are legitimate 18ct construction. XRF still confirms the metal. The lower weight just means a smaller cash figure.
Can I include stones?
Yes. Stones are removed and either returned to you or quoted separately if they have their own market value. Diamond grading is not part of a scrap offer unless you ask for it.
How is the parcel covered?
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery, which is built into the prepaid label we send.
How long does the whole process take?
From WhatsApp message to bank transfer is usually two to three working days, of which one to two are postage.
What if I decline the offer?
We return the parcel tracked and insured at our cost. There is no fee and no return-postage charge.
Do you buy gold coins or bars alongside jewellery?
Yes, in the same parcel. Coins and bars are quoted by recognised type rather than by scrap weight where appropriate.