Published 2 June 2026
Why broken jewellery still pays
A snapped clasp does not change the gold inside a chain. A bent ring shank holds the same purity it did when it was round. For scrap valuation, the metal content is the only thing being weighed. That means a tangled, kinked, half-melted parcel pays the same as the same gold in a polished display tray.
The only times damage matters are: a piece with antique or designer value that would have paid more intact, and a piece with stones that need careful removal rather than crushing.
Solder, alloy and the "broken" trap
When you snap a 9ct chain, the break exposes the alloy underneath. That alloy is still 9ct gold, not a different metal. People sometimes worry that a "broken inside" means the chain was hollow or fake. The metal we tested at 375 in the shop is still 375 at the snap point.
Solder joints (where two parts of a chain were originally fixed) are usually a slightly lower karat than the main piece, because solder melts at a lower temperature. We XRF the body of the piece, not the solder, and pay on the body purity.
Stones in broken jewellery
We remove and return stones unless you tell us to dispose of them. Diamonds above roughly 0.3ct, sapphires, rubies and emeralds with reasonable colour and clarity are flagged with a separate quote on the same written offer. Paste, glass, cubic zirconia and surface-set chips have no separate value and are removed with your permission.
Untestable vs broken
There is a difference between "broken" (snapped, dented, missing parts) and "untestable" (so thinly plated or so fragile that XRF cannot read a confident surface). Untestable pieces are almost always gold-plated, rolled gold or vermeil rather than solid. We say so before applying any deduction, and we return the piece if you would rather keep it.
How to package broken jewellery
- Put each broken piece in its own small zip-bag or fold of tissue to stop further tangling.
- Photograph the whole lot on a plain background and any hallmarks you can see.
- WhatsApp 07763 741067 with the photos and a one-line description ("approx. eight broken chains, two single earrings, one bent ring").
- We email a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label.
- Drop the parcel at the Post Office counter and keep your receipt.
- On arrival we untangle, XRF-test each piece and send a written per-piece offer.
There is no need to untangle a "rats nest" of broken chains before sending. We do that as part of the valuation under the postal-gold service.
Melt weight rules
Each piece is weighed individually before testing. We then deduct: steel earring posts, base-metal clasps, watch cases on solid chains, stones, plastic spacers and any non-gold soldering. The remaining weight is the verified gold weight. That is what your offer pays for, multiplied by purity, multiplied by the live precious-metal market.
You see the per-piece weights and deductions on the written offer, so the maths is visible rather than hidden.
Common questions
My chain is in pieces. Does that lower the offer?
No. Broken pieces are valued by metal content. A snapped chain pays the same per gram as the same chain intact.
I lost the stone from my ring. Is it still worth selling?
Yes. The ring metal is valued on its own. The missing stone is irrelevant to the gold weight.
I have a tangled bag I have not sorted. Will you take it as-is?
Yes. Send it tangled. We sort, untangle and test as part of the service.
Will you pay for a single earring?
Yes. Single earrings are routine. The other half of the pair is not needed.
What about a watch case I have broken off a chain?
If the case is solid gold, it is paid as gold by weight. If it is gold-plated steel, it is excluded from the offer and returned or scrapped per your instruction.
How is the parcel covered?
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery, automatic on the prepaid label.
What if my offer is lower than I hoped?
Reply "return" and we post the parcel back to you tracked and insured, free of charge.
Can you handle a deceased estate bag?
Yes. Mixed estate bags are routine and itemised on a written offer so the executor has a clear record.