Published 2 June 2026
Bracelet families and what they mean
Most postal parcels contain one of four bracelet types. Bangles are rigid hoops, often 22ct Indian or Pakistani wedding sets in pairs or fours. Link bracelets are flexible chains of curb, Belcher or rope links, often 9ct or 18ct British. Charm bracelets are link chains with soldered or jump-ringed charms, common in 1960s to 1990s British 9ct. Tennis bracelets are a single row of small stones in a 9ct, 18ct or platinum setting.
Each family is valued differently because the gold-to-other-material ratio differs.
Charm bracelets: weight is not gold weight
A 9ct charm bracelet often carries six to twelve charms, some of which are solid 9ct and some of which are hollow, set with stones, or made of base metal entirely. We XRF-test each charm and the chain separately. The written offer shows you which charms were solid gold and which were not.
If a charm has personal value (a christening disc, a school crest, a small enamelled animal), you can ask for it back rather than melting. We detach and return it with the offer.
Bangles: solid, hollow, kada
Indian and Pakistani kada bangles range from solid heavy 22ct (often Punjabi, often paired) through to thin 22ct shells filled with wax or resin. The shell pays as 22ct gold. The fill is melted off during refining and not paid for. XRF reads through the shell and confirms purity.
British 9ct bangles are usually hollow, made from rolled gold-shell tube. They look solid but weigh light. The offer reflects the actual gram weight.
Tennis bracelets: usually plated
Many "tennis bracelets" sold from the 1990s onwards are gold-plated silver or gold-plated base metal with cubic zirconia stones. XRF spots this in seconds. A genuine 18ct white-gold tennis bracelet with real diamonds is rarer but does exist, and is offered intact (with a separate stone quote) rather than melted.
Tell us on WhatsApp if you bought the bracelet at a high-street jeweller versus a fashion outlet. That points us towards real-or-plated before testing.
How to post bracelets safely
- Lay each bracelet flat and photograph in daylight, plus a close-up of the clasp.
- WhatsApp 07763 741067 with the photos and a brief note.
- We email a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label.
- Place each bracelet in its own small zip-bag.
- Drop the parcel at the Post Office counter and keep the receipt.
- On arrival, we XRF-test each component and email a written per-piece offer.
You can post a single charm bracelet or a wedding-set of four kadas through the same postal-gold service.
Clasps, safety chains and added weight
Charm bracelets often have a soldered safety chain, sometimes added during repair by a different jeweller using a different alloy. We test the safety chain on its own and report it separately if it tests below the bracelet purity.
Padlock clasps on 9ct curb bracelets are often a separate piece of solid 9ct and pay as gold. Magnetic clasps on later costume pieces are not gold and are deducted from the weight.
Common questions
Will you scrap my charms or return them?
Your choice. Tell us on WhatsApp which charms you want back. We detach and return them with the offer.
My bangles are a wedding-set of four. Do I have to sell all of them?
No. The offer is per bangle. Sell some, ask for the others back tracked at no cost.
How do you handle a bangle with stones inset?
We remove the stones (or have them removed by our setter) and return them with the offer unless you instruct otherwise.
Are tennis bracelets normally real gold?
Some are, many are not. XRF confirms in seconds. Plated tennis bracelets are returned at our cost if you decline the offer.
How is the parcel insured?
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery.
When am I paid?
Same UK working day you accept the written offer, by bank transfer.
What about a designer bracelet (Cartier Love, Hermès)?
Designer pieces often pay more intact than melted. Tell us on WhatsApp and we will value intact first.
I do not know the karat. Is that a problem?
No. XRF reads the metal regardless. You do not need to know the purity before posting.