Published 2 June 2026
Brooch anatomy: where the gold is
A typical brooch has three or four metal parts. The main body or face (usually gold on a hallmarked piece). The pin (often a separate piece soldered or hinged onto the back). The catch (the clasp the pin clicks into). And sometimes a safety chain (a small chain joining body to pin for security).
On Victorian and Edwardian pieces, the pin is often steel because it needs to be stiff enough to push through heavy fabric. The body might be 15ct or 18ct gold. We test each part separately.
Common brooch types we see
Most postal parcels include: bar brooches (a horizontal gold bar, often Victorian, often 9ct or 15ct), regimental and crested brooches (military, club, hunt, often 9ct with enamel), name brooches (a name in script, popular 1900-1930), insect and animal brooches (bees, butterflies, swallows, often 9ct with paste stones), 1960s and 1970s gold flower brooches and abstract designs.
Enamel and paste stones
Enamel on a brooch (regimental crests, mourning brooches, name brooches with coloured backgrounds) is not paid as gold. The enamelled section is weighed and a small allowance deducted before reporting the gold weight. Paste stones, glass beads and surface chips are similarly excluded.
Real gemstones (turquoise, garnet, seed pearl, diamond) on Victorian and Edwardian brooches may be valued separately if they have intact-resale potential. Single small seed pearls and turquoise chips are typically removed and discarded with permission rather than priced.
How to post a brooch parcel
- Photograph each brooch front, back and the pin mechanism close-up.
- WhatsApp 07763 741067 with the photos.
- We email a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label.
- Place each brooch in its own small box or zip-bag so pins do not catch.
- Pad the parcel and drop at the Post Office counter.
- On arrival we test each part and email a written per-part offer.
Single brooches and small collections are routine on the postal-gold service.
Antique brooches: when not to melt
Hand-painted enamel mourning brooches, Art Nouveau pieces from named makers (Liberty, Murrle Bennett, Charles Horner), Victorian seed-pearl bar brooches in original condition, and silver-and-gold Scottish dirk and pebble brooches often pay more intact than as scrap. We flag these on the written offer and route them to intact resale where it makes sense.
A simple 9ct flower brooch from the 1960s is usually best valued as scrap. Decade alone is not a reason to keep a piece intact.
Regimental and club brooches
Military regimental crests, hunt-club brooches, masonic and similar emblems are often 9ct with enamel. Some have collector value to military and club historians, others do not. We tell you which on the written offer. The metal value is always offered alongside the intact route.
Common questions
My pin is steel. Does that lower the offer?
No. We deduct the pin weight from the gold offer because steel is not gold. The body of the brooch still pays.
Will you remove the enamel?
No, we do not damage the piece. We deduct an estimated enamel allowance and report the gold weight.
Is my Liberty brooch worth melting?
Probably not. Liberty pieces (and other Arts and Crafts makers) often pay more intact than as scrap. Tell us on WhatsApp and we will quote intact first.
Can I sell a brooch with a missing stone?
Yes. A missing stone does not lower a scrap offer. The gold body is valued on its own.
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.
Are 1970s gold flower brooches valuable?
Usually as scrap. They are real 9ct or 18ct gold but rarely a collector item unless from a named maker.
What about a mourning brooch with hair inside?
We remove and return the hair with the offer. Nothing is discarded without your written permission.