Published 2 June 2026
Locket construction: the hollow rule
Lockets are designed to be hollow, with two hinged halves that open. The shell is solid gold (usually 9ct, 15ct or 18ct), but the inside is air. That means a locket that looks heavy can weigh light on the scale. The offer reflects the actual gold weight, which is the weight of the shell minus any glass panels, hinge pins and photograph holders.
A 9ct Victorian locket might weigh 8g total with chain and glass. The pure gold content might be 5g. We weigh and report both numbers.
Photographs and hair: returned to you
Many lockets we receive still contain photographs, locks of hair, or small printed inserts. We carefully remove these and return them with the offer. Nothing is discarded without your permission.
If you would like the locket emptied and returned to you (rather than scrapped), say so on WhatsApp. We will value only the chain or only the photographs depending on what you want to keep.
Glass and crystal panels
Many Victorian and Edwardian mourning lockets have a glass or rock-crystal panel covering hair or a portrait miniature. The glass is not paid as gold and is removed before weighing. If the panel is intact and you want it returned with the contents, say so.
Rock-crystal lockets (clear curved-front panels) sometimes pay more intact to a collector than as melt. We flag these before testing.
Chain attached or detached
Lockets are often sold attached to their original chain. The chain may be a different karat from the locket (a 9ct chain with an 18ct locket, or vice versa). We test and weigh each separately. You can sell both, sell only the chain, sell only the locket, or ask for both back.
How to post a locket parcel
- Open the locket carefully so we can see the contents in your photos.
- Photograph closed, open, both sides of the chain attachment, and any hallmarks.
- WhatsApp 07763 741067 with the photos and a note about contents you want kept.
- We email a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label.
- Wrap the locket in tissue, pad the box, drop at the Post Office counter.
- On arrival we open carefully, remove contents, weigh and test the shell.
A single locket is a valid parcel on the postal-gold service. There is no minimum.
Antique lockets: when not to melt
Hand-engraved Victorian mourning lockets, Art Nouveau pieces from named makers, and Georgian "navette" portrait lockets often pay more intact than as scrap. The written offer will show both the metal-only number and the likely intact value where we can identify it. You choose which route.
A piece that is simply old without a maker name or strong condition is usually best valued as scrap. Old does not automatically mean valuable.
Common questions
There is a photograph inside the locket. What happens to it?
We remove and return the photograph with the offer. Nothing is discarded without your written permission.
What if I want the locket back but want to sell the chain?
Tell us on WhatsApp. The written offer can be split: chain only sold, locket returned.
Is a hollow locket worth less than a solid one?
Per locket, yes, because the shell weighs less than a solid piece of the same size. Per gram of actual gold, the price is the same.
My locket is Victorian. Is it worth keeping intact?
Possibly. Hand-engraved or hallmarked named-maker pieces sometimes pay more intact. We flag this before testing.
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 the hinges paid as gold?
Yes, the hinge metal is usually the same as the shell. Steel hinge pins are deducted.
Can I send a locket with a lock of hair inside?
Yes. We remove and return the hair carefully with the offer.