Rough estimates where possible; your final offer follows inspection.
No obligation. Free tracked return if you decline. We aim to pay within one working hour of acceptance.
22ct gold is 91.7% pure gold, marked 916, and GoldPaid pays for the gold it contains, whatever the condition. Ask first, send a photo on WhatsApp, post with a free tracked Royal Mail Special Delivery label, and get a written, XRF-confirmed offer before you decide anything.
Send a photo on WhatsApp for a rough estimate where possible, or arrange to post your items for assessment. We confirm our purchase offer after inspection, and you decide whether to accept. Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market.
Free Special Delivery label, usually within 30 minutesPurity tested in-house by X-ray (XRF)
How do you value 22ct gold?22ct gold is 91.7% pure (916 parts per thousand). Its value comes from that fine-gold content and the live gold market on the day, including the GBP-USD rate, with our margin already inside the figure. GoldPaid sets the written offer after the parcel is weighed and XRF-assayed. Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market.
Please send us photos on WhatsApp, and we will help you.
Send photos of your items and any hallmarks. We give a rough estimate where possible; your final offer follows inspection. You do not need to arrange postage to ask us a question.
We arrange postage with you after our conversation.
Before you post
The questions people ask before they send anything, answered here rather than at the end of the page.
Can I ask first?
Yes. WhatsApp a photo to 07944 014111, 8am to 9pm, every day, and we reply with an idea of what it is worth. Nothing is posted until you decide.
Is it safe to post?
Your parcel travels by Royal Mail Special Delivery, tracked and signed for. Royal Mail cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used. GoldPaid can confirm the appropriate postal option before you post.
How is it tested?
Your parcel is signed for on arrival and opened at our Bristol office, where each item is weighed and tested with an XRF analyser, an X-ray test that reads the metal without marking it. Your written offer lists each piece with its weight, purity and figure.
What if I say no?
We return everything by Royal Mail Special Delivery at our cost. Saying no costs you nothing.
When am I paid?
Only if you accept the written offer. We aim for the money to reach your bank within 24 hours of posting. We use Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed, test your items promptly on receipt, and aim to pay by Faster Payments within one working hour of your acceptance. The 24-hour target is an aim, not a guarantee: it depends on posting before the local cut-off, the applicable working-day delivery service, prompt acceptance, completed identity checks and bank processing.
How long does an offer last?
Each written offer is dated and holds for a limited time, because metal prices move. If it lapses, we re-run it at that day’s rate.
Who am I dealing with?
GOLDPAID LTD, registered in England and Wales, run by founder Rocco Clayfield. Our office is at Unit 217, Bristol Business Centre, 179 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2AG. We are postal only, so there is no counter to visit. Before we pay, we ask every seller for a photo of their passport or driving licence.
Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market.
No pressure to begin with
Asking commits you to nothing. A WhatsApp message with a couple of photos of your 22ct gold gets you a rough estimate and a straight answer to any question. Whether you post anything is your call, made later.
GoldPaid has no high-street branches. It is postal-only and UK-wide, so you never have to travel.
Found 916 on your piece? Send us a photo of it
916 is 22ct gold: 916.6 parts pure gold in every 1,000.
Photograph the number stamped inside the ring or on the clasp, then the whole piece, and send both on WhatsApp. We will reply with what the mark means and a rough estimate of what we would pay. No obligation, and nothing needs posting.
Not sure what the mark says? Use the hallmark lookup. Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market.
What 22ct means on the scale — the carat-specific detail
22ct gold is 916 parts per thousand pure gold (91.6%). A 10 g 22ct piece carries 9.16 g of fine gold — more than twice the 9ct equivalent. 22ct is the Asian wedding-gold standard (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan jewellery almost all sits at 916), and Sovereigns, half-Sovereigns and most pre-decimal British gold coins also assay at 22ct. Items at 22ct are soft and often carry light surface wear; the weight is what counts, and XRF confirms the 916 content whether the hallmark is clear or worn flat. Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market. GoldPaid is postal-only, UK-wide; the office in Bristol is not open to visitors.
What 22ct gold is
22ct gold carries the fineness mark 916. It is 91.7% pure gold, with the rest made up of other metals for strength and colour. It is the traditional standard for Indian, South Asian and Middle Eastern jewellery; much wedding and gifted gold from those traditions is 22ct. You may also see it stamped 22k or .916.
Whatever the carat, GoldPaid pays for the confirmed gold content. 22ct items are weighed and XRF-assayed exactly like any other, a piece marked 916 is confirmed for certain before any offer is written. For how the marks work, see the gold hallmark guide.
What 22ct gold we buy
22ct jewellery, rings, chains, bracelets, earrings, lockets and pendants
22ct items mixed in with other carats. We separate by carat before valuing
Not sure of the carat, or cannot read the mark? Send a photo on WhatsApp, the XRF assay confirms it for certain at no cost, so you never need to identify anything before posting.
The process, step by step
Get in touch and show us. A WhatsApp photo of your 22ct gold is all we need to give you a rough estimate before anything is posted.
Get your free label. We send a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label, fully tracked. If you have no printer, a QR code for the counter does the same job.
Send it at your own pace. Wrap it in any padded envelope and hand it in at a Post Office whenever it suits you.
See the written offer. Everything is weighed, metal is XRF-assayed and any stones are assessed separately, usually on the working day your parcel arrives. You then get an itemised breakdown showing exactly how the figure was reached.
Decide. Say yes and the money is sent by Faster Payments. Say no and your items come straight back, free and tracked.
Your parcel is signed for on arrival and opened at our Bristol office, where each item is weighed and XRF-tested before the written offer is prepared.
Where the figure comes from
We measure purity with XRF, weigh every item, and value it against the live precious-metal market on the day we test, with our margin already inside the figure. Every one of those numbers appears in the written breakdown you receive before deciding. The full method is on how we value gold.
Your written offer reflects the weight and purity we measure on your own 22ct items and the live precious-metal market on the day, with our margin already inside the figure and nothing further taken off. See how we value gold for the method in full.
Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market. Your written offer applies the weight and purity we measure to the live precious-metal market, with our margin already inside the figure.
One parcel gets one written figure, itemised piece by piece. Your offer reflects the weight and purity we measure and the live precious-metal market on the day, with our margin already inside the figure, so nothing further is taken off. For coins, watches and signed or collectable pieces, send a photo on WhatsApp first and we will tell you how we would value them before you post anything.
Postage and cover
Your parcel travels on Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed: tracked end to end and signed for on delivery. Royal Mail cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used. GoldPaid can confirm the appropriate postal option before you post. If your items may be worth more, message us first and we can split them across more than one prepaid label, each with its own tracking number, at no charge. Full detail is on postage and cover, and is it safe to post gold? walks through posting valuables safely. If a parcel is lost on its way to us, the compensation claim goes to Royal Mail from you, the sender, using your Post Office receipt, and we give you our tracking records and help you make it. Lost parcels, step by step.
Declining, made simple
A quick message is all it takes to decline, and you do not need to give a reason. Your items are then returned free of charge on a tracked, signed-for service, with no fee and no pressure to reconsider. What happens if I decline the offer covers it fully.
The written offer is dated and holds for a limited time, because metal prices move. If it lapses before you decide, we re-run it against the live precious-metal market on the day, at no charge. You can also accept part of a parcel and decline the rest, with no minimum and no penalty for splitting it.
Who this helps
This page suits people selling South Asian, Indian or Middle Eastern gold jewellery, wedding gold, gifted bangles and chains. At 91.7% pure, 22ct is among the most valuable jewellery gold per gram, so these pieces are well worth a proper XRF-confirmed valuation.
The payment step
Acceptance starts payment: we aim to send a Faster Payments bank transfer within one working hour of your acceptance, to the account you give us. Nothing to bank and nothing to chase.
Who stands behind the offer
Owner-run, with founder Rocco Clayfield personally accountable for the service
Every item XRF-assayed, the result shown to you in writing
Free tracked postage both ways, so a valuation carries no obligation
Honest about its limits, including when a specialist would suit you better
No fabricated reviews and no invented numbers, anywhere on the site
What decides your offer
Every parcel is opened at our Bristol office and each piece is handled on its own. Nothing is averaged across the parcel.
Weight. Each item is weighed on scales. Stones, steel springs, non-gold clasps and cores are not paid as gold. The written breakdown explains the payable metal weight for each item, rather than treating everything on the scales as precious metal.
Purity. Each item is tested with an XRF analyser, which reads the metals at the points tested without marking the item. A surface reading alone cannot establish the composition of a plated or filled piece. Hallmarks, construction and different components all need to be considered alongside the test.
The market on the day. Gold and silver are priced against the live precious-metal market at the time your parcel is assessed, not at the time you posted.
Condition and intact value. Broken is fine and does not reduce a metal offer. Where a piece is worth more intact (a named maker, a collectable coin, a locket with provenance) we tell you before testing, so you can choose.
Anything that is not gold or silver. Plated, rolled-gold and base-metal items are listed on the offer at nothing and returned to you free. We never quietly keep them.
Why we do not publish a per-gram price list. A single printed rate hides the things that change the figure: hollow versus solid, stones, mixed carats in one bag, a mark that does not match the metal. We would rather show you the weight, the tested purity and the figure for each item, in writing, and let you decide. Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market.
What you see before you decide. A written, itemised offer by WhatsApp or email: every item, its weight, its tested purity, and its figure. Accept and we aim to pay by bank transfer within one working hour. Decline and the whole parcel comes back by Royal Mail Special Delivery at our cost. No fee, no deduction, no questions.
Yes. Condition does not matter. We pay for the metal content, so broken, worn and single items are all welcome. Unhallmarked gold is fine too; the XRF assay confirms the carat for certain.
Is my 22ct Asian wedding gold worth more than UK 9ct jewellery?
Per gram, yes, considerably. 22ct is 91.7% pure against 9ct’s 37.5%. South Asian and Middle Eastern wedding gold is often 22ct and carries real value. It is weighed and XRF-assayed exactly like any other gold, and you see the written figure before deciding.
How much is 22ct gold per gram in the UK today?
22ct gold is about 91.7% pure, commonly marked 916. The hallmark helps identify the standard, but the selling value depends on the actual item’s purity, payable weight and current market. Stones, filling and non-gold fittings need separate consideration. GoldPaid does not publish a price list or calculator. Send photos for a rough estimate where possible; your written offer follows inspection of your own items.
Do you buy unmarked Indian, Pakistani or Gulf 22ct?
Yes. XRF reads the actual purity regardless of whether the hallmark is British, BIS Indian, Saudi 916, Bahraini or absent. The offer reflects the verified metal content, not what the stamp says. Older “22K” marks from unregulated workshops occasionally test at 18ct or 20ct in practice; either way, the written offer reflects what the metal actually is.
My bangles have a sticker price from the jeweller. Can you match it?
The original retail ticket includes making charge, VAT and retail margin, none of which are recoverable as scrap. The metal offer reflects verified gold weight on the day, not the original purchase price. Final offers depend on inspection, weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market.
How do you handle hollow 22ct bangles and choker pieces?
Many South Asian 22ct bangles and choker sections are built with a thin genuine-22ct shell over a wax or resin core that is melted out at refining. The shell pays as genuine 22ct, but the displayed weight is lighter than it looks because the core is not metal. We write both the gross and net weights into the offer so there is no confusion.
What happens to the black beads on a mangalsutra?
The black-bead section is detached carefully and either returned with the chain (if you want to keep the mangalsutra as a memento) or discarded with your written permission. The beads are not paid as gold; the gold tali section is weighed and XRF-assayed separately.
Is Thai 96.5% gold priced the same as 22ct?
No. Thai “baht gold” is made to 96.5% fineness rather than 91.7%, and is traditionally sold by the baht weight (15.244 g per baht) rather than the gram. We price it at its actual tested purity, not as 22ct. For the full detail, see our guide on gold price per tola and baht gold explained.
Will you ask for ID when I sell 22ct wedding gold?
Yes, on every transaction, UK- or import-marked alike. We ask for a photograph of UK photo ID, and the name and address are verified against the Royal Mail label and the bank account details. You are told at the outset, not after your items have arrived.
What if I think the offer is too low?
Decline it and everything comes back free of charge by tracked, signed-for Royal Mail Special Delivery, with no fee and no follow-up pressure. Before you do, check the sum: each piece is listed with its weight, its XRF purity and the rate applied, so you can compare it with another buyer’s written figure.
How accurate is the XRF test?
A jewellery-trade XRF analyser reports gold content to about ±0.1 to ±0.5 per cent absolute, enough to tell 9ct from 10ct and 18ct from 22ct. XRF reads the surface, so plated pieces are also checked against weight, wear points and hallmarks. Nothing is scratched, filed or acid-tested. XRF testing explained.
Not the question you had? The full GoldPaid FAQ covers the rest, from postal cover and ID checks to what happens if you decline the offer.
Speak to us before you post
Please send us photos on WhatsApp, and we will help you. We give a rough estimate where possible and arrange postage with you after our conversation. Your final offer follows inspection.
Send a photo on WhatsApp, ask anything, and request your free prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label when you are ready. No obligation. Free tracked return if you decline.
