What can a WhatsApp photo actually tell us?
| What a good photo settles | What has to wait for XRF |
|---|---|
| Carat, if the hallmark is legible (375, 585, 750, 916) | Whether the assayed alloy actually matches the stamp |
| Rough weight against a coin or ruler in shot | Weight to 0.01g on calibrated scales |
| Solid vs plated vs rolled gold (usually) | Any plating that visually mimics solid gold |
| Whether stones, clasps or hollow fill are going to reduce payable weight | The exact deduction, item by item |
| Whether a piece looks worth posting at all | The firm figure |
The five-photo recipe that actually helps
One overall shot is a start. Five short, targeted shots do the whole job. Take these on your phone before you send anything:
Mixed parcels are welcome — chains, rings, coins, watches, a locket, an odd earring, all together in one message. The reply flags which pieces look worth more than their metal (a full sovereign, a signed piece, a decent watch) so you can decide whether to send the lot to us or route the specialist pieces elsewhere first.
- The group shot. Everything you might sell, laid out flat on a plain surface (a tea towel is fine) in daylight if you can. It settles the count.
- One shot per piece. Close-up of each item, front and back if there is wear or damage worth showing. Chains laid flat in an S-shape rather than balled up.
- Hallmark close-ups. Get the phone as close as it will focus on any tiny stamps inside a ring shank or on a chain clasp. Include a coin, ruler or 20p in shot so we can judge scale of both the mark and the piece.
- Kitchen-scale weights, if you have scales. Photograph the reading with the item on the scale. Whole-gram scales are imprecise but the picture shows what you have.
- Anything you are unsure about. A cufflink that looks lighter than it should, a chain that might be gold-filled, a locket you are not sure has anything gold in it. Photograph it and say so — that is exactly what the photo-first step is for.
Send the batch on WhatsApp to 07944 014111 with a short note of what you have. Anything you can add — "these were my mother's", "the ring has '750' inside", "one earring only" — helps the reply be specific rather than generic.
What the reply will look like
The reply is a message, not a template. It usually contains four things: an indicative per-piece figure or a range for the parcel, any items that look plated or not worth posting (so you keep them out of the parcel), any items that might be worth more than metal at a specialist (so you route them there instead), and a next-step suggestion — either "yes, worth posting, want a free label?" or "the metal figure is too small to justify the postage, keep them or bring to a local jeweller".
- Indicative figure or range. Per item on small parcels, as a total range on larger mixed ones. Named as indicative because that is what it is.
- Plated / low-value flags. If a piece looks plated or not worth posting, we say so and keep it out of the label. No point paying for cover on nothing.
- Specialist flags. Signed pieces (Cartier, Tiffany, Boodles), antique work, full sovereigns, vintage watches — often worth more at auction or a specialist dealer than at scrap. We say so honestly.
- Next step. If the figure is in a range you would consider, a free tracked Royal Mail label is issued and posted to you. If it is not, we say that too.
Nothing about the reply commits you to sending anything. Ask as many questions as you want — hallmark meanings, what a specific piece looks like, whether an unmarked piece is worth XRF-testing before deciding, how the postal cover works. See how we value gold for the full method the eventual firm offer uses.
How honest is the indicative figure?
- Clean hallmarked pieces. Indicative usually within 10%. Kitchen-scale rounding cuts both ways.
- Unmarked or worn-hallmark pieces. Wider range — could test at the carat you assumed, above it, or below.
- Possible plated items. Usually flagged in the reply. If it is plated, the eventual offer on that piece is close to nil, and we say so upfront.
- Stone-set pieces. The metal indicative is closer than the total, because stones need in-person inspection.
- Market movement. Fine gold can move a couple of per cent day to day. See why an offer differs from an estimate.
Data, privacy and what happens to the photos
The photos you send stay on our WhatsApp Business inbox and are kept only as long as needed to help you decide — typically the duration of the enquiry. They are not published anywhere without your written permission, they are never used for marketing, and they are not shared with any third party. If you ask us to delete the thread and photos after the conversation, we do. The full detail is in the privacy policy. WhatsApp itself operates under its own end-to-end encryption and terms; the message stays between you and us.
One honest limit worth stating: photos on WhatsApp are not a formal probate valuation. If you need a formal figure for HMRC probate purposes, a qualified probate valuer is the right route — see probate and inheritance for how the two roles differ.
What if you do not use WhatsApp?
Photos are welcome by email to goldpaiduk@gmail.com, and the same reply lands there instead. The phone line is 07944 014111 if you would rather talk before sending photos. There is no requirement to use any specific channel — the point of the photo-first step is to answer your questions before a parcel moves, not to funnel you into a particular app.
Common questions
Is the WhatsApp photo valuation actually free?
Yes. There is no charge for the message, the reply, the indicative figure, or any follow-up questions. If you then request a Royal Mail label it is also free and prepaid; and if you post, receive the written offer and decline, the return is free too. The whole route to a decision costs you nothing.
How quickly do you reply?
Usually within the hour during working hours, which are 8am to 9pm every day of the week including evenings and weekends. A message sent at 10pm on a Sunday normally has a reply first thing Monday morning; sooner if we are still on that evening.
What if the photos are not great?
Send what you have and we will tell you what would help. A blurry hallmark just means we ask for a re-take on that piece; a group photo that is dark is fine to work with if the individual close-ups are clearer. Nothing about this step needs to be perfect.
Will you keep chasing me if I do not reply?
No. If we send the indicative figure and do not hear back, that is the end of the conversation from our side. There is no follow-up sequence, no chaser email, no phone call. If you come back a month or a year later, the same photo-first step still applies.
Can I send photos on behalf of someone else?
Yes, that is common — for parents, older relatives or an estate. If the eventual sale is by someone else, we will ask them to confirm the offer directly before payment leaves for their bank account. Photos and questions from a family member up front are fine.
What if my item is not gold or silver at all?
We will say so, and suggest what to do. Plated pieces come back to you unposted; costume jewellery is not worth mailing at all. Watches, coins, medals and stamps are handled individually — see the also-buy hub. If it is not for us, we say so and often point you at the right specialist.
Is a photo enough for a firm offer?
No, and we will not pretend otherwise. A firm offer needs the piece in front of the XRF analyser and the scale. The photo step exists to help you decide whether posting is worth doing at all, and to give an honest indicative range so nothing about the final written offer is a surprise.
Request a free prepaid Royal Mail label
Three quick steps. The label arrives by email, usually within about 30 minutes during working hours. Requesting one commits you to nothing: you get a written offer after the XRF assay, and if you decline, your items come back to you free.
Would you rather ask a question first, or send a photo? Message us on WhatsApp . It is the fastest way to get a sense of what something is worth before you post anything.