You stay in control
A photo on WhatsApp is enough for us to tell you which testing pack fits, what the report can and cannot tell you, and what it will cost. Only when you are comfortable do you order the pack.
No part of this involves a shop visit. The testing service is postal-only, anywhere in the UK, with the phone and WhatsApp answered 8am to 9pm, seven days a week.
What an XRF test will tell you
X-ray fluorescence spectrometry reads the elemental composition of metal. The analyser fires a low-energy X-ray at the item; the atoms inside re-emit X-rays at characteristic energies; the detector reads those energies and turns them into a parts-per-thousand breakdown of every metal in the alloy.
- The fine gold content. Often more precise than the hallmark, because the hallmark rounds down to the nearest legal standard while XRF reads the actual figure.
- Other metals in the alloy. Silver, copper, zinc, nickel, palladium, and any trace elements present.
- Plating versus solid. Multi-point scans pick up unusual readings at corners and edges that signal a plated layer over a base-metal core.
- Hallmark cross-check. Whether the actual composition matches the hallmark on the item, and by how much it differs if not.
- Indicative scrap-equivalent value. The fine gold content at the live spot price on the day of testing, clearly labelled as not an offer.
What it cannot tell you
XRF reads metal. It cannot identify diamonds, coloured stones, pearls or organic materials. For those, the in-house gem service runs alongside — see gem triage and diamond grading.
XRF also reads only the surface and a short depth into the metal. Thick plating can occasionally mimic solid gold on a single scan, which is why our SOP requires multi-point scans and explicit plating flags in every report.
How testing works
- Ask first. WhatsApp a photo of the item. You get a quick read on which testing pack to order and an honest answer on whether the test is worth the money for that item.
- Order the pack. Pay online for the testing tier that fits. You get a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label, tracked and signed for. No printer needed — a QR code works at the Post Office counter.
- Post when ready. Wrap the item in any padded envelope. There is no deadline. Drop it at any Post Office.
- Test and report. We weigh, photograph and XRF-scan each item across multiple points. You receive a written report inside 24 to 48 hours of receipt.
- Item returned, free. Your item is sent back the same day the report is issued, by tracked, insured Royal Mail Special Delivery. Return postage is included in the testing fee.
How items travel
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. For higher cover we can arrange a tracked courier before you post, with the cover level agreed in writing first.
Special Delivery is signed for at every handover. We send a confirmation by WhatsApp when the parcel reaches us, and the same again on the return leg once the report has been issued.
Return policy
Every item is returned by tracked, insured Special Delivery the same day the report is finalised. The return is included in what you have already paid. Nothing else is added at the end.
If we cannot complete a test for any reason — for example, the surface is too contaminated, or the item is a non-metallic composite — you are refunded in full and the item goes back the same day.
Who uses this service
- People who inherited jewellery and want to know what is actually in the box before deciding what to do with it.
- Executors and solicitors handling probate, who need an itemised report formatted for HMRC IHT400 inheritance returns.
- Charity shop branch managers who want to stop underselling real gold by mistake.
- Pawnbrokers who need a second opinion when their in-house test and a customer disagree.
- Auction houses who want a clean, written composition record on a lot before catalogue.
- Buyers verifying an item before sale, especially when there is no hallmark or the hallmark is worn.
- Anyone with a "is this real?" question and a willingness to wait 24 to 48 hours for a written answer.
Why GoldPaid runs the test
A handheld Thermo Scientific Niton XL2 precious-metal analyser is the same instrument used by London Auctions, Cheshire Gold Xchange and a long list of UK Assay Office laboratories. The accuracy on gold content is ±0.1% across the working range. We run a multi-point scan on every item to guard against plating misreads.
Where a result is contested, the next step is a UK Assay Office fire assay — destructive but definitive — and we will tell you which Assay Office to send it to and what their current charge is. The report includes that route in plain English on the back page.
The independence pledge
You can use this testing service without ever wanting to sell. Many customers do. We test. You decide. There is no obligation to ask for an offer, no commission paid to the team for converting a test customer into a sale, and no upsell embedded in the report itself.
If you ask, at the end, whether the item is something we would buy, we will tell you straight. If you do not ask, the report stands on its own.
What this report is, and what it is not
The report identifies the elemental composition of an item to the accuracy of the analyser. It does not replace a UK hallmark, an Assay Office fire assay, or a written valuation from a qualified valuer for insurance reinstatement purposes. We say so in plain English on the front page of every report.
If a report leaves any doubt, we will tell you what the next step would be — typically a UK Assay Office fire assay (destructive but definitive) for high-value disputes, or a written insurance valuation from a qualified independent valuer for reinstatement cover.
What backs the offer up
- XRF spectrometry on every item, not a counter estimate
- A written, itemised breakdown before you decide anything
- Free insured postage in, free tracked return out
- No countdowns, no pressure, no fabricated reviews
- An owner-run business with a named founder who answers honestly
Common questions
Is this a hallmark?
No. This is an independent XRF compositional analysis report. UK hallmarks may only be applied by an authorised UK Assay Office. The Hallmarking Act 1973 reserves the word. The report does the job a hallmark cannot do — it tells you the actual elemental composition of the item, not just whether it meets a legal standard.
How accurate is it?
The Niton XL2 used here measures gold content to ±0.1% across the working range. Disputed readings can be escalated to a UK Assay Office fire assay (destructive but definitive). The report tells you which Assay Office to send it to and what their current fee is.
Will it tell me if my gold is plated?
Yes. The SOP requires scans at multiple points and edges, where plating typically thins. If the readings at the edge differ from the readings on the face, the report flags it as plating-suspicious and explains why.
What about diamonds or coloured stones?
XRF reads metal, not stones. Diamond grading, coloured-stone identification and pearl reports are handled in-house by GoldPaid's gem specialist. See the gem triage and diamond grading pages for pricing. We are not a UKAS-accredited gemmological laboratory; for a UKAS-accredited document we point you at AnchorCert Gem Lab as the escalation route, with a straight answer on whether your situation needs it.
How safe is posting?
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. For higher cover we can arrange a tracked courier before you post, with the cover level agreed in writing first.
Do I have to sell anything to GoldPaid?
No. The testing service is paid for and stands on its own. The report is what you bought. There is no commission paid to the team for converting a testing customer into a selling customer. If you ever want a no-obligation offer afterwards, you can ask — and nobody chases if you do not.
How long does it take?
Inside 24 to 48 hours from receipt. The probate pack takes 48 to 72 hours because the item count is higher and the report format is more detailed. Your item is returned the same working day the report is issued.
What is in the report?
Item photo, item ID, full elemental table to parts-per-thousand precision, plain-English summary, hallmark cross-check, plating screen result, indicative scrap-equivalent value at the live spot price (clearly labelled as not an offer), the not-a-hallmark disclaimer, and a QR code linking to a tamper-proof verification page on goldpaid.co.uk.
Can it damage my item?
No. XRF is non-destructive. The low-energy X-ray beam leaves no mark and changes nothing about the item. There is no filing, no acid, no scratching.
Is it suitable for HMRC probate (IHT400)?
Yes — the probate pack is formatted for it. Each item is individually identified, photographed and valued. An executor cover letter is included on the front page. Solicitors handling estates use this format directly inside an IHT400 submission. See the dedicated probate pack page.
Can I see a sample report before paying?
Yes. The sample report page shows an anonymised single-item report in full. The Probate Pack page links to an anonymised three-item probate sample.
How is my data handled?
Item photos and report data are retained for five years to align with HMRC and Money Laundering Regulations record-keeping. Outside the five-year window you can request deletion at any time. The full policy lives on the privacy page.