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 priced at the spot rate 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.
And it cannot make an item legally hallmarked. Only a UK Assay Office may strike a hallmark, and an XRF report is an analysis, not a hallmark. Our UK hallmarking page sets out what a hallmark does and does not certify, the exemption weights, and the four assay office town marks, and it carries the British Hallmarking Council dealer’s notice in full.
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.
- Confirm the pack. Agree the testing tier that fits and pay by bank transfer. 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, or 48 to 72 hours for the probate pack of receipt.
- Item returned, free. Your item is sent back the same day the report is issued, by tracked, signed-for Royal Mail Special Delivery. Return postage is included in the testing fee.
How items travel
Your parcel travels on Royal Mail Special Delivery, and Royal Mail cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used, and if a parcel may be worth more than that we split it across more than one prepaid label at no charge, each with its own tracking number and cover.
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, signed-for 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.
Which pack fits depends only on how many items you have. One piece is the single-item report at £35; up to five is the family pack at £65; up to ten the estate pack at £95; and up to twenty in an executor-ready format the probate pack at £195. If the only question is whether a piece is solid or plated, the plating check at £25 answers that on its own. Every price is set out on the pricing page, and the XRF testing FAQ covers the questions people ask before paying.
Why GoldPaid runs the test
The Thermo Scientific Niton XL2 is a handheld precious-metal analyser of the kind used right across the UK trade, from refiners and auction rooms to Assay Office laboratories. Its accuracy on gold content is roughly ±0.1 to ±0.5 per cent absolute on a clean, solid surface. Every item here gets a multi-point scan, which is the thing that guards against a plating misread.
Where a result is contested, the next step is a fire assay at a UK Assay Office. It consumes a sample of the metal, but it settles the question, and the back page of the report names the office to approach and what they currently charge for it.
The independence pledge
You can use this testing service with no intention of selling, and plenty of customers do exactly that. Nobody here is paid more for turning a test into a sale. The report carries no offer and no upsell, because it is not the front end of anything. We test. What you do next is your own business.
Ask at the end whether the item is something we would buy and you will get an honest answer. Do not ask, and nothing follows.
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 tracked postage in, free tracked return out
- No countdowns, no pressure, no fabricated reviews
- An owner-run business whose founder, Rocco Clayfield, answers questions himself
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.
What if I disagree with the reading?
Say so. The multi-point scan trace in the report shows every individual reading, so the first move is usually to look at where the numbers came from. Past that, the reference test is a fire assay at a UK Assay Office. It consumes a sample of the metal but it settles the matter, and the report names the office to approach and their current fee.
Will it tell me if my gold is plated?
Usually, but not in every case. 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. A thick, unworn plating can read as gold at every point, and where that is suspected the report says the item cannot be confirmed as solid rather than passing it.
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 travels on Royal Mail Special Delivery, and Royal Mail cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used, and if a parcel may be worth more than that we split it across more than one prepaid label at no charge, each with its own tracking number and cover.
Do I have to sell anything to GoldPaid?
No. You have paid for a report, and the report is the whole of what you bought. Selling is a separate conversation and it only happens if you start it. If you want a no-obligation offer once you have read the findings, ask for one. If you would rather not, nothing further comes from us.
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 spot rate on the test date (clearly labelled as not an offer), the not-a-hallmark disclaimer, and a unique report number that we will confirm to any third party who asks.
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. The format is designed to sit directly behind the jewellery schedule (IHT407) of 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.
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.
Request a prepaid Royal Mail label for your XRF test
Two quick steps. Tell us which pack you want in the box below and we will confirm the price and how to pay before anything is charged. The label itself is prepaid and costs you nothing, and your items are returned to you free once the report is issued. Testing is a separate, paid service: if you are here to sell rather than to have items tested, the assay is free as part of selling and how it works is the page you want.
Two things worth knowing before you start, rather than after. Everyone sends a photo of a UK passport or driving licence, whatever the parcel is worth — it applies to every seller, so it is never a comment on you. And the parcel is handed in at a Post Office counter rather than dropped in a postbox: the receipt they give you is the proof of postage any compensation claim depends on.
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.
Related pages
- How testing works
- Pricing: all tiers
- Independence pledge
- Sample report
- XRF vs hallmark vs acid test
- Probate pack
- Trade accounts
- Gold price today, UK rates
- Silver price today, UK rates
- UK gold hallmark guide
- How we value gold
- Sell 18ct gold
- Sell Art Deco gold jewellery
- Sell Cartier jewellery, watches and lighters
- Charity gold buying, by UK town