Ask first, post later
Start with a question, not a parcel. Send a photo on WhatsApp or call, and you will get a straight answer on what testing tier suits your item and what the report will cover. None of it commits you to posting anything.
This is a UK-wide postal testing service. There is no shop to visit and no counter. Wherever you live, the process is the same: ask first, then decide.
What the FAQ answers that the pack pages do not
The pack pages each answer their own "what is included" question. This FAQ answers the cross-pack questions a first-time user asks before choosing a pack at all: whether XRF harms a piece, what the margin of error on gold purity actually is in ppm, what gets tested when a mount contains stones, whether a scratched surface changes the reading, and how long the report takes once a parcel is logged. If a specific pack is already in view, the answer there is more detailed.
On what XRF is
X-ray fluorescence measures detectable elements at the tested points without the beam marking the item. The detector uses characteristic X-ray energies to estimate composition within the instrument’s capabilities. Surface readings do not establish the composition throughout every object, particularly where there is plating or a concealed core.
It is the same method UK Assay Offices, refineries, pawnbrokers, auction houses and luxury watch authentication services use, and it is what the report on every pack on this site is built around.
The process, step by step
- Start with a photo. A clear WhatsApp photo of the item is enough for us to tell you which pack fits, what the report will show, and what the price will be.
- Pay and get your label. Once you order, a free Royal Mail Special Delivery label and a QR code for the counter are emailed straight back.
- Send it in your own time. Use any padded envelope. The label stays valid until used. There is no time pressure on you.
- Tested by handheld XRF. Each item is scanned at multiple points with a Thermo Scientific Niton XL2 precious-metal analyser. The full elemental table goes into the report.
- Report inside 24 to 48 hours, or 48 to 72 hours for the probate pack. A written PDF report arrives by email, and your item is dispatched back on the same day by tracked Royal Mail Special Delivery, with cover that may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used.
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.
What you get back, and when
Your item is returned by Royal Mail Special Delivery on the same working day the report is issued. Return postage and its cover are included in the testing fee. There is no separate return charge.
If, for any reason, an item cannot be tested (badly damaged surface, non-metallic core, equipment misalignment), we tell you straight, refund the testing fee, and return the item the same day.
Testing is testing
Plenty of gold buyers will offer a "free test" if you send your item in. That is a sales tool, not a testing service. This page is the other way round: you pay for the test and the report stands on its own. Whether you sell anything afterwards is a separate decision, and one we do not get involved in unless you ask.
The full reasoning is on the testing pledge page.
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 you see before you decide
GoldPaid makes no price-beating claims. You get the XRF reading, the weight and the figure for every piece in writing, and you decide at home.
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.
Common questions
How accurate is XRF?
The Niton XL2 measures composition at the tested points. Accuracy depends on the alloy, surface, calibration and measurement conditions; a surface reading alone cannot establish the composition throughout a plated or filled item. Where a reading is disputed, the reference test is a fire assay at a UK Assay Office. It uses up a sample of the metal, and the report identifies which office is the right one to approach.
Can XRF tell if my gold is plated?
In most cases, yes. The multi-point scan SOP picks up the disagreement between the face reading and the edge reading, and plated items are flagged in the report. 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.
Will XRF damage my item?
No. The beam leaves the surface exactly as it found it. Nothing is filed, scratched or dipped in acid at any point.
Why is my actual reading sometimes higher than the hallmark?
Because a hallmark guarantees a legal minimum standard and rounds the actual content down. A 9ct hallmark on a piece reading 390 ppt is consistent with the hallmark (which guarantees 375 ppt) and the XRF reading shows that the actual content exceeds the minimum.
Why is the reading sometimes lower than the hallmark?
Worn solder joints, replaced parts, repaired sections, or non-standard alloys can pull the average down below the hallmarked standard. A multi-point scan trace usually identifies the cause.
Will the report tell me what my item is made of?
It will tell you the composition and the fine-metal content, the weight of pure gold, silver or platinum in the piece, with no price attached. For a replacement (insurance) value, the Insurance Valuation Add-on at +£25 per item gives you a reinstatement-value figure.
How long does the test take?
24 to 48 hours for consumer single-item, family and estate packs from receipt to report. 48 to 72 hours for the probate pack. 24 hours for the plating check. On trade accounts the turnaround target is 48 hours, and the on-call pawnbroker tier runs to a four-hour photo-first response target.
How safe is it to post valuables?
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.
What if my item is damaged in transit?
Damage on the way to us is a matter for a Royal Mail compensation claim, and GoldPaid’s normal claims process is sender-led, with our help, even when we paid for the label. We help with the paperwork: we confirm what arrived and in what condition, and supply the consignment and label details. Tracking, your proof-of-postage receipt and the photographs in your report provide the evidence chain.
Do I have to sell my item to GoldPaid?
No. Testing is a paid-for service that stands on its own. The testing pledge is named openly on every page.
What if I do want a no-obligation offer afterwards?
Ask. We will give you a quick written rough estimate for the same item, separately from the test report.
What about diamonds and coloured stones?
XRF reads metal only. For diamonds and stones, the in-house gem service runs alongside, gem triage at £40, diamond grading at £85. We are not UKAS-accredited on the gem side; AnchorCert Gem Lab is the escalation route when a UKAS-accredited record is specifically required.
Can I see what the report looks like?
Yes. The sample report page sets out the layout of a single-item report page by page, and what a probate report adds. Ask on WhatsApp or by email and we send an example report as a PDF.
Is the report court-admissible?
The report is written as professional evidence, with the methodology, the scan trace and the photographs on the face of it. Court admissibility depends on the specific proceeding; for contested high-value matters, the route to a definitive answer is a UK Assay Office fire assay and the report identifies that path.
How is my data handled?
Item photos and report data are retained for five years to align with HMRC and AML record-keeping. You can request deletion outside the five-year window. Full policy on the privacy page.
How does GoldPaid handle AML?
GoldPaid carries out identity and record-keeping checks on every transaction in line with the UK Money Laundering Regulations for the buying side of the business. Testing-only jobs do not trigger High Value Dealer obligations because no goods change hands. Photo ID of the customer is captured on every buying transaction, whatever the parcel is worth, to support lawful asset-triage in the unlikely event a SAR is required.
Can the report be issued in a different language?
The report is issued in English. A translated cover note can be added on request, ask first.
Can I get a paper copy?
Yes, +£8 for printing and dispatch. The PDF has the same content and arrives sooner.
What if I want to escalate to a UK Assay Office?
The report identifies the appropriate Assay Office and the current charge for a fire assay. We can also handle the onwards submission on your behalf for a small handling fee, ask at the point of the report.
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.