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 gem triage is, and what it is not
A triage screen is a first-pass identification, not a full grading report. It will tell you with high confidence whether a stone is a natural diamond, a moissanite, a glass paste, a cubic zirconia, or a lab-grown synthetic. It will not tell you the clarity grade, the cut grade, or the colour grade of a diamond — that needs a full grading report.
For full grading on a loose stone, see the diamond grading page. Triage is the right tier when the question is simply "is it real" rather than "how good is it".
How it works in practice
Gem work is handled in-house by GoldPaid's gem specialist. We are not a UKAS-accredited gemmological laboratory; if you need a UKAS-accredited grading report (for example for a high-value insurance schedule), we will tell you straight and point you at AnchorCert Gem Lab as the escalation route. For most consumer, probate and trade gem questions, the in-house report is the right tool at the right price.
- WhatsApp a photo first. The triage starts before any parcel moves. If the photo suggests the stone is plainly costume, we say so and save you the postage.
- Combined parcel. If you are also having metal tested, the stone and the metal travel together in one Special Delivery parcel.
- In-house identification. Our gem specialist runs thermal, optical and reflective screening to identify the stone species.
- Written report. A clear identification result with a plain-English summary, returned with the item.
- Item returned by Special Delivery. Same insured return route as the metal-testing service.
What the report tells you
- Stone identification headline: e.g. "natural diamond consistent with the visible properties tested" or "moissanite (synthetic silicon carbide)".
- Methodology summary: which tests were run and what each result indicated.
- Plain-English summary: a single paragraph for a non-specialist.
- Recommended next step if the customer wants a graded report from an accredited UK gemmological lab.
- Honest limits statement: triage is not grading, and the report says so up front.
How we run the test
- WhatsApp the photo. Tell us what you have, what you are trying to confirm, and what you would like the report to cover.
- Choose the pack. Single item, family pack, estate pack, probate pack, plating check, or an in-house gem report — pricing is on the pricing page.
- Free insured label. Special Delivery, tracked, signed for. Print at home or scan a QR at the counter.
- Tested at multiple points. A handheld Niton XL2 reads the elemental composition of every item. Plating, low-purity solder joints and unusual alloys are flagged.
- Report and return. PDF report inside 24 to 48 hours. Item returned by Special Delivery the same day. Nothing kept, nothing held back.
Postal cover and safety
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.
Tracking begins the moment the parcel is scanned at the Post Office counter. You receive the tracking reference straight after we issue the label, and again the moment the parcel arrives with us.
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 insurance 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.
A test, not a sales pitch
The XRF testing service is paid-for and stands on its own. The report is what you bought. Nothing inside it is an offer, an invitation to sell, or a hidden valuation. The team running the test has no commission tied to whether you become a selling customer afterwards.
If you separately want a no-obligation offer for the item, you can ask. If you do not ask, nobody chases.
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.
Why this is a calmer way to sell
Three things make GoldPaid a steadier route than a counter sale. You see a measured valuation in writing, not a verbal estimate. You decide at home, with nobody waiting. And if you decline, the return is free, tracked and insured, so obtaining the valuation costs you nothing.
Common questions
Will it tell me if my diamond is lab-grown or mined?
In many cases, yes. Lab-grown diamonds have telltale fluorescence and strain patterns that our screening picks up. Where the screening is inconclusive, the report says so and recommends a full grading or an escalation to AnchorCert for a UKAS-accredited record.
Can the gem be triaged while still in its setting?
In most cases, yes. The triage uses non-destructive screening that works through an open setting. For fully closed bezel settings, removal may be needed; we will flag that on the inbound triage and ask before doing anything.
Is this report UKAS accredited?
No — GoldPaid is not a UKAS-accredited gemmological laboratory. The report is an independent in-house identification. For a UKAS-accredited document (typically required for high-value scheduled insurance under a named-scheme policy), we point you at AnchorCert Gem Lab as the escalation route, with a straight answer on whether your situation needs it.
Do I pay one fee?
Yes. £40 covers the triage in full, including return postage. If you decide afterwards to upgrade to a full grading report, the £85 diamond grading price applies and we credit the £40 toward that upgrade.