No pressure to begin with
Nothing is committed at the start. WhatsApp a photo and you will get an honest read on whether testing is worth it for that item, what the cost would be, and what the report will say.
GoldPaid has no branches. The testing service is run by post, UK-wide, with a single number for calls and WhatsApp and a full evening window so you can ask outside work hours.
How this page differs from the pack pages
This page describes the physics and workflow once, so every pack page can refer to it rather than repeat the method. XRF (energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence) excites atoms near the sample surface and reads back characteristic emission spectra; the spectrometer logs the element shares and derives purity against calibrated reference standards. Each pack page then describes what is tested in that pack (single item, family batch, estate pack, probate pack, gem triage) and what the written report contains for that pack — not the method again.
Step 1: the WhatsApp triage
A clear photo of the front and back of the item, with the hallmark area in focus if there is one, is enough for us to do three things: tell you which testing pack fits, tell you what the report can and cannot tell you, and give you a straight read on whether the test is worth running on that item.
We do not need the item posted to give you this advice. WhatsApp is the fastest route, but the phone works just as well, 8am to 9pm seven days a week. The triage costs nothing.
Step 2: order the right pack
Pricing is published in full on the pricing page. There are six consumer packs and five trade tiers. Once the pack is paid for, a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label and a counter QR code arrive by email, usually the same working day.
The label stays valid until used. There is no deadline. Send the item when it suits you.
Step 3: post the item
Use any padded envelope. The label goes on the front. If you have a printer, print it at home. If not, the email also contains a QR code that the Post Office counter can scan to print the label for you. Cover wording stays the same: 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.
You receive the tracking reference automatically when the label is issued, and an inbound notification when the parcel arrives with us.
Step 4: the test
The parcel is signed for on arrival and opened at our Bristol office. Each item is photographed front and back at high resolution, weighed to 0.01g, and scanned by a Thermo Scientific Niton XL2 precious-metal analyser at multiple points: centre, edge, near the hallmark, and at any solder joints. Multi-point scanning is the SOP, not an option. Comparing those readings can reveal inconsistencies, but it cannot rule out thick plating or a concealed core in every item.
Each scan reads the full elemental table. The report shows every metal present, not just gold, so the customer can see for themselves whether the alloy matches the hallmark. A plain-English summary on the front page of every report translates the technical findings for a non-specialist reader.
Step 5: the report and the return
The PDF report is delivered by email and, optionally, by WhatsApp. The item is dispatched back the same working day, by Royal Mail Special Delivery, with the return tracking link sent at the same time. Nothing is held back.
Inside the report there is a plain-English summary, the full elemental table, a hallmark cross-check, the plating screen result, the fine-metal content, the not-a-hallmark disclaimer, and a unique report number, so a solicitor or auditor can ask us to confirm the report number and content. The report carries no price and no offer.
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.
The testing pledge
You can use this testing service with no intention of selling. 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.
Who stands behind the offer
- Owner-run, with founder Rocco Clayfield personally accountable for the service
- Every item XRF-assayed, the result shown to you in writing
- Free tracked postage both ways, so a valuation carries no obligation
- Honest about its limits, including when a specialist would suit you better
- No fabricated reviews and no invented numbers, anywhere on the site
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 quickly is the prepaid label sent after I order?
Usually within 30 minutes during working hours, by email. Both a printable PDF and a Post Office counter QR code are included, so a printer is optional.
Can I post several items in one parcel?
Yes, if the total is within the cover of the testing pack you have chosen and the items can be handled together safely. The family pack, estate pack and probate pack are built for multi-item parcels.
What if my item is unusual, antique, or non-standard?
Send a photo first. Antique gold with pre-1973 marks, foreign hallmarks, Asian-fineness gold and Eastern European stamps all read fine on XRF. The triage answers any specifics for your item.
How long does the test itself take?
Each scan is a matter of seconds. The full SOP (receipt, photograph, weigh, multi-point scan, report generation, dispatch) is a matter of minutes of operator time per item. We aim for 24 to 48 hours from receipt to report.
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.
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.