No pressure to begin with
There is genuinely nothing to commit to 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.
What an insurance valuation is, and why it matters
Most jewellery insurance is reinstatement cover: the insurer agrees to replace a lost or damaged item like-for-like, up to the sum stated on the schedule. If the schedule undervalues the piece, the customer is underinsured and the insurer is not on the hook for the gap. A written reinstatement valuation puts the right number on the schedule.
The XRF report on its own shows composition and scrap-equivalent value — that is what the metal is worth as raw material. The insurance valuation is different: it states the retail replacement cost of the piece as a comparable jewellery item, which is usually much higher than scrap, especially for branded, designer or antique pieces.
What you receive
- The standard XRF report with full elemental table, plating screen, hallmark cross-check and indicative scrap-equivalent value.
- An insurance valuation page stating the retail reinstatement value of each selected item, the methodology used, and a comparable-market reference.
- Insurer-friendly formatting — schedule-style item descriptions, identifying photographs, and the valuer's statement of qualifications.
- Plain-English summary linking the composition findings to the reinstatement value so the customer can see how the figure was reached.
When the valuation is the right add-on
For an engagement ring, an heirloom watch, an antique brooch or any piece you would replace if it were lost or damaged, the reinstatement valuation is what your insurer needs. For pieces you would simply sell as scrap if you parted with them, the standard XRF report on its own is enough.
Per-item pricing means you can add the valuation to selected items rather than a whole pack — typically one or two stand-out pieces inside a wider family or estate pack.
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.
Testing is testing
Plenty of gold buyers will offer a "free test" if you send your item in. That is a sales tool, not an independent 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 dedicated independence 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.
The proof, not the promise
Anyone can say "best price". GoldPaid does not. Instead the process is laid bare: a measured XRF assay, calibrated weighing, the live market rate, and a written breakdown you read at home before you commit to anything. The reassurance here is structural, built into how the service works, rather than asserted in a slogan.
Common questions
Is this the same as an Assay Office or NAJ-registered valuer report?
No. NAJ and the Assay Offices run their own valuation services. This valuation is written by an independent qualified valuer working with GoldPaid; the valuer's qualifications appear on the report. For specialist-scheme requirements, an NAJ valuer is the right route and we will tell you straight if your insurer needs one.
How long does it add to the testing turnaround?
One working day, typically. The XRF scan and composition reporting happen the same day as receipt; the valuation page is added the following day.
Can I add it to a probate pack?
Yes — and it is usually wise on any item that might individually exceed £1,500. Tell us which items in the probate pack need the add-on and we will price each one at +£25.
How is the reinstatement value worked out?
Comparable retail evidence for similar pieces (style, age, materials, condition), benchmarked against current trade and dealer pricing, with the methodology footnoted on the valuation page so any insurer can audit the working.