British Gold Exchange crest
British Gold Exchange
Est. 1985 · London

Seller Guide

How to prepare your gold for sale — a simple checklist before you send anything

Preparation takes five minutes and protects you. Here's exactly what to do — and a few things not to do.

Why British Gold Exchange

40+

Years in the precious metals business

£0

Cost to request your free insured postal pack

24h

Maximum time to receive your firm, itemised offer

100%

Of items returned free if you decline

Ready to get a valuation?

The short answer

List it, photograph it, pack it — don't clean it

Preparing gold for sale requires very little effort. The most important steps are: make a written record of every item you are sending, take a quick photograph of everything laid out together, and use the packaging we provide. That's the core of it.

The one mistake sellers make most often is cleaning their items before sending. This can damage hallmarks and surface details, makes no difference to the gold content, and is completely unnecessary. We handle items in every condition — tarnished, broken, mismatched, even dirty. Condition does not affect the offer.

You also do not need to sort your items by carat or type. Our XRF machine tests each piece individually. Send everything in a single pack and we will identify and separate everything on receipt.

What affects it

Preparation checklist

List every itemUse the contents list in our free pack to note what you're sending. One entry per item is sufficient — 'gold ring', 'silver chain', 'Sovereign coin'. This protects you and speeds up our assessment.
Photograph everythingLay your items out and take a photo before packing. A dated photo on your phone is your personal record in the unlikely event of a query. This takes 30 seconds and is worth doing.
Don't clean itemsLeave items exactly as they are. Cleaning can remove hallmarks, damage stones and strip surface details. It makes no difference to the gold content or the offer.
Remove batteriesFor watches: remove batteries if possible. A watch left running in transit can create heat and condensation. Dead watches are fine — condition affects the market value assessment, not transit safety.
Separate loose stonesIf you have loose gemstones separate from their setting, pack them in a small sealed bag and note them on the contents list. Do not leave them loose in the outer packaging.
Use provided materialsOur pack includes foam padding and a tamper-evident inner bag. Use them. Items that arrive well-packed are processed faster and any transit claims are handled more smoothly.
Keep your receiptWhen you post, keep the Royal Mail receipt. It shows proof of posting, the tracking number and the declared value. Keep it until payment is received.
High-value collectionsFor collections above £5,000, contact us first. We arrange insured courier collection at our cost, which is more suitable for high-value or heavy lots than the standard postal service.

How it works

From first contact to payment

01

Request Your Free Pack

We post a fully insured, tracked Royal Mail freepost envelope — with tamper-evident inner packaging and a simple contents form to complete.

02

List and Photograph

Use the supplied contents form to note each item. A quick photo of everything laid out gives you a personal record before you post.

03

Package and Post

Wrap items individually in the provided foam, seal the tamper-evident bag, and post using the pre-paid Royal Mail Special Delivery label. Items are insured from this moment.

04

Receive Your Offer

A firm, itemised offer within 24 hours based on verified XRF purity and live spot price. Accept for same-day payment or decline for free return.

Common questions

Questions we hear most

Do I need to sort my jewellery by carat?

No. Send everything together. Our XRF machine tests each piece individually and the offer is itemised by piece with its tested purity. No sorting, labelling or research required on your part.

Can I send items that are broken or damaged?

Yes. Broken clasps, bent settings, snapped chains — condition has no effect on gold content and therefore minimal effect on the offer. We buy scrap and broken gold regularly.

What if I don't have the original boxes or paperwork?

For gold jewellery and coins, you don't need any documentation. For luxury watches, original box and papers increase the offer value — but we assess watches without papers too.

Can I include items I'm unsure about?

Yes. If you're not sure whether something is gold, silver or plated, include it and mark it as 'unknown' on the contents list. We test everything and report back on each item.

How much can I send in one pack?

Our standard freepost envelope is suitable for items up to around £5,000 in value and approximately 500g in weight. For larger lots, contact us to arrange courier collection.

What is the tamper-evident bag for?

The inner tamper-evident bag seals your items securely and shows visually if it has been opened in transit. In the rare event of a transit query, the sealed bag is important evidence.

Get Started

Request your free pack and we'll guide you through the rest

Everything you need is in the pack — packaging, pre-paid postage and a simple contents form. Five minutes of preparation, then we handle everything.

0800 014 8323