British Gold Exchange · Est. 1985 · London

Seller guide

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

Preparation takes about five minutes and protects you. Here is what to do, and a few things to avoid.

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 and pack it, but do not clean it

Preparing gold for sale takes very little effort. Make a written record of every item you are sending, take a photograph of everything laid out together, and use the packaging we provide.

The mistake we see most often is cleaning items before sending them. Cleaning can damage hallmarks and surface details, makes no difference to the gold content and is not needed. We handle items in every condition: tarnished, broken, mismatched or dirty. For jewellery, scrap and dental gold, 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 each item on receipt.

What affects it

Preparation checklist

List every itemUse the contents list in our free pack to note what you are sending. One entry per item is enough, such as 'gold ring', 'silver chain' or '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. It takes 30 seconds and is well worth doing.
Do not 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.
Watches go separatelyPlease do not put watches in the standard pack. Speak to us first and we will arrange for them to be sent separately. Watches that have stopped are fine to sell, and condition can affect a watch's value.
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. Please use both. 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 collectionsThe standard pack is insured up to £2,500 from when it is handed in at the Post Office until it reaches us. For items worth more than this, contact us before sending.

How it works

From first contact to payment

01

Request your free pack

We send you a free pack the next working day, with a prepaid, tracked Royal Mail Special Delivery label, 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

Pack and post

Wrap items individually in the provided foam, seal the tamper-evident bag, and hand the pack in at a Post Office using the prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label. Items are insured up to £2,500 from that moment until they reach us.

04

Receive your offer

You receive a firm, itemised offer within 24 hours of your items reaching us, based on XRF-tested purity and the live spot price. Accept before 3pm on a working day for same-day payment, or decline for a 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. You do not need to sort, label or research anything.

Can I send items that are broken or damaged?

Yes. Broken clasps, bent settings and snapped chains are all fine. Condition has no effect on gold content, so for jewellery and scrap it does not affect the offer. We buy scrap and broken gold regularly.

What if I do not have the original boxes or paperwork?

For gold jewellery and coins, you do not need any documentation. For luxury watches, the original box and papers increase the offer, but we assess watches without papers too.

Can I include items I am unsure about?

Yes. We do not buy gold-plated or silver-plated items. If you are not sure whether something is solid gold, silver or plated, include it and mark it as 'unknown' on the contents list. We test everything, report back on each item and return anything plated.

How much can I send in one pack?

Our standard pack holds approximately 500g and is insured up to £2,500 from when it is handed in at the Post Office until it reaches us. For items worth more, or for larger lots, contact us before sending.

What is the tamper-evident bag for?

The inner tamper-evident bag seals your items securely and shows clearly 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 will guide you through the rest

Everything you need is in the pack: packaging, pre-paid postage and a simple contents form. After five minutes of preparation, we handle the rest.

Send us a message