Seller Guide
How to prove your gold is genuine — and what to do if you're not sure
You don't need to be certain before sending us anything. But understanding how gold is identified gives you confidence in the process.
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
UK hallmarks are the most reliable proof — for everything else, XRF testing is definitive
In the United Kingdom, any gold item above 1 gram sold as gold must by law carry an assay office hallmark. The hallmark is stamped by one of the four UK assay offices (London, Birmingham, Sheffield or Edinburgh) and consists of the maker's mark, the purity mark (a number like 375, 585 or 750) and the assay office symbol. If your piece carries a hallmark, its purity is legally guaranteed.
Many items — particularly foreign pieces, older jewellery, and inherited items — may not carry a UK hallmark but are still genuine gold. XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis is the industry standard for confirming purity in these cases. It is non-destructive, accurate to within 0.1% purity, and takes seconds. Every item we receive is XRF-tested regardless of whether it has a hallmark.
If you are genuinely uncertain whether something is gold, send it anyway. If it turns out to be gold-plated, gold-filled or base metal, we will explain this clearly in writing and return it at no cost. You will never receive a lower offer than the metal actually warrants.
What affects it
Testing methods — what each tells you
How it works
From first contact to payment
Request Your Free Pack
We post a fully insured, tracked Royal Mail freepost envelope. No cost, no commitment required.
Send Your Items
Use our supplied packaging and post your items. They are covered by our insurance from the moment you drop them at the post office.
Receive Your Offer
Every piece is XRF-tested on arrival to confirm exact purity. The offer is based on this verified reading, not your estimate.
Get Paid
Accept and receive a same-day bank transfer. Decline and we return every item free of charge — no questions asked.
Common questions
Questions we hear most
What if I think I have gold but I'm not certain?
Send it. We test everything with XRF regardless of what you think it is. If it's not gold, we return it and tell you exactly what it is. There is no charge for an assessment.
My gold doesn't have a hallmark. Will you still buy it?
Yes. We buy unmarked gold regularly — particularly foreign pieces, antique items and dental gold. The XRF test confirms purity independently of any stamp.
Can plated items have any value?
Gold-plated items have no significant gold value — the coating is usually less than 0.05% of the weight. However, if a plated item has collector value (vintage, designer), that is a separate matter from its gold content.
What is 'gold filled' or 'gold overlay'?
Gold-filled items have a thicker layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base metal core — more than plating but less than solid gold. The gold layer is typically 5% of the total weight. We assess these on a case-by-case basis.
Will the XRF test damage my items?
No. XRF is entirely non-destructive. The piece is placed in the analyser, a reading is taken in seconds, and the piece is removed unchanged. It is safe for all types of jewellery including pieces with stones.
Get Started
Not sure what you have? Let us find out — free
Send your items in our free insured pack and receive an XRF-verified offer within 24 hours. If it's not gold, we return it at no cost.