| Metal Spot Prices | Oz | GBP (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | £0 / oz | £0 / g |
| Silver | £0 / oz | £0 / g |
| Platinum | £0 / oz | £0 / g |
| Metal Spot Prices | Oz | GBP (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | £0 / oz | £0 / g |
| Silver | £0 / oz | £0 / g |
| Platinum | £0 / oz | £0 / g |
| Metal Spot Prices | Oz | GBP (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | £0 / oz | £0 / g |
| Silver | £0 / oz | £0 / g |
| Platinum | £0 / oz | £0 / g |
| Metal Spot Prices | Oz | GBP (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | £0 / oz | £0 / g |
| Silver | £0 / oz | £0 / g |
| Platinum | £0 / oz | £0 / g |
These simple checks can give you a good initial idea of whether your item contains real gold — before you send anything to us.
Gold is not magnetic. Hold a strong magnet close to your item — if it is attracted, it almost certainly contains non-gold metals. Note: some gold-plated items use non-magnetic base metals, so this test rules out non-gold but is not conclusive on its own.
Look for stamps on your item such as 375 (9ct), 585 (14ct), 750 (18ct), 916 (22ct), or 999 (24ct). These marks are legally required on hallmarked UK gold and give a reliable guide to purity. Not all gold is hallmarked — older or foreign pieces may still be genuine.
Testing kits are available online for around £10–£20. Scratch a small mark on a test stone, apply the appropriate acid solution for the carat you are testing, and observe the reaction. No reaction usually indicates genuine gold at or above that carat. Handle acids with care.
Gold is extremely dense — far denser than most metals. Drop your item into a glass of water: genuine gold sinks immediately and completely. Items that float, hover, or sink slowly are likely not solid gold. Note: hollow gold items may float despite being real gold.
Wear the item against your skin and check for green or black marks. Real gold — especially high-carat gold — does not react with your skin and leaves no discolouration. Green or black marks suggest the item contains copper, nickel, or other base metals.
When your items arrive with us, we carry out a thorough professional assessment using specialist equipment — so you always get the most accurate offer possible.
We use an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) gun — the gold industry standard — to give an analysis of the exact metal composition. Please note that items may need to be filled to explore whether heavy plating is present.
Where additional confirmation is needed, we apply industry-grade acid solutions to a surface scratch to verify purity. This fast and reliable method has been used by gold traders for decades and provides a definitive karat reading.
Every item is weighed on calibrated scales accurate to 0.01 grams. This exact weight, combined with the confirmed purity from our XRF or acid test, is the basis of your offer calculation — fully transparent and verifiable.
Our experienced team examines all hallmarks, surface colour, construction quality, and any maker's marks. These visual checks are cross-referenced with XRF and acid test results to ensure complete confidence before any offer is made.
Get a fast, no-obligation quote now – it only takes a minute!
Order Gold Pack