7 Checks Before You Sell Gold Jewellery (So You Don't Get Low-Balled)

Most people sell gold only once or twice in their life, which makes it easy to accept a low offer without realising. These seven checks take about 20 minutes and work whoever you sell to.

1. Know your purity

Find the stamp on each piece: 375 is 9ct, 585 is 14ct, 750 is 18ct and 916 is 22ct. An 18ct ring is worth twice as much per gram as a 9ct one. Our purity guide lists every stamp.

2. Weigh it yourself

A kitchen scale gives you a rough figure, so you'll know if an offer is based on a much lower weight. Our gold jewellery weight chart shows typical ranges if you have no scale.

3. Check today's gold price

Gold prices move every day. Look up the current Australian-dollar price before you get quotes so you know the market you're selling into. Our gold prices page shows the live price and our buying rate for each purity.

4. Compare per-gram rates, not totals

A buyer quoting one lump sum for a bag of mixed jewellery is hard to compare. Ask what they pay per gram for each purity. Buyers who publish their rates make this easy.

5. Ask for an itemised written offer

A fair offer lists each item, its tested purity, its net gold weight and the price. If a buyer won't put it in writing, keep looking.

6. Don't feel rushed

Pressure to accept on the spot is a warning sign. With a postal buyer, you should be able to review the offer at home and decline if it doesn't suit you.

7. Check the buyer is registered

In Victoria, businesses buying second-hand gold must be registered second-hand dealers. Look for the registration number on their website. Ours is on our dealer registration page.

Before you sell anything

Set aside signed designer pieces, antiques and items with large stones. These can be worth more than their gold, so get a specialist opinion first. Not sure if a piece is solid gold? Start with our guide on how to tell if gold is real.

Ready to compare? See how selling by post works.