Posts
When trying to sell gold and silver etc it is vital that you know the weight of your items and also the carat/purity
Weighing Gold and Silver
Underweighing gold and silver items has been rife in the industry in recent years, though the larger gold buying companies in the UK, such as the Birmingham Gold Company, Hatton garden Metals Pressmans etc use Trading Standards calibrated scales . What should really set alarm bells ringing is when a gold buyer doesn't weigh your items in front of you ie in plain sight but rather scurries out the back with your gold and silver in their hands. it is vital that they weigh items right in front of you.
Identifying Carat and Purity. You must sort your items out into the various carats and purities before selling them as each carat/purity attracts a different selling price. Most gold and silver items are hallmarks so that shouldn't be too difficult (check the chart above) 18 carat can be worth twice what 9 carat is worth and 22 carat even more. Invest in a loupe or eyeglass to help you identify the marks.
Some items may not be hallmarked, but it important that you see the jeweller test the putity in front of you and explain the test.
