Every gold chain and necklace has a clear floor value: its weight, multiplied by its carat purity, multiplied by the live gold price. We weigh your chain on calibrated scales, test the carat — 9ct, 14ct, 18ct or 22ct — and check whether a designer or antique chain is worth more sold whole than melted. You get the higher figure, explained in writing.
Free insured postage. Written valuation. Paid in 72 hours.
The short answer
To sell a gold chain or necklace in the UK, have it weighed and carat-tested and valued against the live gold price — its weight in grams times its purity (9ct, 14ct, 18ct or 22ct) times the price per gram sets the floor. A designer, antique or hand-made chain can beat that scrap figure if it is worth reselling whole. Fair Vintage weighs, tests and values every chain, offers the higher of the two, and pays by bank transfer within 72 hours with free insured postage both ways.
We buy gold chains and necklaces of every style, carat and condition — hallmarked and unmarked, whole and broken, plain modern links and hand-made antique work. This page is specifically about chains and necklaces sold on their gold weight plus any maker or age premium. If your item is a ring, a bracelet with stones, or a mixed lot of gold jewellery, the valuation approach differs slightly and there are dedicated pages linked further down — but if it is a chain around your neck or in a drawer, you are in the right place.
The single most important thing about any gold chain is its carat, because that determines how much actual gold it contains. A chain that feels substantial but is only 9ct holds far less gold than a lighter 18ct or 22ct chain. The style of link — curb, Figaro, rope, Belcher — affects how a chain looks and wears, and occasionally whether it is desirable enough to resell whole, but for most chains it is the metal weight and purity that set the price. Here is how the common styles break down.
| Chain style | Description and selling notes |
|---|---|
| Curb | Uniform interlocking links twisted and flattened to lie flat. The most common gold chain style; robust and easy to weigh. Diamond-cut curb catches the light. Almost always sold on gold weight. |
| Figaro | A curb variant alternating one long link with two or three short ones. Popular and hard-wearing. Valued on carat and weight like curb; heavy Italian Figaro can be substantial. |
| Rope | Small links twisted together to resemble a spiral rope. Dense and heavier than it looks for its length, which usually means good gold weight. Sold on metal content. |
| Belcher / rolo | Round or D-shaped uniform links, open and light. The classic Victorian and Edwardian chain style. Antique Belcher and Albert chains can be worth reselling whole rather than melting. |
| Box | Square links forming a smooth, snake-like square profile. Neat and modern; typically lighter, so gold weight is modest unless the chain is long or thick. |
| Byzantine | Intricate, dense woven links with a rich texture. Heavy and often hand-made, so it carries good gold weight and occasionally a workmanship premium on top of scrap. |
| Herringbone | Flat, sleek parallel links forming a smooth ribbon. Prone to kinking, which does not affect scrap value. Wide herringbone can hold surprising gold weight for its thinness. |
| Snake | Tightly linked rings forming a smooth, flexible tube. Elegant and modern; usually light-to-medium weight, valued straightforwardly on carat and grams. |
The most common gold chain in Britain — 9ct curb, Figaro, box and rope chains worn daily. At 37.5% gold they are affordable and hard-wearing. We buy them all, weighed and tested and paid on their gold content on the day.
Richer-coloured, higher-purity chains — often thicker curb or rope, sometimes Middle Eastern or South Asian 22ct. At 75% and 91.6% gold they carry far more value per gram, so even a light-feeling 22ct chain can be worth a great deal.
The two hardest-wearing everyday styles, made in every carat and weight. Heavy Italian and solid (not hollow) versions carry excellent gold weight. Valued on purity and grams against the live market.
Victorian and Edwardian watch Alberts, Belcher and hand-made link chains, often with a T-bar or dog-clip. These can be worth more sold whole to a collector than melted — we always check the antique route first.
Chains and necklaces by recognised makers, or signed and numbered pieces, can carry a premium above their gold weight. We assess the name and desirability alongside the metal and offer whichever value is higher.
Snapped clasps, kinked herringbone, knotted odds and ends — a broken gold chain is worth its full gold content. No need to untangle or repair anything; we weigh the metal and pay on it regardless of condition.
Is your chain solid or hollow? Many modern gold chains — especially wide, light-feeling ones — are hollow to look bigger for less gold. This does not stop us buying them; it simply means the gold weight, and therefore the value, is lower than the size suggests. We weigh the actual gold either way, so you are paid for exactly what is there, with nothing assumed from the look of the chain.
The value of any gold chain sold for its metal is built from a simple, transparent calculation: weight × purity × live gold price. Get those three numbers right and you have the honest floor value of the chain. Everything else — a designer name, an antique link, a heavy hand-made byzantine weave — sits on top of that floor as a possible premium.
Carat (or karat) measures how much of the metal is pure gold, expressed on a scale to 24. Pure gold is too soft for a wearable chain, so it is alloyed with other metals for strength and colour. In the UK the fineness is shown as a millesimal number — parts of gold per thousand. This is the single biggest lever on value, because an 18ct chain contains twice the gold of a 9ct chain of identical weight.
| Carat | Millesimal (hallmark) | Gold content | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9ct | 375 | 37.5% | The UK's most common chain gold — everyday curb, Figaro and rope chains. Durable and affordable. |
| 14ct | 585 | 58.5% | Common in the US and Europe; seen on imported chains. A good balance of colour and hardness. |
| 18ct | 750 | 75.0% | Richer colour, higher value. Finer chains and better-quality necklaces. Twice the gold of 9ct. |
| 22ct | 916 | 91.6% | Deep yellow, traditional in South Asian and Middle Eastern chains. Very high gold content. |
| 24ct | 999 | 99.9% | Pure gold — too soft for chains, so rare in wearable jewellery. Mostly bullion and investment pieces. |
Once the carat is confirmed, the chain is weighed on calibrated, trade-standard scales that read to a hundredth of a gram. Weight is where hollow versus solid construction matters: two chains that look identical can differ hugely in gold weight if one is hollow. We weigh the actual metal, so you are paid for what is genuinely there. A home kitchen scale can give you a rough idea, but it will not match a professional balance and cannot confirm the carat — treat any at-home figure as a guide only.
The final number is the gold price, which moves every minute the markets are open. Quoted per troy ounce and converted to a per-gram figure, the price is the same benchmark for everyone; the difference between buyers is how close to it they pay. We calculate your chain against the price on the day we test it — not a fixed rate printed weeks ago — and show you the weight, the carat and the price used, so the whole figure is auditable. For a fuller explanation of how live pricing works, see our gold valuation guide.
A worked example. Suppose you have a 9ct curb chain weighing 20g. Its pure-gold content is 20 × 0.375 = 7.5g of gold. A 20g 18ct chain, by contrast, contains 20 × 0.750 = 15g of gold — twice as much — and is worth roughly double, even though it weighs exactly the same on the scale. This is why the carat matters more than the size or feel of a chain, and why we always test rather than trust the stamp.
A UK hallmark is a legal guarantee that a piece has been independently tested and is the gold it claims to be. On a gold chain the marks are usually struck on the clasp, on the bolt-ring itself, or on a tiny tag soldered next to it — so if you cannot find a mark on the links, look at the fastening under a loupe or a phone camera zoom. A full UK hallmark has up to four parts:
Not every genuine gold chain carries a hallmark. Chains made before modern hallmarking was enforced, imported chains, and links or clasps that were simply never struck can all be unmarked — and a missing hallmark absolutely does not mean a chain is not gold. We test every chain non-destructively with electronic and acid methods to establish the true carat, so an unmarked chain is valued exactly like a marked one. If you would like help identifying a mark before posting, photograph the clasp and email it over.
Weighed on calibrated scales, carat-tested — never assumed — and valued against the live gold price on the day, with any designer or antique premium checked and the higher figure offered. Free insured postage both ways. No obligation — we return your chain free if you decline.
Request a free valuation →There are two ways a gold chain can be valued, and understanding the difference is the key to getting a fair price rather than being short-changed.
Scrap value is the worth of the chain purely as gold, ready to be melted and refined. It is calculated by the weight-times-purity-times-price method above, and for the majority of plain, machine-made modern chains it is the correct and honest figure. Condition is irrelevant to scrap value — a snapped, tangled or worn chain is worth exactly the same as a pristine one of the same weight and carat, because it is all going into the same melt. If you have a lot of odds and ends, broken clasps and single earrings, our sell scrap gold jewellery page covers that route in detail.
Resale value is what a chain can fetch sold whole to a wearer or collector, and it can be considerably higher than scrap — but only for the right chains. An antique Albert or Belcher chain in good order, a heavy hand-made byzantine, or a signed piece by a recognised maker can carry a premium for its age, workmanship or name that melting would throw away. The moment we test a chain we assess both routes: if the resale figure beats the scrap figure, we tell you and offer the higher of the two. A plain 9ct box chain will almost always be a scrap price; a Victorian gold Albert might be worth twice its metal whole.
High-street cash-for-gold outlets and pawnbrokers make their money on the margin between what they pay and the true gold value. Many quote a "melt price" that is well below the real content of your chain, betting that you will not check the maths. They also rarely stop to consider whether an antique or designer chain is worth more whole — everything goes in the melt bucket. Before you accept a counter offer, weigh the chain, note the carat, and work out the actual gold content using the figures on this page. A proper postal specialist tests and weighs the chain openly, checks the resale route, and pays close to the real value with insured postage covered both ways, so there is no cost or risk in getting a second, evidenced figure first.
Never let anyone melt an antique chain without checking it first. Once a Victorian Albert or a hand-made byzantine is in the crucible, the age and workmanship premium is gone forever. If in any doubt about whether your chain is worth more whole than as scrap, send it for assessment before you sell it to anyone for melt — the check costs you nothing.
This page is deliberately focused on gold chains and necklaces. If what you actually have is a different kind of gold, we buy it too — but the valuation details differ, so head to the right page:
If you are simply not sure what you have, send it in — a mixed parcel is welcome, and we itemise each piece separately in the written valuation. For a broad overview of everything we buy, the sell jewellery page is the best starting point.
The process is built to remove cost and risk from getting a figure. There is no charge to find out what your chain is worth, and nothing happens without your say-so.
How is the value of a gold chain calculated?
A gold chain's value starts with three numbers multiplied together: its weight in grams, its purity (the carat, expressed as a decimal — 0.375 for 9ct, 0.750 for 18ct), and the live gold price per gram. That gives the pure-gold content, which sets the floor. On top of that floor we add any premium for a recognised designer, an antique chain worth reselling whole, or an unusual heavy or hand-made link. We weigh your gold chain on calibrated scales, confirm the carat, and quote against the gold price on the day, so the figure is transparent and evidenced.
What is the difference between a 9ct, 18ct and 22ct gold chain when selling?
The carat tells you how much actual gold is in the chain, and that directly drives the price. A 9ct gold chain is 37.5% pure gold, 18ct is 75% pure, and 22ct is 91.6% pure. Gram for gram, an 18ct chain is worth roughly twice a 9ct chain of the same weight, and a 22ct chain more again. So a light-feeling 22ct chain can be worth more than a chunkier 9ct one. We test the carat of every gold chain — never assume the stamp is correct — and price each purity separately.
Can I sell an unhallmarked gold chain?
Yes. Plenty of gold chains are unmarked — older pieces made before hallmarking was enforced, imported chains, or clasps and links that were never struck. A missing hallmark does not mean a chain is not gold. We test unhallmarked gold chains non-destructively with electronic and acid testing to establish the true carat, then value them exactly as we would a marked chain. Send it in; the absence of a stamp does not reduce what we pay if the metal tests as genuine gold.
Do you buy broken or tangled gold chains?
Yes — a broken, snapped, kinked or hopelessly tangled gold chain is worth its full gold content. For scrap value, condition barely matters: we weigh the gold and pay on the metal regardless of a broken clasp or missing links. Do not pay a jeweller to repair a gold chain before selling for melt; the repair rarely adds more than it costs. Send tangled chains as they are — there is no need to untangle them, and we would rather you did not risk snapping links.
How do I weigh my gold chain at home before selling?
A small digital kitchen or jewellery scale that reads to 0.1g gives a useful estimate for a gold chain. Weigh the chain on its own, note the carat from the hallmark if there is one, and you can roughly gauge the gold content. Treat a home figure as a guide only — kitchen scales drift and can miss a gram or two, and you cannot confirm the carat by eye. Our valuation uses calibrated, trade-standard scales and proper acid or electronic testing, so the figure we quote is the accurate one.
Is a designer gold chain worth more than scrap?
Sometimes, and it is always worth checking before you melt. A gold chain by a recognised maker — or an antique Albert, Belcher or hand-made Victorian chain in good order — can be worth more sold whole than as scrap, because a buyer will pay for the name, the age or the workmanship on top of the metal. A plain modern machine-made chain, by contrast, is usually worth its gold value and no more. We assess both the resale route and the scrap route for every gold chain and offer whichever is higher.
How much is a gold chain worth per gram?
The per-gram value of a gold chain depends entirely on its carat and the live gold price on the day. Because 9ct is 37.5% gold and 22ct is 91.6% gold, the same gram of chain is worth very different amounts at each purity. Rather than quote a fixed figure that goes stale within hours, we calculate your gold chain against the gold price on the day we test it, show you the weight and carat we found, and explain how the per-gram figure was reached so nothing is hidden.
How do I read the hallmark on a gold chain?
A UK gold chain hallmark is usually struck on the clasp or a small tag near it, and has up to four parts: a sponsor's mark (the maker), a fineness number showing the carat (375 for 9ct, 585 for 14ct, 750 for 18ct, 916 for 22ct), an assay office mark such as the London leopard's head, and sometimes a date letter. The three-digit number is the key one — it tells you the purity in parts per thousand. If you cannot find or read the mark, photograph the clasp and we will identify it for you.
Should I sell my gold chain privately, to a pawnbroker or to a specialist?
A private sale can achieve a good price for a desirable designer or antique gold chain but takes time and carries buyer risk. A pawnbroker or the high-street cash-for-gold shop typically pays a melt price well below the gold's true content, keeping a wide margin. A postal specialist like Fair Vintage tests and weighs the chain properly, checks whether it is worth more whole than as scrap, and pays close to the real gold value with free insured postage. For most sellers the specialist route is the safest way to get a fair, evidenced figure.
Do you buy an inherited gold chain or necklace?
Yes, regularly. Inherited gold chains and necklaces are among the most common things we value, and we handle them with care. We provide a clear written valuation suitable for executors, itemise each chain separately, and never rush a family decision. If a chain turns out to be an antique worth keeping or reselling whole rather than melting, we will tell you. Anything you decide not to sell is returned free of charge by insured post.
Will I pay Capital Gains Tax when I sell a gold chain?
For most people, no. A gold chain is a personal possession, so Capital Gains Tax only comes into play if a single item sells for more than the £6,000 chattels threshold and shows a gain over what you paid or its probate value. The vast majority of gold chains sell well below £6,000, so no CGT arises. A very heavy 22ct chain or a valuable antique piece could exceed it. We are not tax advisers — for anything substantial or inherited, check HMRC guidance or speak to an accountant. We provide the written sale figures you need.
Do I need to clean or repair my gold chain before I sell it?
No. There is no need to clean, polish or repair a gold chain before selling it. For a chain sold on its gold weight, a broken clasp, missing links or tarnish make no difference to the metal content we pay on. For an antique or designer chain being assessed for resale, honest original condition is preferred to an over-polished surface that can wear away the hallmarks. Send your gold chain as it is — save the cost of a repair, and let us assess it in its true state.
Also see: Sell gold · Sell gold rings · Sell gold jewellery · Gold valuation
Also buying: Scrap gold jewellery · Silver jewellery · All jewellery