9ct, 14ct, 18ct and 22ct jewellery. Gold sovereigns and coins. Art Deco rings, Victorian lockets, gold chains, scrap gold. Every item assessed individually in writing — metal value and collector premium, both explained.
Most buyers offer melt price only. We assess what a piece actually is — not just what it weighs. Free insured postage. Written valuation. 72-hour payment guaranteed.
There is a version of selling gold that is transparent, fully researched, and genuinely in your interest. And there is a version that happens every day in high-street gold shops across the UK.
When you take gold jewellery into a cash-for-gold shop, the person behind the counter puts it on a scale. They test the hallmark or run an acid test. They apply their buy rate — typically 65–80% of the spot price — and they hand you a number.
That number does not account for:
It does not account for these things because the person behind the counter is a transaction processor, not a specialist. Their margin depends on the gap between what they pay and what the refinery pays — and every pound they give you reduces that margin.
At Fair Vintage, our gold specialists assess every piece individually: metal content, weight, maker's marks and hallmarks, period and design, gem content, and collector market demand. Every assessment is written down, with the reasoning explained. If your gold is worth more than melt — and a great deal of it is — you will know why.
In a high-street gold shop, the assay test happens behind the counter — out of your sight. At Fair Vintage, your parcel is opened live on our YouTube channel. Every item's condition is recorded on camera before a specialist touches it. You can watch it happen.
Most buyers give you one number. We give you a written breakdown. For every gold item we assess, we record four things:
Weight × purity × current gold spot price. We show you this calculation in writing. The spot price we use is the published LBMA daily fix — you can verify it independently at lbma.org.uk. Not a mysterious figure; the actual maths, shown.
British gold hallmarks record: the gold standard, the assay office, the date letter, and the maker's cartouche. A piece by a named Victorian goldsmith — Thornhill, Hunt & Roskell, Robert Garrard — carries meaningful collector premium over anonymous pieces of equivalent weight.
An Art Deco platinum-set diamond ring is worth considerably more than its metal content. A Georgian gold mourning locket with original hairwork is irreplaceable. A signed Arts and Crafts enamel-and-gold brooch is a collectable. These pieces are assessed for what they are — not what they weigh.
Where gold settings contain diamonds, coloured stones, pearls or enamel work, the gem and decorative value is assessed as part of the overall offer. Stones are not ignored or removed from the equation. Invasive testing — filing, acid — is never used.
| What matters to sellers | Fair Vintage | Cash-for-gold shop | Auction house |
|---|---|---|---|
| How offer is delivered | Written, per item, with calculation shown | Verbal, across counter — no written record | Written estimate; final price after bidding |
| Collector/antique premium assessed | ✓ Always | ✗ Rarely | ✓ Yes, but 15–25% commission |
| Melt calculation shown in writing | ✓ Always | ✗ Verbal only | ✗ Not applicable |
| Payment speed | 72 hours — guaranteed in writing | Same day (no recourse after) | 4–8 weeks after sale date |
| Insurance on your items | £5,000 standard, both ways, free | Not applicable (in-person) | Insurance within the saleroom |
| Ability to decline and have items returned | ✓ Free returns, 5 working days | ✗ Items handed over at counter | Withdrawal before sale possible |
| Process transparency | Live YouTube opening — publicly recorded | Behind a counter, out of sight | Public auction room |
| Commission | ✓ None | None stated (margin is in the rate) | 15–25% of hammer price |
Based on publicly available information as of 2026. Individual experiences vary.
Tell us roughly what you have — a couple of sentences is enough. We email you a free prepaid, tracked and insured shipping label the same working day.
Pack everything into any secure box, attach the label, and drop it at any Royal Mail or DPD point. Your parcel is insured to £5,000 from the moment the courier scans it.
We email you a unique parcel code and your broadcast time. Your parcel is opened on camera, publicly, in real time — every item visible before a specialist touches it.
Every piece is assessed individually. Accept what you want to sell — return the rest free. Payment within 72 hours of broadcast. If we miss it, we add 3%.
If your question isn't here, call us on 01234 815116 or email support@fairvintage.co.uk. We respond within one working day.
Get your free pack →Weigh the piece (kitchen scales are fine), confirm the caratage from the hallmark (375 = 9ct, 585 = 14ct, 750 = 18ct), and multiply weight × purity fraction × current gold spot price (at lbma.org.uk). That gives an approximate melt floor. If the piece has maker's marks, period design or gem content, the actual offer will often exceed this. Email us a photograph and we'll advise before you send anything.
Yes, where a piece merits it. Victorian and Edwardian jewellery by named makers, Art Deco pieces, rare-date sovereigns and high-grade proof coins all attract collector premiums above metal content. We explain exactly how the offer was reached — in writing, per item.
British gold made before 1975 must carry a hallmark from one of the UK assay offices. Look for small stamped marks on clasps, ring shanks, and brooch reverses. The standard stamp (375, 585, 750) is the key marker. Pieces without hallmarks are assessed by non-invasive testing — we note the method used in your written valuation.
Yes — and this is something we handle well. Mixed collections with gold, silver coins, watches, and inherited items go to multiple specialist desks. One postage label. One itemised written report. One payment.
Gold-filled (marked GF or 1/20 12ct) has a bonded gold layer and some recoverable gold content. Gold plate has a negligible gold wash. We assess these separately and will tell you honestly if a piece has limited material value — before you commit to sending it.
No obligation — ever. Decline any or all items and everything is returned to you, free, fully insured, within 5 working days. Partial acceptance is completely normal.
Within 72 hours of your parcel going live on YouTube. If we miss that window, we add 3% to your total — written into the contract you sign before sending anything.
Request your free pack today. We'll open everything live on YouTube, give you a written valuation per piece, and pay within 72 hours — or add 3%.