Most jewellery buyers price by weight and carat. That systematically undervalues antique, vintage and collectible pieces — sometimes by hundreds of pounds. We assess every piece individually, explain the reasoning in writing, and open your parcel live on YouTube. Free insured postage both ways. 72-hour payment.
Most high-street and postal gold buyers use the same model: weigh the piece, determine the metal content, apply a percentage of spot price, pay you the result. For a plain gold chain or a simple wedding ring, this is reasonable. For an Edwardian seed pearl brooch, an Art Deco diamond cluster ring, a Victorian mourning locket, or a signed piece by a named designer — it can mean receiving 10–20% of the piece's actual value.
Collector jewellery, period jewellery, designer jewellery and signed pieces all carry value well beyond their material content. That value only emerges when a specialist looks at what the piece actually is — not just what it weighs.
"We have seen sellers accept scrap prices for pieces worth many times more — because nobody had told them what they actually had."
Multiple consumer investigations — including BBC programmes and independent trading standards tests — have found that gold buying services frequently weigh items incorrectly, misidentify metal content, use invasive testing methods (filing, acid testing, stone removal) that damage pieces, and apply far lower percentages of spot price than advertised. Some comparison websites in this sector have been found to be connected to the same operators they purport to compare. Before sending jewellery to any postal buyer, read the terms on what percentage of spot price they pay, how they test, and what their returns policy is.
On MoneySavingExpert, Gransnet and Trustpilot, missing items are the most serious complaint against postal jewellery buyers. A diamond engagement ring. A Swarovski bracelet. An entire box of silverware. In each case, the company's response is the same: internal CCTV shows everything was returned. The customer says it wasn't. There is no independent record. There is no resolution.
Fair Vintage opens every parcel live on our YouTube channel — publicly, in real time. Every piece of jewellery is shown on camera before anyone touches it. What arrived in your parcel is on the public record, not based on our account of events. This is the only model in the UK jewellery buying market that makes a missing item claim impossible to dispute — on either side.
Fill in the short form. We send a free tracked, insured postage label to your door. Covers your jewellery to £5,000 in transit — both ways. No printer needed with Royal Mail's QR code service.
Your parcel is opened on YouTube Live. Every piece is shown on camera. Each item is individually assessed and you receive a written valuation — with full reasoning — within 4–6 working days.
Accept all, some, or none. Each piece individually. Any you decline is returned free, insured to £5,000. Accept and you are paid within 72 hours — contractually. Miss the window, we add 3%.
| What matters | Fair Vintage | Hatton Garden Metals | Cash for gold services | Pawnbroker | Auction house |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual valuation per piece | ✓ Written, with full reasoning | Weight & carat only | Weight & carat only | ✓ Verbal | ✓ Written |
| Opening recorded on camera | ✓ Live on YouTube | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Non-invasive testing only | ✓ No filing or acid | Filing & acid testing used | Filing & acid testing common | Varies | ✓ |
| Free insured postage both ways | ✓ To £5,000 both ways | Free to send · returns vary | Free to send · returns vary | In person only | You arrange & insure |
| Collector & antique value assessed | ✓ Fully | ✕ Material only | ✕ Material only | Partial | ✓ |
| Decline individual pieces | ✓ Per piece, no pressure | All or nothing | All or nothing | ✓ | ✓ |
| 72-hour payment in contract | ✓ +3% if late | Same day (good) · no penalty | Varies · no contractual penalty | Cash immediately | ✕ 4–8 weeks |
| Zero seller commission | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ 15–25% |
Based on published terms and general UK practice as of 2026. Individual operators vary — check current terms before sending. If you spot an error, email support@fairvintage.co.uk.
A Victorian gold locket in good condition with original glass and hairwork belongs to an active collector market. An Edwardian platinum and diamond ring — even with a small stone — has design and period value well above its diamond weight. A complete parure of jet mourning jewellery from the 1870s is a collectible set that sells to period specialists at prices far removed from what any weight-based buyer would offer.
These are not exceptional cases. Most inherited jewellery from the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods has collector value in excess of material value. The proportion varies — sometimes modest, sometimes dramatic — but it is almost always present. The only way to know is a specialist individual assessment.
A Tiffany & Co silver bracelet from the 1970s, a Georg Jensen brooch in its original box, a Cartier love ring — these pieces carry significant brand premium. Sending them to a weight-based buyer means receiving silver or gold melt price for something worth many times more. Any piece with a maker's mark, a designer's signature, or a reputable brand hallmark should be individually assessed before any offer is accepted.
Before you send: photograph every piece individually from front and back. Note any hallmarks, maker's marks, or signatures you can see — a magnifying glass helps. Keep any original boxes, receipts or provenance. This information will be used in your written valuation and may significantly affect the offer.
Individually. Material value (gold, silver, platinum, gemstones) is one factor, but maker's marks, hallmarks, period, design desirability and collector demand are all assessed and explained in writing for every item. A Victorian brooch is worth more than its gold weight. An Art Deco ring is worth more than its diamond weight alone. We account for what a piece actually is.
Fine jewellery (diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald and gem-set pieces), antique and vintage jewellery (Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, mid-century), gold jewellery (9ct, 14ct, 18ct, 22ct, platinum), silver jewellery, inherited or estate collections, designer pieces (Tiffany, Cartier, Georg Jensen and similar), and better quality costume jewellery with collector interest. Single pieces and complete collections.
No. We do not use invasive testing — no filing, no acid testing, no stone removal. Hallmarks are read directly. If any test is required that might affect the piece, we contact you first. Your parcel is also opened live on YouTube, so the condition of every piece is publicly recorded before anyone touches it.
Your parcel is opened live on our YouTube Live channel — publicly, on camera. Every piece is shown before anyone touches it. The contents at arrival are on the public record, not based on our description alone. This is the only model in the UK jewellery buying market that makes a missing item claim impossible to dispute on either side. Your parcel is also insured both ways to £5,000.
In most cases, yes — often significantly so. Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco and Art Nouveau jewellery has active collector markets. Designer and signed pieces carry brand premium. A weight-based buyer will miss all of this. The only way to know is an individual written assessment — which is free and comes with no obligation to sell.
Yes. Broken clasps, missing stones, bent shanks, tangled chains — all considered. Damage is noted and accounted for in the written valuation. For some pieces, damage has very little effect on value. We explain exactly how any damage has been treated in your specific offer.
Three key differences: we assess every piece individually for what it is — not just what it weighs; every valuation is in writing with full reasoning; and your parcel is opened live on YouTube, eliminating any missing item dispute. We also provide free insured postage both ways and a written 72-hour payment guarantee — standard pawnbrokers offer none of these, and value by material only.
Yes. Each piece is valued individually and you can accept or decline on a piece-by-piece basis. No all-or-nothing requirement. Any piece you decline is returned free, insured to £5,000. This is particularly important for inherited collections where some pieces have sentimental value you want to retain.
Free insured postage pack to your door. Every piece valued individually, explained in writing. Opened live on YouTube — no missing item disputes possible. Paid within 72 hours or we add 3%. Decline any piece and have it returned free.
No commission. No obligation. No specialist knowledge required from you.