Gold Education
Buying & Owning Safely
Four Checks Before You Hand Over the Money
Most money lost on gold is not lost to a dramatic scam. It is lost quietly, on the making charge and the buy-back price nobody asked about.
You do not need to be an expert to buy gold safely. You need four questions, asked out loud, before any money moves.
- 1
Is the purity stamped on the metal?
Look for 999, 916 or 750 pressed into the item, and match it to what the invoice claims. A tag can say anything. - 2
Was it weighed in front of you?
On a calibrated scale, in grams, with the reading visible to you. Weight and purity together are the whole value. - 3
Is the making charge a separate line?
Metal value and labour must be two numbers. Blended into one price, the making charge is invisible — and it is usually where the margin hides. - 4
What is the buy-back today?
Ask what this shop would pay you for this exact item right now. The gap between that and the price you are being asked is your real cost of ownership.
The making charge is not recoverable
When you sell jewellery back, you are usually paid for the metal, not the craftsmanship. A 20% making charge is 20% you will not see again. That is the honest difference between buying gold to wear and buying gold to hold.
Red flags worth walking away from
- No stamp, no invoice — Two missing at once is not carelessness.
- A price far under the market — Nobody sells real gold at a loss out of kindness.
- Pressure to decide now — The rate will still be there tomorrow.
- Refusal to state buy-back — A seller who will not quote a buy-back knows the number is bad.
Buy with the numbers printed
Every item in our store lists purity, weight and price against the live rate.