What a valuation covers
- Identification — solid gold, plated, or something else entirely.
- Purity — the standard shown by the hallmark.
- Weight — recorded by standard, not as a single mixed figure.
- Fine gold content — weight multiplied by fineness.
- Anything beyond the metal — maker, period, stones, collectability.
Sorting before weighing
Order matters. Weighing a mixed lot before establishing what is in it produces a number that means nothing. Sorting by standard first allows items to be grouped correctly, so each standard is weighed and valued on its own terms — UK gold hallmarks explained covers what each mark tells you.
The calculation
| Standard | Fineness | Fine gold per 10 g |
|---|---|---|
| 9ct | 375 | 3.75 g |
| 14ct | 585 | 5.85 g |
| 18ct | 750 | 7.50 g |
| 22ct | 916 | 9.16 g |
| 24ct | 999 | 9.99 g |
That figure is the foundation of everything. What a buyer pays for it, and why it is not the headline market price, is explained in spot price versus what a gold buyer pays.
When metal value is the wrong measure
Some items should never be valued as scrap: signed pieces, period jewellery in original condition, older cut diamonds, gold sovereigns, and watches. These are set aside and identified before any decision is made, because melting is irreversible.
Valuation is not an offer
A valuation states what an item is and what it contains. An offer is a separate thing, made after the items have been examined, and it can only reflect the market at that moment. No figure on this website is an offer, and no estimate should be treated as one.
Insurance and probate valuations
A valuation for insurance or probate is a different exercise carried out by a qualified valuer, usually for a fee, and states replacement or market value rather than what a buyer will pay. Gold Up's valuation establishes what your items contain in order to buy them.
