Sell Asian Gold | Birmingham Gold Company

Important Notice

As of 01/02/2026: Due to widespread issues with under-carat gold in the market, we are currently limiting the purchase of Asian gold. Industry advice has highlighted a significant number of Asian gold items falling short of claimed purity levels. Therefore, if you are selling more than £7,500 worth of gold, please call us first to discuss before visiting or making an appointment.

Testing for Accuracy

Asian gold is often sold without a UK hallmark and may bear only a stamped marking like “22K” or “916.” However, these markings alone are not legal hallmarks in the UK and cannot be trusted on their own. That's why we conduct a scientific test using advanced equipment such as an XRF spectrometer to determine actual purity — and we do this right in front of you.

Testing typically takes just a few minutes and ensures that you receive a true and fair price for your gold. We frequently find items marked as 22ct that actually test at 18ct or 20ct. Our policy is simple — test, verify, and pay based on the actual gold content.

Common Carat Markings

Asian gold often carries non-UK hallmarks or foreign stamps. These include:

• 22 carat – 22K or 916
• 21 carat – 21K or 875
• 24 carat – 24K, 990, or 999

Unfortunately, these markings can appear on jewellery that isn’t actually that carat. We use XRF to verify purity throughout the entire piece — protecting you from being under-paid or over-charged.

Why Accurate Testing Matters

Many dealers in the UK will only pay 9ct prices for Asian or unhallmarked gold, regardless of actual carat. This can cost you hundreds or thousands of pounds on heavier items. Our process ensures you’re paid for the true purity.

Example: A 50g necklace marked as 22ct but tested at 20ct could still be worth over £2,200. If another buyer pays 9ct rates, you could lose more than 50% of its value.

Trading Standards & Hallmarking

Trading Standards across the UK have cracked down on rogue jewellers selling under-carat or unhallmarked gold. One case involved a seizure of over 6,000 pieces worth £750,000 — sold without legal hallmarks and not matching their claimed purity.

Michael Allchin, Assay Master of the Birmingham Assay Office, noted: "Rogue traders are selling jewellery that is not hallmarked and is not always 22ct gold. Proper hallmarking protects the public and drives dishonest traders out of business."

Gold Buyer You Can Trust

We’ve built our reputation on transparency, accuracy, and fairness. Unlike many dealers who underpay for Asian gold or refuse to test properly, we test thoroughly and explain everything clearly. Our customers appreciate the clarity of our process and the prices we offer.

• We test all unhallmarked items in front of you
• We never deduct secret refining fees
• We explain all deductions and carat values clearly

We have served thousands of customers and paid out millions in the past decade. If you want a gold buyer that values honesty and offers among the best rates in the UK, come and see us.