Looking to turn unwanted gold into cash in Birmingham? Whether you’ve inherited jewellery you’ll never wear, have broken chains sitting in a drawer, or simply want to take advantage of record-high gold prices, Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter offers some of the best rates in the UK.

This guide covers everything you need to know about selling gold in Birmingham—from understanding how prices work to finding a trustworthy buyer who won’t short-change you.

Why Sell Gold in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter?

Birmingham has been at the heart of Britain’s jewellery trade for over 250 years. The city’s Jewellery Quarter—a designated conservation area spanning 100 acres—remains home to hundreds of jewellery businesses, the Birmingham Assay Office, and some of the country’s most experienced precious metals dealers.

This concentration of expertise means genuine competition and fair prices. Unlike isolated high street shops or anonymous postal services, Jewellery Quarter dealers have reputations to protect and competitors next door keeping them honest.

The Birmingham Assay Office, established in 1773, is one of only four UK offices authorised to hallmark precious metals. Its presence in the Quarter means local dealers have direct access to expert testing and verification—and that expertise benefits you as a seller.

Current Gold Prices in the UK

Gold prices fluctuate daily based on international markets, but as of January 2026, UK dealers are paying approximately:

• 9ct gold: £35-37 per gram
• 14ct gold: £55-58 per gram
• 18ct gold: £73-75 per gram
• 22ct gold: £89-92 per gram
• 24ct gold (pure): £100-104 per gram

These are typical buying rates from reputable dealers—the actual spot price (the live market rate for pure gold) is higher, but dealers apply a margin to cover testing, processing, and business costs.

To put this in perspective: a typical 9ct gold wedding band weighing 5 grams would fetch around £175-185. A heavier 18ct gold chain at 20 grams could be worth £1,460-1,500.

What Affects the Price You’ll Receive?

1. Gold Purity (Carat)

The carat rating indicates how much pure gold an item contains:

• 9ct (375): 37.5% pure gold—the minimum legal standard for gold in the UK
• 14ct (585): 58.5% pure gold—common in American and European jewellery
• 18ct (750): 75% pure gold—popular for engagement rings and fine jewellery
• 22ct (916): 91.6% pure gold—traditional for Asian jewellery and some wedding bands
• 24ct (999): 99.9% pure gold—typically only found in bullion, too soft for jewellery

Higher carat means higher value per gram. An 18ct ring contains twice as much gold as a 9ct ring of the same weight, so it’s worth roughly twice as much.

2. Weight

Gold is valued by weight, measured in grams. Every fraction counts—this is why reputable dealers use precision scales accurate to 0.01 grams. Before visiting a dealer, weigh your items at home using digital kitchen scales to get a rough idea of what to expect.

3. The Live Gold Price

Gold is traded globally 24 hours a day, with prices set by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) twice daily. UK dealers base their buying rates on this benchmark. When gold prices rise internationally, local buying rates follow—and vice versa.

4. Hallmarking

Fully hallmarked gold—carrying the sponsor’s mark, fineness, assay office mark, and date letter—is easier for dealers to verify. Some dealers pay slightly more for hallmarked items as they require less testing. That said, reputable dealers will accurately test and fairly price unhallmarked gold too.

5. The Dealer’s Margin

Every buyer applies a margin between the spot price and what they pay you. This covers testing equipment, staffing, security, refining costs, and profit. Margins vary significantly between dealers—some pay 90%+ of spot value, while less scrupulous operators pay as little as 50-60%.

This variance is exactly why comparing with our offers matters.

What Can You Sell?

Cash for gold dealers in Birmingham buy virtually any gold item, including:

Jewellery

• Rings (wedding bands, engagement rings, dress rings)
• Chains, necklaces, and pendants
• Bracelets and bangles
• Earrings (including single earrings)
• Brooches and pins
• Cufflinks and tie pins
• Broken or damaged pieces

Watches

• Gold watch cases (movements are typically removed and returned)
• Gold watch straps and bracelets

Coins and Bullion

• Sovereigns and half sovereigns
• Krugerrands, Britannias, and other bullion coins
• Gold bars of any size

Dental Gold

• Crowns, bridges, and fillings
• Dental scrap from dental practices

Other Items

• Gold-framed spectacles
• Pens with gold components
• Medals and awards
• Scrap from jewellery manufacturing

Condition doesn’t matter for scrap value—broken chains, single earrings, bent rings, and tarnished items all contain the same gold content as pristine pieces.

How to Get the Best Price

Do Your Research First

Before visiting any dealer, check the current gold spot price and calculate roughly what your items should be worth. Several UK dealer websites offer free calculators—enter the weight and carat to see their current buying rate.

This preparation prevents nasty surprises and gives you confidence to walk away from lowball offers.

Get Multiple Quotes

Rates vary significantly between buyers. Visit at least two or three dealers before committing. In the Jewellery Quarter, you can easily compare offers within a short walk—use this to your advantage.

Don’t feel pressured to accept the first offer. Legitimate dealers won’t mind if you want to shop around; pushy tactics are a red flag.

Sell In Person

While postal services exist, selling face-to-face in Birmingham offers significant advantages:

• You watch your items being tested and weighed
• You can ask questions and negotiate
• You receive payment immediately
• No risk of items being lost or undervalued in transit
• You can walk away if the offer seems unfair

Know What You’re Selling

Check your items for hallmarks before visiting. Common UK gold hallmarks include:

• 375 = 9ct gold
• 585 = 14ct gold
• 750 = 18ct gold
• 916 = 22ct gold
• 999 = 24ct gold

Older items may show different stamps—a crown followed by a number (e.g., 18) indicates pre-1975 hallmarking conventions. Continental European items might be marked differently again.

If you can’t identify the hallmark, don’t worry—dealers have testing equipment to verify purity accurately.

Avoid TV and Newspaper Advertised “Free Envelope” Services

Those heavily advertised postal services promising to send you a “free pack” to post your gold are typically the worst-paying buyers in the market. Their business model relies on convenience and customer ignorance.

Research consistently shows TV and Newspaper Advertised postal cash-for-gold services pay 30-50% less than reputable Jewellery Quarter dealers. The small inconvenience of visiting in person is worth hundreds of pounds on any significant quantity of gold. We offer a free pack, and do not charge you for it on the commissions like these others do.

Bring Identification

Under UK anti-money laundering regulations, dealers must verify your identity before purchasing precious metals. Bring a valid passport or driving licence—without ID, legitimate dealers cannot complete the transaction.

What to Expect When Selling

A visit to a reputable cash for gold dealer typically follows this process:

1. Initial Assessment The dealer examines your items, identifying hallmarks and noting the apparent carat of each piece.

2. Testing For hallmarked items, testing confirms the hallmark is genuine. For unhallmarked pieces, the dealer uses one or more testing methods:

• Acid testing: A small scratch is made on a testing stone, and nitric acid applied. The reaction indicates gold content.
• Electronic testing: A non-destructive method using electrical conductivity.
• XRF analysis: X-ray fluorescence provides precise purity readings without damaging the item.

3. Weighing Items are weighed on calibrated scales, typically to 0.01g precision. You should be able to see the scales clearly.

4. Calculation The dealer calculates the offer based on weight, purity, and their current buying rate. Reputable dealers explain this calculation openly.

5. Decision You can accept, negotiate, or decline. There’s no obligation to sell.

6. Payment If you accept, you’ll complete paperwork (including ID verification) and receive payment. Most dealers offer cash, bank transfer, or cheque.

Red Flags to Avoid

• No visible scales: If you can’t see your items being weighed, leave.
• Pressure tactics: Phrases like “this offer is only valid today” or “I’m doing you a favour” are warning signs.
• Vague calculations: A dealer who won’t explain how they reached their figure is hiding something.
• Significantly lower offers: If one quote is dramatically lower than others, that dealer is trying to exploit you.
• Requests to leave items: Never leave your gold with a dealer for “assessment” unless you’re certain of their reputation.
• No ID requirements: Dealers who don’t ask for identification may be operating outside the law.

Selling Gold in Birmingham: Your Options

The Jewellery Quarter offers several types of gold buyer:

• Specialist Bullion Dealers These businesses focus exclusively on buying and selling precious metals. They typically offer the best rates due to lower overheads and direct relationships with refineries.
• Jewellery Shops Many Quarter jewellers buy gold alongside their retail business. Rates can be competitive, especially for items with resale potential beyond scrap value.
• Pawnbrokers While pawnbrokers do buy gold outright, their primary business is lending—so outright purchase rates may be lower than specialists.
• Market Stalls and Pop-ups These should generally be avoided. Without established premises, there’s no accountability and rates tend to be poor.

At SMP Bullion and Diamonds, we specialise in buying gold, silver, and precious metals at competitive rates based on the live market price. Located in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, we offer transparent valuations, instant payment, and no pressure to sell. Whether you have a single ring or a substantial collection, we provide honest assessments and fair prices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is now a good time to sell gold?

Gold prices reached record highs in 2024 and remain strong into 2025-2026. While no one can predict future prices with certainty, current rates are historically very favourable for sellers. If you have gold you no longer want, there’s no guarantee prices will be higher in the future.

Do I need to clean my gold before selling?

No. Dirt and tarnish don’t affect the gold content or the price you’ll receive. In fact, cleaning could damage hallmarks or, in the case of gold-plated items, reveal that an item isn’t solid gold. Leave items as they are.

What about sentimental items?

Only sell items you’re genuinely comfortable parting with. Once melted down, jewellery cannot be recovered. If an item has sentimental value, consider whether the cash is worth more to you than keeping it.

Can I sell gold-plated jewellery?

Gold-plated items have a thin layer of gold over a base metal and are worth very little—the gold coating is too thin to recover economically. Most dealers don’t buy plated items. Look for stamps like “GP,” “GEP,” “RGP,” or “HGE,” which indicate plating rather than solid gold.

Do you buy white gold?

Yes. White gold is simply yellow gold alloyed with white metals (typically palladium or nickel) to change its colour. A 9ct white gold ring contains exactly the same amount of pure gold as a 9ct yellow gold ring and is worth the same.

What about rose gold?

Rose gold’s pink hue comes from a higher copper content in the alloy. Like white gold, the value depends on the carat, not the colour. 18ct rose gold is worth the same as 18ct yellow or white gold.

How do dealers test gold?

Most use a combination of visual inspection (checking hallmarks), acid testing, electronic testing, and XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis. XRF provides the most accurate readings without damaging the item.

Will I get more for designer or branded jewellery?

For scrap purposes, brand names don’t affect the price—gold is gold regardless of who made it. However, some pieces (particularly from prestigious makers like Cartier or Tiffany) may have collector value beyond their metal content. If you suspect an item might be worth more intact, consider getting a specialist valuation before scrapping it.

Ready to Sell Your Gold?

If you have gold to sell in Birmingham, SMP Bullion and Diamonds offers competitive rates based on the live gold price. Visit us in the Jewellery Quarter for a free, no-obligation valuation. We buy all types of gold—hallmarked or unhallmarked, perfect or broken—and pay the same day.

Contact us today or drop in during opening hours. No appointment necessary.