We buy kilograms of Indian gold jewellery every year, however finding a gold buyer who will purchase Indian jewellery from you can be challenging. Gold has been deeply woven into India’s culture for centuries and is often passed down through the generations. From ornate bridal sets to intricate wedding bangles, Indian gold jewellery is often made from 22 carat gold which is 91.6% pure gold. It’s also not uncommon to see Asian jewellery at 24 carat. These pieces can hold huge sentimental value for some families in the UK, but if the time comes when you may look to sell, you can be faced with hurdles. Why is selling Indian gold in the UK so challenging, and how can sellers navigate this process confidently?
In India, gold is much more than just a precious metal—it is a symbol of prosperity, status, and good fortune, and forms part of many Indian weddings, religious ceremonies, and festivals. You will often see brides adorned with yellow 22ct gold mangalsutras, haars, and bangles, each symbolising marital vows and family bonds.
Asian gold jewellery is typically crafted from 22 carat yellow gold. However, these jewellery pieces can be crafted using ancient traditional techniques that may not always deliver accurate gold purities, and goldsmiths may not adhere to modern hallmarking practices. When this gold enters the strict UK markets, buyers can become wary.
While there is no doubt that jewellery produced in India generally has a much higher gold content than the 9ct gold jewellery we commonly see in the UK, it’s the loose legislation on hallmarking accuracy that is the problem. Selling gold without hallmarks in the UK is challenging, as we follow strict standards. Under the UK’s Hallmarking Act 1973, gold items over 1 gram must bear the 3 compulsory symbols; a maker’s mark, metal purity (e.g., 375, 585, 750), and the Assay office mark to be legally sold and advertised as gold. Indian gold jewellery, even if marked as 22K or 24K, often lacks these certifications. This limits what potential buyers can do with the pieces once purchased, as selling them in a shop window in the UK wouldn’t be an option.
You can have jewellery retested and hallmarked by an Assay Office, but this is often costly and time consuming.
Many high-street gold buyers and jewellers rely on acid testing to assess the gold content of an item. While this is a very affordable testing method, it is destructive and requires scratching of the metal on a stone. Acid testing for higher purities is less accurate, and results can be quite difficult and unclear to decipher at times. For Indian gold which may have non-standard compositions and uneven purity, acid testing risks providing false results, meaning the jeweller or gold buyer may pay out inaccurately. Gold buyers relying solely on acid testing may offer well below the actual purity level to give themselves room for error.
In contrast, XRF (X-ray fluorescence) scanners offer a non-destructive, precise analysis by measuring elemental composition to a two-decimal place percentage reading. However, these devices are very expensive and require specialised training, meaning few conventional buyers invest in them. Without XRF, cash-for-gold businesses may hesitate to purchase unhallmarked Indian gold, fearing inaccuracies or legal risks.
This is where expertise and resources matter. At Cheshire Gold Xchange, we combine a deep cultural understanding with cutting edge technology. Our state-of-the-art XRF scanner allows us to verify the purity of Indian gold instantly and accurately, without damaging your highly valuable and precious pieces.
This means:
While selling Indian gold in the UK can seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Join us at our secure high-street location or post your gold to us online where we can confidently and accurately price your Indian and Asian jewellery. Visit our sell Indian gold page to find out more information.
Receive your prepaid, insured envelope to send your gold to us. Find out more visit Sell Gold Online
