On , 18-carat gold is bought back at 77.85 €/g by Gold & Silver Company, a Belgian refinery open to private clients; 22-carat at 96.27 €/g, 14-carat at 59.46 €/g, 9-carat at 36.43 €/g, the Napoleon 20 F at 632.91 € per piece. This public figure is your first protection: you know, before selling, what your gold is worth today.
Rule 1: demand a published price per gram before you sell
A serious buyer displays its buyback price per gram, per carat, and updates it with the rate. A global offer "for the lot", with no price per gram, cannot be compared with anything. Note the day's 18-carat price before entering a counter or sending a parcel: that is your reference point.
Rule 2: have it weighed and analysed before your eyes
Gold weight and fineness make up the whole value. Weighing must be done in front of you, on a calibrated scale, with stones and non-gold clasps removed; the fineness must be checked, on the touchstone or in the laboratory, not just read from the hallmark. A refinery analyses the metal itself; that is what makes it possible to pay at real fineness rather than at a flat rate.
Rule 3: beware of the flat rate per carat
Many intermediaries value "at a flat rate": a grid per carat applied to the gross weight, without analysis, with an invisible margin. A piece hallmarked 18-carat but of higher real fineness, or a mixed lot, loses out. Ask how the price was calculated: gold weight used, fineness used, price per gram applied.
Rule 4: you may decline the offer and leave with your items
The appraisal must be free and without obligation. If the buyer makes the appraisal conditional on the sale, or presses you to decide on the spot, leave. At a refinery, the offer is made immediately after analysis and you remain free; remotely, your items are returned if you decline.
Rule 5: prefer a bank transfer, and know the cash rule
In Belgium, the law limits to 500 euros the amount a professional may pay you in cash for precious metals; above that, payment is made by bank transfer, traceable, within five working days. A buyer offering large sums in cash is not complying with the law.
Rule 6: check who is buying from you
A gold-buying professional is identifiable: company name, VAT number, address, and for a refinery, approval by the Royal Mint of Belgium and the status of approved assayer. Gold & Silver Company, smelter-refinery in Dottignies (Mouscron), publishes these details and its price of the day; analysis, melting and refining take place on site.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether the price offered for my gold is fair?
Compare it with the day's price published per gram for your carat: today 77.85 €/g for 18-carat. An offer far below, or without a price per gram, should be declined.
What commission does a gold-buying counter take?
It is rarely displayed: it hides in the gap between the gold rate and the price paid, and in the flat rate per carat. At a refinery that publishes its net price, the gap is visible and the price displayed is the price paid.
Is it better to sell gold to a jeweller or to a specialist counter?
To whoever publishes its price per gram, weighs and analyses in front of you and leaves you free to decline; jewellers and counters are most often intermediaries who resell to a refinery.
Can I sell my gold without a purchase invoice?
Yes. No original invoice is required to sell jewellery or coins; an identity document is requested, as Belgian law requires the professional to register the seller.
What happens if I decline the offer?
You leave with your items, free of charge; remotely, they are returned to you.
Does broken or damaged gold sell for less?
No: a broken, bent or odd piece is worth its gold weight at the measured fineness, at the same price per gram as an intact piece.
See also: the 18-carat gold buyback price, how much is my gold worth today, the 500 euro cash rule, selling your gold in Belgium.