Home checks, then XRF on camera
How to tell if gold is real
Start with a magnet and the hallmark: real gold is not magnetic and solid pieces carry 375, 585, 750 or 916 (or 9ct, 14K, 18K). Acid testing can hint at carat but marks the surface. XRF testing, which we do on every parcel on camera, reads the metal itself and settles it without damage.
Does a magnet stick?
Hold a strong fridge magnet to the chain or ring shank, not just the clasp. Gold, silver and platinum are not magnetic. If the body of the piece jumps to the magnet, it is not solid gold. A steel spring in a clasp is normal; the chain should still be non-magnetic.
What should the hallmark say?
Fineness numbers: 375 (9ct), 585 (14ct), 750 (18ct), 916 (22ct), 999 (fine). Irish and British pieces may also show assay office symbols beside the number. Marks like GP, HGE, RGP or GF mean plated or filled, not solid. Our Irish hallmarks page covers Dublin marks.
What can the acid test tell you?
A touchstone and acid kit reacts differently to different carats on a fresh scratch. It is a dealer tool, not a perfect home test: plated gold can fool it, and you leave a mark. We do not ask you to acid test before posting.
Gold plated, rolled gold and filled
These are thin or bonded layers over brass or nickel. They look gold but weigh like base metal. The XRF shows the true gold content, which is usually negligible. We return them free if there is nothing to pay.
What we pay when it is real
| Grade | Hallmark | We pay per gram |
|---|---|---|
| 9ct gold | 375 | €34.20$38.28£28.63 |
| 18ct gold | 750 | €73.60$82.38£61.62 |
| 22ct gold | 916 | €89.89$100.61£75.26 |
Shown in USD for reference at €1 = $1.1193 (ECB reference rate, 23 Oct 2026, 15:00). We pay in euro by bank transfer.
Shown in GBP for reference at €1 = £0.8373 (ECB reference rate, 23 Oct 2026, 15:00). We pay in euro by bank transfer.
How to sell it once you know
Request a free postal pack
Fill in the short form at liffeymetals.com/sell/post and verify your email. The free Bosca Óir pack arrives by An Post with a security bag, a prepaid insured return label and a one-page guide. Gold worth roughly 300 to 2,000 euro goes straight through; larger lots are handled in person in Dublin by appointment.
Post it from any An Post office
Seal the items in the security bag, hand the parcel in at any An Post office and keep the proof of postage. The label is prepaid, tracked and insured, and once An Post scans it the parcel travels at our risk up to 2,000 euro. It usually reaches us in Dublin the next working day.
We weigh and XRF test it on camera
Every piece is weighed on a calibrated scale and tested on an XRF analyser, which reads the metal's composition without damaging it. The opening and testing are recorded, and your itemised offer lists each piece, its weight, its grade and the published price per gram applied. The offer stays open for 48 hours.
Accept the price and get paid by bank transfer
Accept and we pay by bank transfer the same working day, less 12 euro return postage at cost, waived when the parcel's melt value is over 500 euro. Decline and everything comes back to you free by tracked post. One valid photo ID is checked before any payment.
Questions people ask
Does a magnet sticking mean fake gold?
It means the piece is magnetic, which pure gold is not. A clasp spring can be steel while the chain is gold, so test the main body. Strong attraction usually means base metal or heavy plating over steel.
Can I trust a 750 stamp?
Usually, but stamps can lie. A serious buyer XRF tests every piece regardless of marks. The stamp is a clue; the test is the proof.
What is gold filled versus gold plated?
Plated is a microscopic layer over base metal. Gold filled is a thicker mechanically bonded layer, still mostly not gold by weight. Both carry little scrap value compared with solid gold.
Is the acid test accurate?
It can suggest a carat on a clean scratch mark, but it damages the surface slightly and struggles on plated pieces. XRF reads the bulk metal without damage.
What if there is no hallmark?
Unmarked gold is common on resized rings, imports and old work. It is still worth what it is; we test and pay the matching rate.
Should I test at home before posting?
Weighing and reading marks is enough for an estimate. You do not need to acid test before post; we test on camera when it arrives.
Ready to sell?
Check the net price per gram for your grade first, then request a free insured postal pack. Every item is tested on camera, the offer is itemised, and anything you decline comes back free.