SUMMARY: 

• 1) The fundamental criteria for estimating the value of your gold jewellery
• 2) Techniques and tools used for accurate estimation
• 3) Other things you should know when estimating

Gold is a safe haven par excellence whose physical properties give value to the material itself. Whatever the form of this gold holding (ingot, lingotin, investment coin, jewel), it remains a safe investment and a potential source of immediate liquidity.  

Therefore, accurately estimating the value of your physical gold investments is essential. This is all the more true and necessary when it comes to jewellery.  

It is therefore necessary to use a rigorous methodology and have a good knowledge of some essential criteria to best estimate your jewelry. 

 

1) The fundamental criteria for estimating the value of your gold jewellery 

 

An individual who holds gold or gold jewellery is not able to value his or her precious metal property. It is essential to use the services of professionals in the trading of precious metals. 

With this in mind, when valuing a gold jewel, as gold professionals, we will focus on several fundamental elements: 

 

      The weight of gold 

This is one of the most important and quick things to check. The measurement is done in grams, and each gram of gold contained in the jewel has a value directly related to the official price of the precious metal.  

For the most accurate estimate possible, we will use a precision scale, capable of estimating the quantity of gold to the hundredth of a gram. 

 

      Purity of gold 

The purity of the gold constituting the jewel is expressed in carats. This purity defines the actual quantity of gold present in the jewel. As such, we can distinguish different purities of gold: 

Pure gold is 24 carats, but it should be noted that in jewelry, the commonly sold jewels are generally 18 carats (75% pure gold), 14 carats (58.3% pure gold) or 9 carats (37.5% pure gold). 

Of course, the higher the purity of the gold, the greater the financial value of your jewel will be. 

 

      The punches of guarantee 

In France, the punches officially certify the purity of gold. The “eagle head” is 18 carat gold, while the clover represents 9 carat gold. 

It is important to check the punches for a reliable first estimate quickly. 

 

      The presence of precious stones 

The particularity of gold jewelry is the possible presence of precious or semi-precious stones. This directly influences the value of the jewel. Whether diamonds, rubies, emeralds or sapphires, the latter must be valued separately.  

This task must be entrusted to experienced professionals who can accurately determine their weight, quality and authenticity. 

Our expertise guarantees an accurate, transparent and perfectly in line with the current market prices. 

2) Techniques and tools used for accurate estimates

 

As professionals in the precious metals trade, we use several techniques and tools to ensure an accurate appraisal of your gold jewelry:

- PRECISION SCALE: This indispensable tool enables you to accurately measure the weight of gold.

- ACID TEST: we can use an acid test to confirm the exact purity of the gold. Each carat has a different chemical reaction, making it possible to precisely determine the gold content.

- PROFESSIONAL LENS (gemological microscope): this tool is useful for examining hallmarks and checking for imperfections or specific features on embedded gemstones.

- X-RAY FLUORESCENCE SPECTOMETER (XRF): A highly precise, non-invasive technique used by professionals, it enables precise analysis of the jewel's metallic composition in just a few seconds.

 

3) Other elements you should be aware of when making your estimate

 

In addition to the fundamental criteria for estimating the value of a piece of gold jewelry, and the techniques required to establish an accurate estimate, there are two other major factors that can increase or decrease the value of your gold jewelry.

 

The presence of signed jewels

Additional market value can be attributed to signed gold jewelry. Indeed, when a piece of jewelry bears the signature of a highly reputed jewelry house, its value will be much higher than its mere weight in gold.

In addition, a jewel's reputation and state of preservation strongly influence its market value.

Among the major jewelry houses renowned for their gold creations are :

 

 

 

This table provides a summary view of the main companies renowned for their expertise and know-how in gold, facilitating a quick and clear comparison for your investment decisions or your personal choices in jewelry. 

- Gold market trends 

- The price of a jewel is de facto correlated with the price of physical gold. However, this gold is itself subject to regular fluctuations, sometimes unpredictable, dictated by various elements: 

- The general state of the world economy (economic growth, economic slowdown, financial crisis...). 

- Geopolitical factors such as armed conflicts, international tensions or major political instabilities generally cause a rush to secure assets known as “safe havens” such as gold. 

- Periods of inflation (general and sustained increase in prices) generate monetary erosion. On the contrary, tangible assets such as gold or real estate will be less severely affected because their value is not directly linked to that of money. 

- Monetary policies and interest rates. Central banks do have their own policies for buying or selling gold, which has a strong influence on the price of gold. 

- The influence of institutional investors, in particular ETFs (listed funds) or hedge funds also influence the price of gold. 

As you will have understood, it is essential to be attentive to market trends and to keep abreast of gold news in order to accurately estimate the current value of your jewel.