Questions to Ask Before You Buy Gold
Six questions separate a straight seller from an evasive one. None of them is rude, and all of them should get an immediate answer.
You do not need expertise to buy gold well. You need six questions and the willingness to walk away if they are not answered clearly.
Key takeaways
- Ask the weight in grams. It is half of the metal value.
- Ask the karat or purity. It is the other half.
- Ask whether it is solid, plated or filled.
- Ask what they would pay to buy it back.
- Ask what the marks on it mean.
- Ask for all of it on the receipt.
What Vanhess does and does not do
Vanhess is a jewellery shop in Coquitlam, British Columbia. We sell solid gold jewellery. We do not sell bullion, bars, coins or wafers, we do not buy or broker investments, and we are not financial advisors, tax advisors or a bullion dealer. Everything on this page is general information to help you understand how gold is priced and valued. It is not financial, investment or tax advice. Speak to a licensed advisor or an accountant before making a decision about your money.
The six questions
| Ask | A good answer sounds like | A bad answer sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| What does it weigh in grams? | An immediate specific number | It depends, or we do not weigh those |
| What karat or purity is it? | 14K, 18K, 999.9, stated plainly | It is high quality gold |
| Is it solid, plated or filled? | Solid, and here is the mark | It is real gold, deflecting the question |
| What would you pay to buy it back? | A figure, or a clear stated policy | We do not really do that |
| What do the marks on it mean? | A clear explanation of each stamp | Those are just manufacturer marks |
| Can that go on the receipt? | Of course | Any hesitation at all |
Why the buy-back question is the sharpest one
Asking what a seller would pay to buy the item back does two things. It tells you the spread between their buying and selling price, which is the real cost of the round trip. And it tells you whether they expect to still be there, and still be accountable, when you come back.
Worth knowing
None of these questions is confrontational, and no reasonable seller takes offence at any of them. The reaction to being asked is itself information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I ask when buying gold jewellery?
The gram weight, the karat, whether it is solid rather than plated or filled, what the hallmarks mean, what they would pay to buy it back, and whether all of that can go on the receipt. A shop that sells gold properly answers all six immediately.
Why does the gram weight matter so much?
Because gold is priced by mass. Weight and karat together determine the metal value, and without the weight you cannot calculate what the gold in a piece is actually worth. Two pieces that look identical can differ enormously in weight.
What if a seller will not tell me the weight?
Treat it as the end of the conversation. There is no legitimate reason to withhold the weight of a gold item, and any seller who does is either disorganised or hoping you will not do the arithmetic.
Read next
Solid gold jewellery from our Coquitlam shop
Every piece is solid gold and karat marked, sold to be worn. We do not sell bullion.
14KClassic Bangle
A plain solid bangle: most of what you pay for is metal you can weigh.
$800.00
14KByzantine Emperor Flat Chain
A heavy flat link chain, the classic hold-its-weight piece.
$900.00
14KClassic Stacking Band
A plain stacking band with no stones to complicate a resale.
$380.00Vanhess sells gold jewellery. We do not sell bullion, bars or coins, and nothing here is financial or tax advice.