DO YOU NEED to REMOVE STONES
BEFORE SELLING OLD or
UNWANTED GOLD?

Understanding How Gold Is Valued

Before deciding what to do with any stones, it helps to understand how gold buyers calculate value.

Most buyers base their offer purely on the weight and purity of the gold. That means they’ll test your jewellery to determine the carat – 9ct, 14ct, 18ct, 22ct, etc.  and then weigh the gold itself.

They’ll multiply that weight by the current market rate (spot price) minus their margin. This gives you the value of the metal content only, not the stones, brand, or design.

So, if you bring in a gold ring set with stones, the valuation will normally ignore those stones unless you’re selling to a jeweller or pawnbroker who also deals in gemstones or resells second-hand jewellery.

If you’re selling your gold purely for scrap, the stones don’t add any value and may even reduce the price slightly if they need to be removed.

Do Gold Buyers Accept Jewellery with Stones Still In?

Yes, most reputable UK gold buyers will accept jewellery with stones still set in. However, they generally remove or discount them when calculating the final weight.

Here’s what typically happens:

• The buyer weighs the piece as it is, then estimates the weight of the stones and deducts it from the total.
• Alternatively, they might remove the stones before weighing to ensure an accurate reading.
• The stones are not usually returned unless you specifically request it and even then, only if the removal process doesn’t risk damaging the piece.

That’s why, if your jewellery has stones, you’d like to keep, whether for sentimental or resale reasons, it’s smart to remove them before selling your scrap metal.

When It’s Worth Removing Stones

Removing stones makes sense in several cases, especially if the gems have value or meaning to you. Here’s when it’s usually worth the effort:

1. The Stones Have Real or Sentimental Value

If the piece contains diamonds, sapphires, rubies, or other precious gemstones, it’s often better to have them professionally removed and reused.
You could:

• Set them into new jewellery.
• Keep them as family keepsakes.
• Sell them separately to a gemstone dealer.

A local jeweller can safely remove the stones for you, preserving their condition.

2. The Jewellery Is Antique or Branded

If you own a designer piece (for example, from Cartier, Tiffany, or Boodles) or an antique ring with original stones, don’t scrap it for gold just yet. Its collectible or resale value could be much higher intact than the gold weight alone.

In this case, get an appraisal from a jewellery specialist before selling for scrap. They can tell you whether it’s worth more as a complete item.

3. You Want to Keep the Stones

Even if the stones aren’t particularly valuable, you might simply want to keep them perhaps they came from a gift or an heirloom. Once you hand your jewellery over for melting, the stones are usually destroyed or discarded, so remove them first if they matter to you.

When It’s Not Worth Removing Stones

In many cases, though, removing stones isn’t necessary or even practical.

1. They’re Small or Low Value

Most costume or modern gold jewellery uses small accent stones, such as cubic zirconia, glass, or low-grade gems. These have little to no resale value and removing them can cost more than they’re worth.

2. The Setting Makes Removal Difficult

Some settings, like pavé or channel-set designs, make it hard to remove stones without damaging the gold. If you’re only selling for scrap, a buyer will simply melt the piece down, so there’s no real benefit to removing them.

3. The Gold Buyer Handles It

Reputable gold buyers deal with mixed materials all the time. They’ll usually remove or discount the stones themselves and pay you for the gold only. In these cases, removing them yourself adds no extra value.

How to Remove Stones Safely (If You Decide To)

If you’ve decided to remove the stones, don’t try to pry them out at home, especially not with sharp tools or household pliers. You could easily damage both the gold and the stones.

Instead:

• Visit a local jeweller and ask for a professional removal service.
• Confirm costs first, some jewellers do this for free if you’re a regular customer or if you’re remounting the stones into a new piece.
• Keep the stones stored safely, ideally in labelled envelopes or containers so you remember which piece they came from.

What Happens to Stones You Leave In

If you sell your gold with stones still in place, here’s what typically happens next:

1. The gold buyer tests and weighs your item.
2. They remove or estimate the stone weight to calculate the gold content.
3. The gold is melted down, during which any remaining stones are either burned away, damaged, or discarded.

This means any gemstones left in are effectively lost. If you want to keep them, remove them before selling.

How to Get the Best Price for Your Gold

Stones aside, the main factor affecting your payout is who you sell to and how you sell. Follow these steps to make sure you get a fair deal:

1. Know the Current Gold Price

Gold prices fluctuate daily. Check the live market rate (usually listed per gram for each carat) before you visit a buyer. This helps you spot low offers.

2. Get Multiple Quotes

Don’t settle for the first offer. Compare prices from several UK gold buyers including local jewellers, pawnshops, and reputable online gold dealers.
Some online services offer free insured postal kits, so you can send your gold safely and receive a quote with no obligation.

3. Weigh Your Gold at Home

Use a digital kitchen scale (accurate to 0.01g if possible) to get an idea of your gold’s weight before you go. Knowing this figure helps prevent underpayment.

4. Understand Carat Purity

9ct gold contains 37.5% pure gold, 18ct has 75%, and so on. Check for a UK hallmark (stamped inside a ring band or clasp) so you know what you’re selling.

5. Choose a Reputable Buyer

Look for a gold buyer who is:

• Registered and transparent about their testing methods.
• Well-reviewed online (Google, Trustpilot, or Yelp).
• Clear about whether they return or discard stones.

Avoid anyone who pressures you to sell on the spot or refuses to explain their valuation

Common Myths About Selling Gold with Stones

Let’s clear up a few misconceptions that often confuse sellers:

• “I’ll get paid for the diamonds too.”
  Usually false – most gold buyers pay for gold weight only. Diamonds and gems are excluded unless you’re selling to a jeweller who buys both.
• “Removing stones lowers the gold’s value.”
  Not true. Removing stones doesn’t affect the gold content at all. The metal value remains the same.
• “The buyer will return my stones.”
  Rarely. Once you sell for scrap.

Final Thoughts

So, do you need to remove stones before selling old or unwanted gold?
In most cases, no it’s not essential. Gold buyers deal with set stones all the time, and they’ll simply pay you for the gold content.

However, if your jewellery has valuable, sentimental, or easily removable stones, it’s worth taking them out first. You can keep them for reuse or sell them separately.

The golden rule (pun intended):
 If the stones matter to you, remove them.
 If they don’t, let the gold buyer handle it.

Either way, understanding how the process works ensures you get a fair price and peace of mind when parting with your gold.