GOLD BUYBACK: MISTAKES TO ABSOLUTELY AVOID

Selling your gold may seem simple: you bring in your jewelry, it's weighed, and you leave with a check. But many sellers make mistakes that cost them dearly, sometimes hundreds of euros. At Fremont, jewelers in Paris 10 for 35 years, we see clients every week who could have gotten a much better price elsewhere. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid.

MISTAKE N°1: SELLING TO THE FIRST DEALER YOU FIND

This is the most common and costly mistake. Many gold dealers systematically buy back by weight, without considering the actual value of the piece. An antique ring, a signed piece, or jewelry adorned with precious stones can be worth much more than its mere gold weight, but a generalist dealer may not know this or may not offer it.

What to do: Always compare several places before selling, and choose an expert jeweler who can assess the true value of your piece, not just its weight.

MISTAKE N°2: NOT KNOWING THE CURRENT GOLD PRICE

The price of gold fluctuates daily, sometimes significantly. If you don't know the current price at the time of sale, you cannot verify if the offer you receive is fair.

What to do: Check the gold price before you go. At Fremont, our gold price page is updated in real-time for you to verify yourself.

MISTAKE N°3: UNDERESTIMATING THE CARATAGE OF YOUR JEWELRY

Not all gold jewelry is equal. 24-carat gold is 99.9% pure, while 9-carat gold contains only 37.5% pure gold. An unhallmarked piece of jewelry or one whose caratage is not verified might be undervalued out of suspicion, or conversely, you might accept too low a price if you don't know the true purity of your piece.

What to do: Always have the caratage verified by a professional using an electronic tester or an acid test, performed in front of you.

MISTAKE N°4: SELLING WITHOUT WITNESSING THE WEIGHING

Some unscrupulous sellers weigh jewelry out of sight of the customer, or use poorly calibrated scales. This practice is unfortunately still encountered, particularly in certain anonymous dealerships.

What to do: Always demand to witness the weighing of your jewelry. A reputable jeweler will have no problem performing this operation in front of you, with full transparency.

MISTAKE N°5: NEGLECTING THE VALUE OF STONES AND BRANDS

Many sellers focus solely on the weight of gold without realizing that precious stones, pearls, or the signature of a major house can represent a value far greater than the metal itself. A ring with a quality diamond or a signed Cartier piece will always be worth more than its simple melt value.

What to do: Have your jewelry appraised by a jeweler capable of evaluating the gold, the stones, and the potential signature, not just the weight.

MISTAKE N°6: ACCEPTING CASH PAYMENT

French law prohibits cash payment for gold buybacks above certain thresholds and requires traceable payment. If you are offered cash payment without any trace, it is a red flag, as you will have no proof of the transaction in case of a dispute.

What to do: Always prefer payment by check or bank transfer, with a detailed invoice mentioning the weight, caratage, and price.

MISTAKE N°7: SELLING IN HASTE

Some sellers, pressed by the need for quick money, accept the first offer without thinking. This is human, but it is often a mistake; an antique piece of jewelry has no expiration date and can be sold calmly after comparison.

What to do: Take the time to compare at least two or three places before making a decision, especially for valuable pieces.

WHY CHOOSE A JEWELER RATHER THAN AN ANONYMOUS DEALER?

Unlike gold dealers who simply melt everything down, an expert jeweler like Fremont evaluates each piece at its fair value. We have been approved by the Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes (DGDDI) for 35 years, and every appraisal is carried out in front of you, with full transparency, according to the official daily gold price.

COME SELL YOUR GOLD WITH CONFIDENCE

At Fremont, we welcome you without an appointment at 1 Boulevard de Magenta, Paris 10, Métro République, Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6:30 pm. Our expert jewelers offer free appraisals of your gold jewelry, coins, and objects, with full transparency and no obligation.