AUD gold prices are near an all-time high. Here is what that actually means for the ring in your drawer, the chain you stopped wearing, and the bag of broken gold you have been meaning to do something about.
Gold has been at or near record prices in Australian dollars for the better part of two years now. Not record prices in a "financial press" sort of way that does not quite reach everyday life — but record prices in a very practical sense: the gold in jewellery sitting unworn in your bedside drawer is worth meaningfully more than it was in 2021 or 2022.
If you live on the Northern Beaches — anywhere from Seaforth to Dee Why, from Balgowlah across to Manly — and you have been putting off dealing with old gold jewellery, this is the guide I wish I had before I first walked into a gold buyer's store.
It answers the questions people actually have but rarely ask out loud: How do I know I am getting a fair price? Do they need a receipt? Can they even buy broken gold? What about the ugly chains from the 80s? The answer to most of these is simpler than you'd expect.
Why the Gold Price Matters More Than Most People Realise
Here is the thing about gold: its price moves every business day, and most people do not track it. You might have a sense that "gold has gone up" without quite registering what that means for the specific ring or chain you own.
An 18ct gold ring weighing 5 grams contains 3.75 grams of pure gold. If the AUD gold spot price is around $140 per gram, the pure gold value of that ring is approximately $525. Five years ago, the same ring would have been worth around $340 at the gold price of the time. Same ring. Different day. Genuinely different money.
What Counts as Sellable Gold — and What Does Not
The most common misconception is that gold needs to be in good condition, clearly hallmarked, and in a style that someone might want to buy. None of that is true when you are selling to a gold buyer rather than a jeweller or a secondhand shop.
- Broken chains with missing clasps
- Old engagement rings you never wear
- Earrings missing their pair
- Bent rings from accidents or resizing gone wrong
- Jewellery with missing or chipped stones
- Yellow gold from the 1970s and 1980s
- Dental gold
- Gold coins, sovereigns, Krugerrands and gold Pandas
The gold in a broken chain is the same gold as in an intact one. The purity does not diminish because a clasp snapped. This is worth keeping in mind when you are sorting through what you think is worth bringing in — probably everything gold is worth bringing in.
How to Read Your Gold's Hallmarks
Hallmarks are the small stamps on gold jewellery that indicate purity. Not all gold has visible hallmarks — particularly older pieces and some imported jewellery — but when they are present, they tell you exactly what karat you have.
- 375 — 9ct gold, 37.5% pure.
- 585 — 14ct gold, 58.5% pure.
- 750 — 18ct gold, 75% pure.
- 916 — 22ct gold, 91.6% pure.
- 999 — 24ct fine gold, 99.9% pure.
If your piece has no hallmark, that does not mean it is not gold — and it certainly does not mean a professional cannot determine what it is. At our Warringah Mall store, every piece is tested with XRF equipment, which reads the metal composition in under 30 seconds regardless of whether a hallmark is present.
"The offer is based on what the gold weighs and how pure it is. The piece doesn't need to be in good condition, fashionable, or even intact to have real value."
Where to Sell Your Gold on the Northern Beaches
If you live anywhere along the Northern Beaches between Manly and Seaforth, you are within minutes of our Westfield Warringah Mall store in Brookvale. No appointment is needed, and the appraisal is always free — whether or not you choose to sell.
What Actually Happens When You Walk In
A lot of people are nervous the first time. That is understandable — they are not sure what to expect, are worried about being pressured, and do not know whether what they have is actually worth anything.
You hand your gold to the gemologist. Each piece is tested with XRF equipment, weighed on calibrated scales, and the calculation is run in front of you. The formula — weight, purity, today’s spot price — is shown before any offer is named.
If you accept, you are paid immediately, either in cash or by same-day bank transfer. If you decline, you take your gold and go. Nothing is owed. No one will call you afterward. The entire visit typically takes 15–20 minutes.
Can't Make the Drive? PostSafe Covers You
For residents who prefer not to travel, our PostSafe service brings the full assessment to your letterbox. We send a free registered Australia Post satchel, insured for up to $10,000 in transit, to your address.
You pack your gold, seal the satchel, and drop it at any post box. We assess everything the same business day we receive it, call you with the full calculation, and transfer payment the same day if you accept. If you decline, your gold comes back by registered post at our expense.
Order at divorceyourjewellery.com.au or call 1300 468 465.
