A proper gold valuation isn't a guess — it's a measurable calculation based on three things: weight, purity and the current UK market rate. Here's exactly how we value gold at our St Helens shop, the testing methods we use, and the formula behind every offer. Based inside Cash Generator St Helens town centre.
Every honest gold valuation in the UK comes down to the same simple formula:
Value = Weight (g) × Purity (%) × Current market rate per gram
That's it. Anyone who quotes you without measuring all three is guessing — and usually guessing low. Below we explain each one in plain English. Because the UK gold price moves day to day, the per-gram figure we apply changes with it; for the most accurate number, the only real option is to bring your items in.
Acid testing has been used by jewellers for over a century. We rub the item gently on a black testing stone to leave a small mark, then apply a graded acid solution (9ct, 14ct, 18ct, 22ct) to the streak. The acid that doesn't dissolve the streak tells us the carat.
It's quick, accurate down to the carat, and only requires a tiny invisible mark on a non-show surface. Used for centuries because it works.
For valuable items, mixed lots or anything where acid testing isn't ideal, we use X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The machine fires harmless X-rays at the item and reads back the exact metallic composition — gold, silver, copper, nickel, palladium, all of it — to within a fraction of a percent.
XRF is completely non-destructive (no marks, no acid) and gives a digital printout you can see for yourself. It's the same technology used by hallmarking offices and refineries.
We weigh on calibrated jeweller's scales accurate to 0.01g (1/100th of a gram). Gold is dense and small differences add up: a 4.7g chain is worth meaningfully more than a 4.0g chain, and we make sure the weight on the scale is the weight on the offer.
Carat is the percentage of pure gold in the alloy:
A 1g 18ct ring contains exactly twice as much pure gold as a 1g 9ct ring — and is worth roughly twice as much. Carat matters as much as weight.
Gold trades 24/7 on global markets and the UK price moves continuously. Our offers are based on the prevailing market rate at the time of your visit (in £ per gram), so if the price has moved between Monday and Friday, your quote reflects that. We'll always tell you the per-gram rate we're working from so you can check it independently against the live UK gold price. The same rate is what people apply when they work out what their gold is worth at home — and you're welcome to bring those numbers in and compare them against our valuation.
Gold prices change daily, so we don't publish fixed £-per-gram figures or example payouts here. The amount you receive depends on the live gold market rate, the carat of your gold, the exact weight, and any stones or non-gold materials that need to be deducted. Bring your items into our St Helens shop for a free, no-obligation valuation — we'll test and weigh everything in front of you, explain the rate we're working from, and make you an offer based on the live market on the day.
A few small things make the visit smoother and the figure a little more accurate:
And if you've already had a written quote from another buyer, bring that along too — we're happy to compare against it on the counter.
You'll be greeted at the gold counter inside Cash Generator on Church Street and invited to place your items down — a few rings, a tangled chain, an inherited locket, a single earring or two, whatever you've brought. Each piece is then examined: hallmarks read under a loupe, carat tested using acid or XRF (a few seconds per item), and weighed on calibrated jeweller's scales accurate to 0.01g. You watch every step. Then there's a brief pause while the values are calculated against the current UK market rate, after which the offer is broken down piece by piece, with the per-gram figure written out so you can check it for yourself. Nothing happens out of sight, there's no pressure to sell, and your gold stays in your hand until a price is agreed.
Just your gold and a valid photo ID (UK driving licence or passport). No appointment, no paperwork, no minimum value — just walk into our St Helens shop on Church Street, inside Cash Generator, any day during opening hours. Plenty of customers travel in from Rainhill, Haydock, Newton-le-Willows and Prescot for the same free, no-pressure valuation; first-time visitors often find it helpful to know how a typical visit unfolds, and you can return to the St Helens Gold homepage any time to explore the rest of what we buy.
Yes — completely free, every time, with no obligation to sell. We'd rather you understood your gold's value and chose us by choice than felt cornered into a sale.
Acid testing accurately identifies the carat band (9ct, 14ct, 18ct, 22ct). XRF goes further and gives the exact percentage composition. For most jewellery, acid is sufficient; for valuable or unusual items we use XRF for full precision.
No. Hallmarks are helpful but not required — we test every item ourselves regardless of markings. Many older or imported pieces aren't hallmarked but are still solid gold.
XRF is completely non-destructive. Acid testing leaves only a tiny mark on a non-show surface (typically the inside of a band) and is invisible once the piece is worn.
Yes — many people come in just to find out what an inherited piece is worth before deciding what to do with it. There's no pressure either way.
Usually 2–5 minutes per item. A full bag of mixed jewellery is typically valued in 15–20 minutes total, all done in front of you on the counter.
“Walked in with a few old gold rings and walked out with cash 15 minutes later. Genuinely the best price I was offered after trying two other places in town.”