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All unusual gold items

You think that only jewelry and coins are made of gold ? Think again, because there may be many unsuspected objects hiding quality real gold. So, open your cupboards and drawers! Perhaps it is a family heirloom that you inherited, a souvenir brought back from vacation, an everyday accessory, gifts that you were given, etc. A little treasure can be hidden in your home without you knowing it and could earn you from a few pennies... to several hundred euros.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A GOLD OBJECT YOU HAVE AT HOME ?

The golden color is obviously a clue to recognizing gold objects, but it can be misleading. First, because many jewelry and other objects can be simply gold plated (covered with a thin layer of gold) or imitate the color of the precious metal. In this case, the object may nevertheless have value (for example because it is made of gold-plated silver or is set with a fine stone), but it will not be repurchased for its gold content.
Next, you should know that gold is not always a bright golden color. This is for example the case when it is alloyed with other metals: copper and silver to create pink gold, aluminum to make purple gold, etc. Gold objects, even 24 carat gold, may also have tarnished over time and no longer have their original shine, making them difficult to recognize.

The best solution to ensure that you have found an everyday object, a piece of jewelry or a work of art in gold, is to go looking for the hallmarks! These are small engravings affixed to gold objects, indicating the number of carats or thousandths of gold contained in the metal. And when the hallmark cannot be found, it is still possible to trust a specialist in the repurchase and sale of gold like Gold Union, who will be able to assess your objects to tell you if they are good gold. But also what is its level of purity and what price you can expect, depending on the condition of the object and the price of gold. 

Your gold objects can then find a second life, by being resold to collectors, to people looking for authentic gift ideas, by being recycled to make ingots, coins and jewelry, etc. .

WHAT ARE THE MAIN UNUSUAL GOLD OBJECTS THAT YOU CAN FIND AT HOME ?

Just like solid silver, gold has been used for centuries, particularly to make coins, ingots and jewelry, but not only that. It is therefore not uncommon to find gold objects in your home, even where you would not imagine them. Here are some ideas for where to look to find these items.

Decorative objects

Have you ever thought that gold could be found in everyday objects ? There was a time when decorative art objects were indeed largely made from gold. Whether they come from your grandparents, from a find in a garage sale or elsewhere, it may be that your favorite vase, the mirror in your living room or even the old trinket that sits on your fireplace either an object made of gold or containing a part of gold.

Fountain pens

Well before the era of ballpoint pens, writing accessories were mainly nibs, some of which were made of gold or solid silver. Beyond the appeal that these objects have for collectors, they therefore have an intrinsic value linked to their precious metal content. Open your drawers or your grandparents' secretary, and perhaps you will find quality gold objects that are worth the detour, without having to play gold prospectors hoping to unearth a gold nugget.

Fashion accessories

If today we are used to seeing all kinds of plastics or low-precious metals used to make glasses, belts, hairpins and other watch straps, it was not always the case thus, even outside of luxury collections. Your parents' sunglasses, the cufflinks of your grandfather's jacket, the fasteners of your great-aunt's old handbag can thus hide real gold, which could be the object of a buyout.

The dishes

Always trendy, the golden color remains very present in tableware today. Most of the time, these are stainless steel or other metals that imitate the color of gold, but do not contain it. However, a few decades ago, or even older, it was possible to bring out gold cutlery or plates and dishes with gilding, especially for special occasions. If you have table services given to your parents as wedding gifts or which you purchased at a flea market, they may contain gold.

Embroidery

Draperies, military jackets, diplomatic outfits, rugs: these are all examples of fabric objects that may contain gold threads. The weight is sometimes far too low to hope for an attractive price. But in some cases, enough gold can be extracted to resell it. However, fabrics embroidered with gold sometimes take on a historical character or are elevated to the rank of art objects, and then have a greater value for what they are than for the gold they contain. It may therefore be more interesting to offer them in auctions to collectors or to donate them to a museum.
Still, old military uniforms which can no longer be worn, for example, will perhaps make people happy thanks to the sale of gold which was used to make their embroidery.

Jewelry of all kinds

If this is less unusual, you still have to think about it: a lot of jewelry is made of gold. It is not uncommon to miss these gold objects when they have been tarnished by time or have suffered a few bumps and scratches. Bracelets, earrings, rings, necklaces, watch cases: don't hesitate to look carefully at old jewelry that you thought was worthless, especially by looking for a hallmark. They can be resold at an attractive price, just like old coins (Golden Louis or German Reichsmark for example).

HOW TO RESELL THESE HIDDEN TREASURES ?

Depending on the cases, it is possible that the raw value in gold is lower than the value of the object itself. This may be the case for art or collectible objects, which are sometimes found in auctions or which are kept for their sentimental value, their aesthetic side or even for investment purposes.

For all other items, it is possible to contact a specialist in the sale and repurchase of gold items, by going to an agency counter or via the internet. It is first of all the guarantee of having reliable expertise on the quality and history of the object, but also of a price which follows market prices. Of course, not all gold items will have the same value, depending on their number of carats, their condition, etc. But gold remains a precious metal, which can always, or almost, be resold. You should therefore not hesitate to show your gold objects to an expert: after an estimate, you are free to keep these objects or resell them.

Please note, however, that for certain gold objects, resale is subject to taxes (rate between 6 and 11%) or is even prohibited. Yet another good reason to call on a company specializing in precious metals.

Gold Union buys back your gold according to the price of the metal, remotely or directly in agencies with stores throughout France. We also sell gold and silver bars and coins of all types, with home delivery, allowing you to complete a collection or make a safe investment.