That Drawer Full of Old Jewellery? It Might Be Worth More Than You Think
Can I let you in on something that surprises a lot of people?
We buy gold. We buy jewellery. We have done for years, and yet so many of our customers have absolutely no idea. I can't tell you how many times someone has popped into the shop for something else entirely, spotted our buying service almost by accident, and then gone home to return a week later with a little bag of bits they'd been meaning to do something about for ages.
So consider this your nudge! That pot of old jewellery sitting in your bedside drawer? That broken chain you keep meaning to get fixed but never quite do? The earring whose partner went missing somewhere between a holiday in 2019 and a house move? It all counts. And right now - truly, genuinely, right now - is one of the best times in recent memory to do something about it.
So how can we help?
- Testing - don't know if it's even gold that you've got? No problem, we can test it for you and let you know exactly what you have.
- Weighing - we can weigh any gold you might have and give you a price according to weight and purity (carat).
- Cleaning - dirty gold? Don't let that stop you! We can clean and polish it up, and see through the grime and find the beauty.
- Coming to you - unable to make it into the store? Don't worry, we can come to you! Just get in touch with us at sales@fogalandbarnes.com or give us a call on 07535469810 - we'd love to help
- Buying - so, based on the price of the day, we buy your gold! Even broken items, earring backs, old watch straps - if it's gold, we want it!
Read on for my full thoughts and ideas, and how to get the most out of your unused gold...
Mona + gold = this face. We buy gold and jewellery from customers — broken, unworn, or just unloved. Pop into Fogal & Barnes in Harrogate and let's have a chat. You might be sitting on more than you think.
Gold Prices Are at Record Highs, and That's Very Good News for You
If you've not been following the gold price lately, here's the short version: it's high. Really rather wonderfully, excitingly high. The price of gold has been climbing steadily, and at the time of writing, we're seeing values that are about as good as it gets.
What does that mean for you? It means that the gold jewellery sitting unworn in your jewellery box is worth more right now than it has been in years. A gold necklace you bought in 2005, a pair of gold earrings you never quite got on with, an old gold ring that belonged to a relative - whatever you have, the timing to sell gold couldn't really be better.
We always offer a fair, honest price based on the current gold spot price and the weight and purity of your item. No fuss, no pressure, no complicated process. Just a friendly conversation and a straightforward offer.
We Buy All Sorts, Including the Bits You'd Never Think to Bring In
This is the part I really want you to hear, because it changes everything: you don't need to have a pristine, complete, perfectly wearable piece of jewellery in order to sell it. Not even close.
We buy broken gold jewellery. We buy broken chains, those ones that snapped and got bundled into a corner of your jewellery box, fully intending to have them repaired, three years ago. We buy gold earring backs, the little butterfly backs and scrolls that accumulate in the bottom of every jewellery box in existence. We buy single earrings, yes, really, even if you've lost the other one. We buy worn, damaged, or incomplete pieces of all kinds.
In short: if it's gold, we want to take a look. The condition matters far less than you might think, because ultimately what we're often interested in is the metal itself. A broken gold bracelet is still gold. A single gold hoop earring is still gold. Even a handful of mismatched odds and ends can add up to a surprisingly lovely amount.
Here's a little list of things people often don't realise we'll happily look at:
- Broken gold chains and necklaces
- Single earrings from lost pairs
- Gold earring backs and findings
- Unworn gold rings, including old engagement rings or eternity rings
- Damaged or bent gold bangles and bracelets
- Old gold charms from charm bracelets
- Mismatched or incomplete sets
- Inherited jewellery you're not sure what to do with
- Scrap gold and odd bits and pieces
If you're not sure whether something qualifies, just bring it in. The worst I can say is that it's not something we can help with, but in my experience, there's very rarely nothing to work with.
A pre-loved chain, sold to us by one of our customers
What About Jewellery That's Just... Not You Anymore?
Not everything we buy is broken, of course. Plenty of our customers come to us with pieces that are in perfectly lovely condition, they've just stopped being worn.
Maybe it's a gold necklace from a past relationship that carries more history than you'd like. Maybe it's an inherited piece that you genuinely appreciate but know you'll never wear. Maybe it's simply a style you've moved on from; a chunky gold chain that felt very right in 2010 and very wrong now. Whatever the reason, there's absolutely no need for beautiful jewellery to sit unloved in a box when it could be putting money back into your pocket.
Selling unworn gold jewellery is one of those things that always feels better once it's done. People often tell me there's something quite freeing about it, especially with pieces that carry complicated feelings. And knowing that you got a genuinely good price, at a genuinely good time, makes it all the more satisfying.
How It All Works - It Really Is as Simple as It Sounds
I know some people feel a little nervous about this sort of thing, wondering whether it'll be complicated, or whether they'll feel pressured, or whether they'll somehow be judged for turning up with a bag of random bits. Please don't worry on any of those counts.
Here's how it works. You simply pop into our Harrogate store - we're based in the heart of Harrogate - and if you've never visited, it's a lovely excuse to spend some time in one of the prettiest towns in North Yorkshire. Bring whatever you have with you. I'll take a look, talk you through what everything is, and give you a clear, honest offer based on the current gold price and the weight and carat of your items.
There's no obligation to accept. There's no rush. And there's absolutely no judgement, whether you walk in with one delicate little chain or a whole carrier bag full of accumulated odds and ends, you'll get exactly the same warm welcome.
We aim to make selling gold in Harrogate as easy and enjoyable as possible. Because it should be a positive experience; you're converting something that's been gathering dust into something genuinely useful, at a time when the market is really working in your favour.
A Note on Hallmarks and Carats
One question I get asked a lot is whether people need to know the carat or have the hallmark information before they come in. The honest answer is: absolutely not. While it's always helpful if you have any original paperwork or boxes, it's not necessary at all. We can assess the purity of your gold ourselves; that's what we're here for.
9ct gold, 18ct gold, 22ct gold, we buy it all. And yes, we can usually tell what we're looking at. So please don't let any uncertainty about what you've got put you off bringing it in.
Put Your Old Gold Towards Something New
Here's one of my favourite things about our buying service, and it's something so many of our customers take advantage of. The value of the gold you sell us doesn't have to simply go back into your bank account and disappear into everyday life. It can go towards something beautiful instead.
We have lots of lovely customers who bring in their old, unworn, or broken gold, sell it to us, and then use that money straight away, or shortly after, towards something new from our collection. Maybe it's a new gold necklace they've had their eye on for a while. Maybe it's a diamond ring, a pair of earrings, or a bangle they've been quietly saving up for. Whatever it is, the idea of old jewellery that no longer brings them joy essentially funding a new piece that they absolutely love is, honestly, one of the most satisfying things I get to be part of.
It's a bit like a jewellery refresh - out with the old, in with the beautiful new - and it makes the whole process feel really purposeful rather than just a transaction. If this sounds like something you'd like to do, just mention it when you come in and we can chat through what we have in store. It's a wonderful way to treat yourself, and it happens here more often than you might think.
Another gorgeous pre-loved chain!
Come and See Us in Harrogate
Fogal & Barnes Fine Jewellers is right here in the heart of Harrogate, and if buying gold and jewellery from customers is something we've been doing quietly for years, I want to shout it from the rooftops a little more. Because with gold prices where they are right now, I'd genuinely love for everyone who has a box of forgotten jewellery at home to know that there's something very worthwhile waiting for them if they choose to act on it.
So come in. Bring your broken chains, your lone earrings, your unworn rings, your inherited pieces you've never quite known what to do with. Have a cup of tea (metaphorically speaking), have a chat, and leave with a smile and, hopefully, a very satisfying offer in your hand.
We'd love to see you.
Mona x
