No, we don't buy gold-plated jewelry. And we'd rather tell you so clearly than let you get your hopes up for nothing. Regularly, people bring us gilded jewelry thinking they hold a small fortune — and leave disappointed. This article exists to spare you that pointless trip.
The reason comes down to a single sentence: a gold-plated piece contains almost no gold. And a buyer who claimed otherwise would be doing you no favor.
At Jayma Or, we handle gold buyback in Dakar every day: touchstone testing, weighing on a certified scale in front of you, cash payment in FCFA. Our trade is built on transparency — including when the honest answer is "no".
In this article, you'll understand:
- what gold plating really is, and how much gold it contains;
- why this gold is impossible to buy back profitably;
- how to recognize a plated piece before making the trip;
- what we actually buy — and what to do with your plated jewelry.
What exactly is gold plating?
A gold-plated piece is jewelry made of base metal — brass, copper, steel — covered with a thin layer of gold applied to the surface. This layer is measured in microns, that is, in thousandths of a millimeter.
To the eye, a plated piece shines like solid gold. On the scale, it's another story: on a plated bracelet weighing several dozen grams, the gold amounts to only a fraction of a gram — the rest of the weight is base metal with no buyback value. To fully grasp the difference between solid, plated and gilded gold, our guide on the different types of gold details each case.
Why this gold can't be bought back
Gold buyback rests on one principle: the gold bought is meant to be melted down, and its value is calculated as — weight of pure gold × the day's price. But on a plated piece:
- the amount of recoverable gold is tiny: a fraction of a gram per piece;
- separating it from the base metal is expensive: the processing required is worth more than the gold recovered;
- the displayed weight is misleading: 40 grams of plated jewelry is not 40 grams of gold — it's gilded brass.
That's why no serious counter buys plated gold by weight. Those who claim otherwise are playing on the confusion. Check for yourself what real gold is worth: today's gold price in Senegal is shown carat by carat, in FCFA per gram. That price applies to solid gold — not to the few microns of a coating.
How to recognize a gold-plated piece
Before making the trip, three simple checks will give you a good idea:
- Look for the hallmarks. The markings "GP" (gold plated), "GF" (gold filled), or a micron indication such as "1M" to "10M" signal plating. Careful: "18K GP" does not mean solid 18-carat gold, but a surface layer of 18-carat gold. Conversely, purity hallmarks alone (750, 875, 999 or 18K, 21K, 24K with no other marking) in principle indicate solid gold.
- Do the magnet test — as a rough guide. Gold is never magnetic: a piece drawn to a magnet has a core of base metal. But be cautious the other way around: brass and copper aren't magnetic either — a piece that doesn't stick to the magnet isn't necessarily gold.
- The verdict: the touchstone. Only a professional test settles it with certainty. The touchstone test, done in front of you, reveals whether the metal is gold throughout and at what purity. We detail these techniques in our article on the methods for testing gold purity.
What we do buy: solid gold, every purity
The good news is that anything made of solid gold can be bought — whatever its condition:
- Every purity: 24 carats (99.9% gold), 21 carats (87.5%), 18 carats (75%), 14 carats (58.3%);
- Every condition: worn, broken, out-of-fashion jewelry, gold scrap, odd earrings;
- Every form: chains, rings, bracelets, but also gold coins and bars.
The process is always the same: touchstone testing, weighing on a certified scale in front of you, price explained (weight × purity × the day's price), and cash payment the same day.
What should you do with your gold-plated jewelry?
Your plated jewelry isn't "fit for the bin" for all that — it simply has no melt value:
- Wear it. That's its true purpose: to offer the glow of gold at a low price.
- Resell it as costume jewelry, secondhand, at its fair price — a few thousand FCFA depending on condition and brand, not by the weight of gold.
- Give it away or pass it on: its value lies in use and sentiment, not in material.
Frequently Asked Questions
My piece is marked 18K but it sticks to the magnet: is it gold?
Probably not throughout. Gold is never magnetic: a magnetized piece has a core of base metal, even if its surface is gilded. Only a touchstone test will confirm it with certainty.
Do you buy gold filled or vermeil?
Gold filled, no: like plating, the amount of recoverable gold doesn't justify melting it down. Vermeil (solid silver covered with gold), on the other hand, can hold value for its silver: show it to us in a photo.
How can I be sure before making the trip?
Photograph the piece and its hallmarks, then send it all via WhatsApp. This first opinion is free and saves you a wasted trip. In the shop, the touchstone test, also free, gives the final verdict.
Why do some buyers still offer a price for plated gold?
Be wary: either the price offered is symbolic, or it keeps up a confusion between the weight of the piece and its real gold content. A transparent professional always explains what they pay, and why.
Take action: have your jewelry checked for free
You now know why gold plating can't be bought — and above all how to tell, at home, plating from solid gold, which does have real value.
When in doubt, don't sit with the question: send a photo of your jewelry and its hallmarks via WhatsApp to +221 78 111 66 87, or book an appointment. If it's solid gold, we test, weigh it in front of you, and pay cash the same day. And if it's plated, we'll tell you straight — that's part of trust too.