Published on by Olivier Maupas-Sehikyan · Creations
In my workshop in Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, near Nantes, there is a moment I know well. Someone pushes open the door, places a few pieces of jewellery on the counter and says, a little awkwardly: “I'd like to know what this is worth.” Behind that sentence, there is rarely a simple question of money. There are memories, sometimes hesitation, and often a wish not to make a mistake. This is how I welcome these visitors, and how gold buying in Nantes unfolds when it is done properly and without haste.
Selling gold: a second life for forgotten jewellery
The pieces that come to me almost always have one thing in common: they are no longer worn. A chain whose clasp has given way, a ring that has become too small, an earring that has lost its partner, an heirloom that never left the drawer. These objects lie dormant, yet their metal has lost none of its value.
When someone decides to sell gold, I always take the time to listen before reaching for the scales. An old piece of jewellery carries a memory, and I want to understand what is expected of it. Gold buying remains a simple way to give a second life to broken, old or unused jewellery. But it matters to know whom you are dealing with.
Why have your gold jewellery valued by a jeweller
Before any sale, I tell everyone the same thing: have it valued first. A reliable valuation of gold jewellery rests on three elements. First, the hallmark and purity of the metal: 9, 14, 18 or 24 carats. Then the weight, because together with the purity it determines the value of the metal. And finally the possible presence of stones, which can change everything.
This is precisely where a jeweller makes the difference. Some gold-buying counters look only at the metal. My trade, on the other hand, has taught me gemmology: I can assess separately the diamonds and precious stones in a piece. A stone should never disappear into a crucible without someone having properly examined it.
Choosing a jeweller in Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire or around Nantes also means sitting opposite someone who explains what he sees, and who has no wish to rush your decision.
How the valuation works, step by step
At the workshop, everything happens before your eyes, with no mystery. I begin by looking at the pieces one by one, unhurriedly, as one leafs through an album. Then I look for the hallmark and check the purity, in order to identify the exact quality of the metal. This step tells me what type of gold I am dealing with.
Next comes the weighing. The pieces are placed on certified scales, which guarantee an accurate reading, and you see the result appear at the same time as I do. Nothing is hidden, nothing is left unsaid.
If a piece is set with a stone, I pick up my loupe. I look at the stone, its clarity, its cut, its condition, to judge its quality. Sometimes it is of modest value. Sometimes it deserves to be kept, or even to be given a new setting.
Once all these elements have been analysed, I can offer a transparent valuation based on the current gold price. I explain each component: what belongs to the metal, and what belongs to the stones. You leave with a real understanding of what your jewellery is worth, whether or not you decide to sell.
Which gold jewellery can be bought?
People tend to think first of fine jewellery, but gold jewellery buying covers far more. Here is what I am most often asked to look at:
- gold rings and wedding bands;
- broken chains and bracelets;
- odd earrings;
- coins or scraps of gold;
- antique or inherited jewellery.
Many people hesitate to show me a damaged piece, fearing it is worthless. That is a mistake: even bent, broken or out of fashion, a piece of jewellery keeps a value tied to its metal. A broken link is still gold.
Sell, transform or restore: decide without pressure
In Nantes as in Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, you can have your gold jewellery given a free valuation directly at the workshop. It allows you to know its true value before making any decision. It commits you to nothing, and it matters to me that it is experienced that way.
Selling is not the only option. Sometimes, looking at a family ring, I suggest transforming it into a more contemporary piece, keeping the gold and occasionally the stones. Sometimes a simple restoration, a clasp repair or a fresh polish, is enough to give a piece its rightful place in its case again. In such cases, the person leaves with a project rather than an envelope, and I often see their expression change.
Others prefer to sell, and that is just as legitimate. What matters is that the choice is an informed one, and that it is yours.
If you have a few gold pieces at home and no longer know what to do with them, simply bring them to show me at the workshop in Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire. We will look at them together, I will tell you honestly what I see, and we will talk about what suits you. The coffee is ready, and you are under no obligation to decide that day.
