Appraisal Services

Want to know the value?

Stop in for a free, no-hassle appraisal and get our up-to-the-minute pricing! We're confident that you will be pleased with our prices!

What We Buy:

Coins
Banknotes
Scrap Jewellery (gold, silver, and platinum)
Gold, Silver, and Platinum Bullion

What To Expect:

Appraisals are generally free
Walk-ins are always welcome (for large collections, calling ahead can help)
An appraiser is always present during business hours
Anticipate payments by check, we cannot guarantee a cash payout
Final appraisals are done in your presence, with quotes almost always given on the spot
Pricing quoted in email or over the phone is approximate and is subject to market fluctuation. Gold and silver prices can change by the minute.
We do not pay for gemstones. We will be happy to try to remove them for you if you wish to keep them.

Insurance and Information Appraisals

We do offer detailed appraisals for estate and insurance purposes for a nominal fee:

$35 per hour (min 1 hour) for an in-store appraisal that includes a detailed list of the collection and the price we have determined for each item, a letter from one of our appraisers attesting to the opinion stated in the appraisal, as well as a receipt for the services rendered.
Due to staffing issues, we will only make on-site appraisals under very special circumstances. Please contact us and have a thorough list of the contents of your collection.
If you decide to sell the appraised collection to us, we will waive or refund the cost of the appraisal performed.

Jewellery Appraisals

Pay rates for scrap jewelry are based on three factors:

Purity
Weight
Market Price

Gold: Gold purity is measured as a fraction of 24 Karats (pure gold). Most gold jewellery is marked with its purity on it. 10K is 41.6% (10/24ths) of pure gold, 14K is 58.5%, 18K is 75% and 22K is 91.6%. Markings may also have the decimal purity marked (.585, .750, etc.).

Be aware of jewellery made with trace amounts of gold, rather than solid gold. Jewellery may have a purity mark, but if its also marked Gold-plated (GP, EGP), Gold-filled, or Rolled gold, it will only contain a small fraction of gold coating a base metal such as brass or copper.

Silver: Silver purity works much the same as gold. Purity for silver most often comes in 50%, 80%, and 92.5% purities. 92.5%, or sterling, is often marked 925 and is by far the most commonly encountered purity, but 500 and 800 is not at all uncommon.

Unlike gold, where it is very possible to encounter pieces that are not marked, silver is almost always marked. If there is no marking indicating the purity of the silver, it is most often plated. This is especially true for silverware or flatware. The rule of thumb for flatware is that if it is not marked, it is most likely not silver.

Note: Some firms will tell you the karat is different than marked. For example: claiming gold marked 14K is in fact 12K and offer you a price according to that purity. When we confirm a piece's purity, we pay that price.

Tips on Selling Gold and Silver

Be aware of to whom you are selling. Businesses that have a permanent location will pay among the most in the industry.
Make sure to check the prices of the companies identifying themselves as roadshows, mail-in gold selling services and "Gold Parties" -- events that are hosted specifically to buy your gold.
Get multiple appraisals. Not only will you get a rough idea of the value of your items, but you can shop around for the best price -- get a minimum of 3 quotes.

Educate yourself with these 10 Tips for Selling Your Gold, provided by the Canadian Jewellers Association and Jewellers Vigilance Canada.