Free gold estimates in Kelowna, with no obligation to sell

The most common question we are asked is some version of how much is my gold worth, and the honest answer is that nobody can tell you over the phone. Not us, not a pawn shop, not a website with a calculator on it. A real number needs three measurements taken from the actual items: what they are made of, what they weigh, and what that metal is trading for today. All three take about fifteen minutes at a counter, and we do it for free.

There is no fee, no appraisal charge, no minimum, and no obligation of any kind at the end of it. You can walk out with the figure and do nothing with it. Plenty of people do, and some of them come back a year later.

What an estimate actually is

An estimate from us is a firm cash offer, good on the day, for the items you brought in. It is not a guess, not a range, and not a number that changes when you say yes. It is the figure we will hand you in cash if you decide to sell.

It is also not a certified appraisal, and the difference matters. Read the next section before you decide which one you actually need.

An estimate is not an appraisal, and you may want the other one

These two documents do different jobs and produce very different numbers.

• A buying estimate, which is what we provide free of charge, is what a buyer will pay you in cash today for the metal and stones in front of them.
• A certified independent appraisal is a formal written valuation, usually at replacement value, prepared by a qualified appraiser who is not buying the item. It is what you need for insurance coverage, for an estate, for a divorce settlement or for a legal matter.

We do not do certified appraisals, and we think it would be a conflict of interest if we did, because we are buyers. When someone needs a genuine independent valuation, we send them to Stellar Gem Services, the only truly independent jewellery appraiser and certified gem lab in the Okanagan. There is no arrangement between us and no referral fee. They are simply the right people for that job, and we would rather point you to them than sell you something you do not need.

Step by step, what happens when you walk in

1. We sort what you brought

Everything goes onto the counter and gets grouped: 10k, 14k and 18k gold separately, silver separately, plated items separately, stones and watches to one side. Mixed piles get valued conservatively by everyone in this business, so sorting is the first thing that protects you.

2. We test, and you watch

Stamps are a starting point, not proof, so every piece is tested. Electronic testing reads the metal without marking it. Acid on a touchstone confirms karat where it is needed. If something is plated rather than solid, we hand it back and tell you why. Nothing leaves the counter and nothing goes into a back room.

3. We weigh, on a scale you can see

Each karat group is weighed separately in grams on a calibrated scale facing you. If a buyer will not show you the scale, that is the moment to leave.

4. We show you the market price we are using

Gold and silver move every business day. We tell you the figure we are working from, and you are welcome to check it on your phone while you sit there.

5. We do the arithmetic in front of you

Weight, multiplied by purity, priced against the market. Group by group, then a total. If you want to see the calculation written out with a worked example before you come in, our article on how much your gold is worth in Kelowna walks through the whole thing.

6. You decide, or you do not

If you want to sell, we pay cash on the spot. If you want to think about it, take the number. If you want to shop it around, please do. We guarantee to match or beat any quote in Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley, so a second opinion costs you nothing and may well end with you back here.

What to bring

• Everything you are curious about, including the pieces you assume are worthless. Unmarked, broken and single items are worth exactly as much per gram as intact ones.
• Government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's licence or passport. We are licensed buyers and every purchase is recorded against ID, which protects honest sellers.
• Any certificates, grading reports or paperwork you happen to have for diamonds and watches. Helpful, never required.
• Any written quote you have already been given elsewhere.

Do not clean, polish or repair anything first. That money does not come back to you.

How long it takes, and how to book

A straightforward gold or silver estimate runs about fifteen minutes. Diamonds and watches take longer because they are assessed piece by piece rather than weighed as a group. A full estate, a flatware canteen and a jewellery box together is best done by appointment so we can give it proper time.

We are at Unit 301, 478 Bernard Avenue, ScotiaBank Building, third floor, in Downtown Kelowna, BC V1Y 6N7, open Monday to Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM, seven days a week. Appointments are preferred so you are not waiting, and walk-ins are welcome. Call +1 (250) 860-0096 in Kelowna, or +1 866-872-0096 toll free, or send us a note through our contact page. If you want to know how a particular category is assessed before you come in, start with selling gold, selling silver or selling a luxury watch.