The 21 karat price you see is the price of the gold alone. At a shop you pay a workmanship fee on top of it for every gram, which covers making the piece and the shop's profit.

Workmanship depends on the piece

Bars and gold pounds carry a small fee, while jewellery such as rings and chains carries a much higher one that rises with the detail of the design.

The hallmark

The hallmark is an official stamp that proves the karat of a piece. Make sure every piece you buy has one, because it protects you when you sell.

When you sell

When you sell, the shop pays the price of the gold alone, often a little less, and the workmanship is not returned. That is why jewellery loses part of its value if you sell it soon after buying, and why bars and gold pounds suit people who buy gold to save.

How to tell if a fee is fair

See what people actually paid in your city on the gold shop prices page in the Geneh community, and ask more than one shop before you buy.

This guide explains how things work and is not financial advice. Check the current numbers in Geneh before you decide.