पाकिस्तान में पुराना सोना बेचना: उचित मूल्य कैसे प्राप्त करें

Whether you need cash or want to exchange old pieces for new, selling gold is one of the few times it really pays to do homework. The gold rate is public; what varies is how your piece is weighed, tested and discounted.

Step 1: know today's rate

Check the rate for your karat before leaving home. Today 22K is Rs 374,360 per tola and 21K is Rs 357,344. Rates can move during the day, so check live rates again at the shop.

Step 2: estimate the gold weight

Weigh the piece if you can. Remember that stones, beads, lac (lakh) filling and enamel are not gold. A buyer will deduct them, so estimate the net gold weight rather than the total.

Step 3: test the purity

Old jewellery is often a little below its stamped karat. Get an XRF karat-meter test — it's quick and inexpensive — so that you know the real purity before negotiating. See our guide on checking gold purity.

Step 4: calculate the fair value

Fair gold value = net weight × purity × today's 24K rate. For example, 3 tola at a tested 90% purity is worth about 3 × 0.90 × Rs 408,393 = Rs 1,102,661 before any deduction. Our calculator does this with a custom purity and a "selling" mode that applies a deduction.

Step 5: compare the katt (deduction)

Shops typically deduct a percentage from the gold value when buying back. Ask two or three shops for their offer on the same piece — the difference is often larger than a day's move in the gold rate. Shops frequently give better terms if you exchange for new jewellery, or if you bought the piece from them and have the receipt.

Common ways sellers lose money

• Accepting a weight without seeing the scale.
• Selling gold and stones as one lot without asking what the stones are worth separately.
• Selling on the first offer without checking the day's rate.
• Paying a high making charge on new jewellery in an exchange, which cancels a good buy-back price.

Keep a record

Ask for a written receipt showing weight, purity, rate used and deduction. It protects you if there is a dispute and helps you compare offers.