The gold buyback rate is the percentage of the public spot price a dealer actually pays you. Spot is identical everywhere, so compare buyers on their rate, not the price of gold itself: ask each one what percentage of spot they pay for your fineness.
The buyback rate is the percentage of the spot gold price a dealer actually pays you. Two figures decide your payout: the public spot price, set on international markets and identical for everyone, and the dealer's margin, which is private. If a buyer pays 90% of the melt value of your metal, that is the rate. The spot price is not where dealers compete, because none of them can change it. The rate is. This is why one shop can hand you noticeably more than another for the same ring on the same day, with no dishonesty involved. When you compare buyers, you are really comparing the slice they keep versus the slice they pass on to you.
Work out the pure gold content first, then compare rates on that basis. Value is driven by fineness multiplied by weight, priced against spot. Fineness is stamped as a hallmark: 24k is 999, 22k is 916, 18k is 750, 14k is 585, 9k is 375. An 18-carat piece is 75% gold, so only that fraction is paid at the gold price; the rest is alloy. Weigh the item, apply the fineness, and you have the fine-gold weight that every offer should be measured against. Coins and some bars carry a numismatic or collector premium above melt value, tied to rarity and condition, so they are not judged on weight alone. Ask each buyer to state the rate as a percentage of spot for your specific fineness, not a lump sum.
Ask every dealer the same question: what percentage of spot do you pay for this fineness today? Because spot is public, a percentage lets you line up offers instantly, whereas a flat euro figure hides the margin. Check for deductions dressed up as fees: testing charges, refining costs or a lower rate for small quantities all eat into the headline percentage. Confirm the payment method, since French law requires a traceable payment by bank transfer or cheque for precious metals, never cash. A buyer who quotes an open rate over the phone is easier to compare than one who insists you visit first. You can compare gold buyers in your city to see who publishes their terms.
In France the sale is regulated, and tax reduces what you keep. The buyer must record the transaction in a police register and check your ID, and pay you traceably by transfer or cheque. On tax, precious-metal sales fall under a flat tax on the sale value, or, if you can prove the original purchase price, the capital-gains regime with an allowance that tapers over the holding period. Keep any invoice or proof of purchase, as it can change which regime is cheaper. These rules apply to every buyer equally, so they do not affect which dealer to pick, but they do affect your final net figure, which matters as much as the headline rate.
Because the spot price is fixed and public, but each dealer sets their own margin. The difference in offers is the difference in buyback rate, the share of spot value they pass on to you.
No. Spot is the international market price of pure gold, identical for all dealers. The buyback rate is the percentage of that spot value a given buyer pays after their margin, and it is what actually determines your payout.
No. French law requires traceable payment for precious metals, by bank transfer or cheque. The buyer must also verify your ID and record the sale in a mandatory register.
Only the pure gold in a piece is paid at the gold price. An 18-carat item is 750/1000 gold, 14-carat is 585, 9-carat is 375, so lower fineness means less fine gold and a smaller base value before the rate is applied.