The gold spot price is the public, worldwide reference for pure gold — identical for every buyer and changing by the second. Read it as your ceiling, not your payout: your actual offer depends on fineness, weight and, above all, the dealer's buyback rate, the one figure that genuinely varies between shops.
The spot price is the global reference for one troy ounce (31.1 g) of pure gold, quoted continuously in the wholesale market and usually expressed in euros per gram once converted. It is public, identical for every buyer, and changes every second the markets are open — no dealer sets it. What you actually receive is the spot price adjusted for the fineness of your item, its exact weight, and the dealer's buyback rate. So the spot price is your anchor, not your payout: it tells you the ceiling, and everything below it is margin. Before you sell, note the figure on a public source and the time you read it, because a quote given yesterday may already be out of date today.
Your payout depends on how much pure gold your item actually contains, and that is set by fineness. A gram of 18k is not a gram of pure gold: 24k=999, 22k=916, 18k=750, 14k=585, 9k=375 thousandths pure. An 18-carat ring therefore holds 75% of its weight in gold, and its intrinsic value is spot price multiplied by weight multiplied by 0.750. Check the hallmark stamped on the piece, then weigh it precisely — small differences in grams and karats move the figure. Coins and bars can carry a numismatic or collector premium above their metal content, so an old sovereign may be worth more than its melt value. Damaged or worn jewellery is still paid on metal weight, not on appearance.
Because the spot price is the same everywhere, the only real variable is the buyback rate — the percentage of spot a dealer actually pays. This margin covers refining, testing and profit, and dealers are under no obligation to publish it. Two shops can quote the identical spot price and still hand you very different amounts once their rate is applied. This is where transparency separates buyers: some state their rate openly, others keep it hidden until you are at the counter. Ask directly what percentage of spot they pay for your karat, get it in writing, and compare gold buyers in your city before committing. Never judge an offer on the spot price alone.
French law frames every sale, and knowing it stops you being rushed. Payment must be traceable — bank transfer or cheque, never cash — and the buyer must record the transaction in a police register and verify your ID. Keep this in mind: refusal to pay traceably is a warning sign. On tax, you choose between the flat tax on precious metals applied to the sale price, or the capital-gains regime if you hold proof of purchase, which can reduce or cancel the charge over time. There is usually a legal cooling-off period on such sales, so you are not locked in the moment you sign. Read what you sign and take the paperwork with you.
Use any public financial source that quotes gold per ounce or per gram, and note the exact time you read it. The price moves constantly during market hours, so a figure from earlier in the day may already have shifted. Bring your reference figure to the counter as a benchmark against the dealer's offer.
Because the spot price is identical for both, but each applies its own buyback rate — the percentage of spot it pays after refining and margin. Dealers need not publish this rate. Asking each one what percentage of spot they pay for your karat is the fastest way to compare honest offers.
No. French law requires traceable payment by bank transfer or cheque, and the buyer must log the sale in a police register and check your ID. A dealer offering cash is not following the rules, which should make you cautious about the rest of the transaction.