At Argentor you will not receive added value for precious stones and/or pearls, nor for the design of your jewellery, exclusive or not. If possible we remove the stones and/or pearls. Should that not be possible, we will deduct some weight of the piece of jewellery. Jewellery containing real diamonds are bought as a whole (including diamonds) at the buying rate corresponding to their purity in gold, silver, platinum or palladium. For larger quantities of jewellery containing diamonds, you can always contact us for a chemical solution of gold with the recovery of diamonds.

Inform yourself about the possible value of your diamonds and whether or not they're worth breaking out. If desired, we can always refer you to our specialist partners for selling your diamonds and/or jewellery with historical value.

We only buy silver from a minimum weight of 1 kilogram.

In theory there is no minimum weight for gold, platinum & palladium. What you do need to consider is an administration fee1 of €10 (VAT incl.) in case the invoice is less than €100. The administration fee will be held off the purchase price. Small amounts can therefore better be saved and sold once you have more in order to avoid the administration fee.

^{1: See also : 'Are there any additional 'hidden' costs I have to factor in when selling to Argentor?'.}

+ Coins and bars are bought at the current exchange rate, minus or plus buying premium¹. Our buying rates are adapted every minute to the actual exchange rate and are hedged once you present your coins and bars in our office.

+ Coins that are not mentioned in our price list and all other forms of gold, silver, platinum & palladium are bought at the rate for scrap metals corresponding to the purity of the metal. Our buying rates are adapted every minute to the actual exchange rate and will only be hedged once you present your material in our office.

^{1: Under the condition that the coins/bars are in good shape. See also, ‘What is a premium?’}

A premium is the difference between the intrinsic value of gold/silver/platinum/palladium (weight in pure gold/silver/platinum/palladium x current rate in euros) and the price you actually receive. Precious metals, you see, are almost never traded at spot (at their intrinsic value). You always have to pay a certain commission. The premium is often expressed in percentages.

At Argentor we always clearly state the premium of a certain product. That makes it easy to compare different products. For example: for a gold bar of 1 kilogram at a gold rate of €35.000/kilo and a buying premium of -0,75%, you will receive €35.000 - 0,75% = €34.739,45. The premium can also be expressed nominally, which, in this example, would be €260,55.

+ The numismatic added value: coins, sometimes, have an additional value for collectors. In the case of very rare and historical coins, this value can sometimes be more than twice as much as the intrinsic value. In case of modern bullion coins this added value will, however, be rather limited.

+ The market: when demand for certain coins and bars increases, premiums can go up, regardless of the actual rate. That results from the basic principle of demand and supply. As soon as the demand surpasses the supply it creates a certain shortage on the market, resulting in higher premiums and prices. As soon as the supply surpasses demand again, the premiums and prices will go down accordingly.

+ The margin: the margin retailers and traders, such as Argentor, take on products is also calculated within the premium.

+ Additional costs: storage fees, transportation fees, insurances, packing materials, administration, etc.

At Argentor we always clearly state the selling and buying premium of a certain product. You typically buy precious metals above spot (actual rate), and sell them below spot. The difference between these two premiums and prices is called the 'spread'. The spread is the easiest way to compare different products. You can easily calculate the difference between the selling and buying price by the aid of the spread.

For example: you buy a 20 Belgian francs gold coin for €206, including 1,5% premium. Should you immediately sell your coin back to us at the same exchange rate, you would do so at our buying premium of -0,5%. That means you would receive €202 for your coin. The spread for the 20 Belgian francs at Argentor is, in other words, €4 or 2%.

The buying rates for coins and bars as shown in the column ‘our buying price’ in our price list are the net prices you receive. The buying rates for scrap metals as mentioned on our website are the actual rates you will receive as well. No additional costs will be held off these rates.

What you do need to consider is an administration fee of €10 (VAT incl.) in case the invoice is less than €100. This administration fee will be held off the purchase price. Small amounts can therefore better be saved and sold once you have more in order to avoid the administration fee.

No, the price for bigger volumes remains the same. Given the high value of precious metals the spreads taken by retailers like Argentor are rather limited. Traders and other retailers can contact us for more information about our buying rates.

+ Ever since the adaptation of the Belgian law regarding cash payments (September 18th 2017), it is forbidden for us to pay in cash to professional sellers. All purchases, regardless of their total value, have to be paid by bank transfer¹ or exchange of materials.

+ As for private sellers, we can pay a maximum of €500, regardless of the total value of the purchase. All balances exceeding have to be paid by bank transfer¹.

^{1: Our bank transfers are carried out the following working day before noon. How fast you receive the payment onto your banking account depends on the speed of the transfer between our bank and yours. Do not hesitate to contact us in case you still haven't received the payment after three working days.}

Cash payments are carried out immediately¹. Bank transfers are carried out the following working day before noon. How fast you receive the payment onto your banking account depends on the speed of the transfer between our bank and yours. Do not hesitate to contact us in case you still haven't received the payment after three working days.

^{1: See also 'Does Argentor pay in cash?’.}

+ Sales of gold bars and gold coins will never be subjected to VAT as they are exempt from VAT.

+ You will receive 21% VAT on the sale of silver, platinum & palladium bars, in case you dispose of a valid Belgian VAT number¹. We will never pay VAT to foreign VAT tax payers, independents in secondary profession² or private sellers.

+ Silver coins are purchased under the VAT margin scheme. In short, this means that the trader of the coins will have to pay VAT, but only on the profit he makes from the sale and not on the full turnover. As a professional trader, you should discuss this with your bookkeeper first.

+ In case you dispose of a valid Belgian VAT number¹, you sell scrap gold under reverse charge rule. That means we will not pay you VAT. We will never pay VAT to foreign VAT tax payers, independents in secondary profession² or private sellers.

+ You will receive 21% VAT on the sale of scrap silver, platinum & palladium, in case you dispose of a valid Belgian VAT number¹. We will never pay VAT to foreign VAT tax payers, independents in secondary profession² or private sellers.

The correct VAT regimes and corresponding codes are always mentioned on our invoice. In order for your own bookkeeping to be correct, it is best to base yourself on these codes.

^{1: Only when you are liable for VAT and do not enjoy tax exemption, and when it is an expense in the function of your profession, you can sell scrap gold under reverse charge rule, and you will receive VAT on your sale of silver bars, scrap silver, platinum and palladium.}

^{2: Independents in secondary professions who are subject to VAT regulations must also make a VAT declaration and pay VAT contributions. However, if your income is below €25.000, you may request an exemption from VAT obligations. You do not have to submit a tax return or charge a tax on outgoing invoices. Therefore, you cannot recover any VAT from the incoming invoices. For more information about the tax exemption rule, see the FOD Finance website.}

Since February 20th 2012 precious metals sellers and buyers are obliged to identify and register their clients and suppliers. This procedure of identification and registry aids in tracing and identifying thieves and fences.

No. Argentor does not have a duty of notification. We are, however, obliged to keep our full bookkeeping records during the mandatory period of 7 years for the event of an investigation.

Residents of Belgium do not have to indicate their investments in precious metals on their tax return. Only if they keep their gold on a foreign securities account should they include this in their personal tax declaration in Belgium.

Residents of the Netherlands must report the value of their investments every year in ‘box 3: Saving and investing’.

There are several ways to test whether or not you are in possession of real precious metals¹:

+ Based on the hallmarks present on the jewellery: with the aid of a magnifying glass you can check if there's an alloy stamp/ hallmark2 in your piece of jewellery. That mark indicates the purity of the metal. Most common alloys for yellow and white gold jewellery are 18 carats (750), 14 carats (580) & 9 carats (375). Most common alloy for silver jewellery are 925 (sterling silver), 835 and 800. The actual purity of jewellery made before 1980 can differ slightly from the hallmark. After 1980 laws regarding hallmarks were however tightened which makes chances that the purity and hallmark do not correspond a lot more slim.

+ With the aid of testing fluid: you can buy testing fluids in several shops in the Diamond quarter near Argentor or online. These can be used to test gold and silver alloys but not platinum or palladium. We use a spectrometer to determine the purity of platinum & palladium. The spectrometer sends x-rays through the object, allowing the metal content to be determined with great accuracy. We advise you to file through the upper layer of the jewel in order to remove the (possibly gold/silver plated) top layer. Next, you apply the acid directly on the scratched surface. The purity of the metal is then determined depending on whether or not the acid decolours. We highly advise against the use of a 'touchstone'. That method can create false results since only the filed off layer is tested. In case your jewellery is gold/silver plated, the acid will indicate that the purity is much higher than it actually is.

+ You can always ask your jeweller for advice.

^{1: In case of doubt Argentor can use several other testing methods to determine the purity of your metals, one of which the spectrometer (based on x-rays) is the most common one.}

^{2: The presence of a hallmark is never conclusive evidence of purity. Hallmarks can be forged as well.}

Whether it's jewellery from a heritage, coins from a collection or silver cutlery you no longer use… When you are planning to sell precious metals it's of the utmost importance that you assess the value of your material as best as you can. Take a look at following tips and think carefully when selling your precious metals.

+ Form an idea of what your goods are worth. Try to figure out the value of your goods before you decide to sell them¹. By weighing the pieces and checking for hallmarks (if possible) you can easily assess the value of your items based on the actual rates². Alternatively, you can go to a jeweller (or several jewellers) for a taxation. This will help you to form an idea of the value of your items. Never send material to a buyer without having a clue of its value!

+ Try to sell directly to a jeweller you know or a well-known precious metals trader. Research has shown that a jeweller will often offer a better price for your precious metals than a small exchange office. That is certainly the case in the Diamond quarter of Antwerp, where there are a lot of jewellers located. There you can rest assured that you will receive a fair price for your precious metals. Larger trade offices (such as Argentor) will also be able to offer a better, and especially more transparent, price! Do not sell your precious metals to the first buyer that comes along! Chances are you'll receive a better price somewhere else.

+ Have realistic expectations when it comes to pricing! Keep in mind that terms such as 'rare', 'exclusive' and 'collectors item' have to be taken with a grain of salt. Exchange offices will often only be interested in the percentages of precious metals within your jewellery and/or other materials. They won't pay attention to the craftsmanship and skills needed for the creation of certain pieces. On top of that you need to take into account that productional fees and VAT were calculated in the price you paid, meaning that the price you paid will always be higher than the actual value of the piece. In other words, it's not because you paid €1.000 for a ring that it's actually worth that much. That being said, caution is always recommended! Coins, unlike jewellery, are often worth more than solely their weight in gold, silver, platinum or palladium. Informing yourself about buying and selling premiums is always a good idea, but manage your expectations. The premium will always depend on the actual market situation (supply & demand) and will vary from trader to trader.

+ Check if your jewellery contains diamonds and whether or not they are of value. Unlike some jewellers, most gold traders will not pay extra for the precious stones that are inside jewellery, since it's another craft of which they don't have knowhow. That's also the case at Argentor, where you will not receive added value for precious stones and/or pearls³, nor for the design of your jewellery, exclusive or not. Inform yourself about the possible value of your diamonds and whether or not they're worth breaking out⁴.

+ Compare the reputations of companies online. These days you can easily find online reviews about virtually every - trustworthy - gold trader, either on their own website, either on Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, etc. Googling the names of the companies you wish to work with will go a long way. At Argentor we find it very important that customers can rate us. On this page you can read all reviews left behind by clients. Take into account that these reviews are solely aimed on the operations of our webshop!

^{1: See also: 'How can I know whether or not I am in possession of real gold?'.
2: See also: ‘What does Argentor pay for gold?’.
3: See also: 'Can I also sell pearls and precious stones at Argentor?'.
4: For larger quantities of jewellery containing diamonds, you can always contact us for a chemical solution of gold with the recovery of diamonds.}

Only in case you are already registered with us as a B2B client/supplier - and depending on the quantity and composition of the material - we can arrange for the material to be picked up by Mikropakket (in Belgium & Luxemburg). We charge €12,40 (VAT excl.) per transport for this service. Do not hesitate to contact us in case you wish to use our pick-up service. We will provide you with all the necessary information and documents.

Should you send material to Argentor on your own initiative, you do so completely at your own risk! Argentor cannot be held responsible, nor for parcels sent to us by regular or registered post, nor for parcels you place in our mailbox yourself.

For appraisals without commitment to sell, we ask €20 (VAT excl.) per analysis.