The Gold Standard

The Gold Standard is a voluntary code of conduct for the face to face purchase of second hand precious metal and jewellery.

It has been designed to provide protection to BJA members and non-members, aid the Police in tracing stolen items of jewellery and to encourage greater consumer confidence in trading with accredited dealers.

The introduction of the Gold Standard is a joint initiative between the following organisations:

• National Association of Jewellers
• National Association of Goldsmiths
• National Pawnbrokers Association

It has accreditation from:

• Association of Chief Police Officers
• Trading Standards Institute
• National Measurement Office

When you bring your scrap metal into our London – Hatton Garden trade counter or Birmingham – Jewellery Quarter trade counter, you will be asked to provide two forms of ID for verification:

• Proof of Name and Current Address e.g. Utility Bill or Driving license
• Photographic ID e.g. Passport, Driving License, ID Cards
• Sign a disclaimer to say that you are the owner or have the permission of the owner to partake in the transaction and that you consent to having your personal details stored on file for a minimum period of 3 months.

We will then make a formal copy of the transaction and photocopy or photograph the items as part of the transaction and maintain our records accordingly.

The transaction and photographic records will be kept in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 for a minimum of three months and we will produce these if requested to the police.

Good Practice Protocols

We will abide to do the following:

• We will weigh and evaluate your jewellery whilst you are in attendance.
• We will consult with you regarding the evaluation process so that you understand and agree with the evaluation before making a decision.
• You will be given a signed receipt or written statement, which includes a description of the article, its weight, the price paid and an explanation of any visible hallmarks.
• We will inform you before the transaction has been complete and confirmed, there is a possibility that their items(s) may go to be recycled immediately.
• We will strive to improve upon these recommendations and initiate a workable protocol that all staff will abide by.

Click here to download The Gold Standard code of conduct

Click here to learn more about The Gold Standard