How to Sell Used Jewellery in Poland

Read the marks: fineness numbers and Polish hallmarks

Every piece of gold or silver jewellery carries a fineness stamp telling you exactly how much pure metal is in the alloy. The Polish system uses numbers in thousandths:

The numbers are only half the picture. Polish law also requires a hallmark from the State Assay Office (Urząd Probierczy). Gold carries a knight's head stamp; silver carries a woman's head. These hallmarks mean the item was officially tested and meets the claimed fineness.

If you are unsure whether a piece should carry a hallmark, ask an assay office (urząd probierczy) or a jeweller before a high-value sale.

Scrap value versus piece value

Every piece of jewellery has two potential values:

• Scrap value (wartość złomu): the value of the metal alone, calculated as weight × fineness × current metal price per gram. Check a current metal price quote before you calculate — these change daily.
• Piece value (wartość jako przedmiot): what a buyer pays for the item as jewellery, factoring in the design, maker's mark, stones, era and condition. A signed piece from a known Polish goldsmith, a vintage Art Deco ring with original stones, or a brand with collector demand can command prices far above the metal value.

The decision rule is simple:

If comparable pieces in similar condition are priced significantly above their metal value, sell as a piece. If the piece is plain, damaged, unbranded or otherwise unremarkable, compare the piece price against a current metal quote and take the higher net amount.

Testing and what a jeweller can confirm

Home tests exist — magnet and acid kits are sold for gold testing — but they are not reliable proof and we do not recommend relying on them for a resale transaction. A jeweller or a State Assay Office (urząd probierczy) can test the metal with professional tools and confirm whether stones are genuine. This is the standard way to verify before a higher-value sale.

For low-value items on Vinted or OLX, disclosure matters more than proof: state the fineness stamp as it appears, note whether you have seen a hallmark, and describe the condition honestly. Buyers on these platforms typically price based on the stamp and appearance, not lab verification.

Fakes, plated items and missing marks

A stamp is evidence, not proof. These are the red flags to watch:

• Missing or blurred marks on a piece that should have them by age or style
• Plated wear where rubbing reveals a different colour underneath — gold plating over silver or brass, silver plating over copper
• Stamps that do not match the weight or appearance of the claimed metal

Marks can be faked. Even a genuine-looking stamp only tells you the item was once tested — it does not guarantee the metal underneath has not been swapped. For valuable pieces, a professional test is the only reliable proof.

The authentication checklist covers general checks that apply to jewellery as well as other valuable items.

Photos, disclosure and safe handover

For a jewellery listing, your photos and description do the selling work a test cannot do:

• Macro photo of any hallmarks or stamps — buyers verify the fineness this way
• Photo of the item on a scale showing the weight — removes any doubt about listed weight
• Clear close-ups of any stones, settings, clasp mechanism
• Disclose repairs, missing stones, plating wear or any defects in writing

For safe handover:

• In-person sales: meet at a public place, or better, at a jeweller who can test the item on the spot before you exchange money. Agree in advance who pays for the test.
• OLX delivery (Pakiet Ochronny): the buyer has 48 hours after pickup to claim. If they file a claim and it is accepted, the item returns at the seller's cost. Payout releases after buyer confirmation or 48 hours without a claim. The OLX delivery protection page has the full details.

Channel by value band

The right platform depends on what the item is worth. As a rule of thumb:

• Low value items: Vinted, OLX or Allegro Lokalnie — large buyer pools for everyday jewellery, fast movement at lower prices.
• Higher value items: in-person sale on OLX or Allegro Lokalnie — meet the buyer, show the hallmarks, let them have the item tested before payment. This protects you from returns and disputes.
• High value items: consider a dedicated in-person sale with testing, or a specialist antique or jewellery dealer. Finding the right buyer takes longer but can pay off in the price.

If you are also reselling watches or collectible coins, the pricing methods overlap — always compare like for like on metal, fineness, weight band and style.

Pricing against comparable listings

Once you know whether you are selling as a piece or as metal, price against comparables in the same category:

• Same metal and fineness
• Similar weight (chains compare to chains, rings to rings)
• Similar style and era
• Similar condition

List at fair value and leave room to negotiate. If the piece is clearly desirable — a recognised maker, distinctive design, genuine stones — price toward the middle or top of the market range. If comparables are thin, price conservatively and be ready to explain your pricing basis.

PRL-era design pieces often carry collector value similar to jewellery — the same comparison rules apply.