Sell Gold in Pattaya: Free XRF Test, Cash Paid on the Spot

Many people who live in or visit Pattaya bring gold from home: a chain bought in Italy, a ring from the UK, a bracelet from Dubai. When the day comes to turn it into baht, the small gold shop down the street often says no. This page explains why, and how selling works at our two shops in Pattaya.

Why some Thai gold shops refuse foreign gold

Most Thai gold shops sell 96.5% Thai gold and buy back the same kind. European and American jewelry is usually 18K, 14K or 9K, which those shops cannot resell, and without a testing machine they cannot tell the real purity. Refusing is simply the safe option for them.

We test every piece with an XRF analyzer, so we can buy any karat and pay for the actual gold content.

What we buy

• Gold jewelry from any country: 9K, 14K, 18K, 22K, Thai 96.5% and 24K
• Italian, European and Middle Eastern gold chains and bracelets
• Broken, bent or single-earring pieces, scrap gold and gold dust
• Gold bars
• Gold amulet frames
• Silver jewelry and silverware
• Luxury watches, valued as pre-owned watches (see watch buying, in Thai)

Jewelry with gemstones is valued on its gold content; stones are assessed separately. Not sure if a piece is real gold or plated? The XRF test tells you in minutes, and it is free.

What to bring

1. Your original passport. Copies and phone photos are not accepted.
2. The gold you want to sell. No need to clean or repair it first.
3. Receipts or certificates if you have them. If not, you can still sell.
4. Your Thai bank account number, if you prefer a transfer instead of cash.

Thai shops are required to record who they buy second-hand goods from, so the same ID rule applies to Thai customers too. If you only have a pink card or a work permit, please call us before you come. If the gold belongs to your Thai spouse, the owner should come with their own Thai ID card.

How the price is calculated

Price = weight × purity measured on the XRF machine, based on the Thai Gold Traders Association price of the day. The gold price changes daily, so we cannot quote a fixed number in advance, but you will see the weight and purity on screen before we make an offer.

One thing that often surprises people: a necklace bought for 2,000 euros at a European jeweler may contain gold worth less than half of that. The difference is design, brand, taxes and the retail margin, and it does not come back when you sell, in any country. Gold itself is priced on the world market, so what you get in Pattaya is close to what you would get at home.

Getting paid

• Cash in Thai baht, paid right after you agree on the price
• Bank transfer to a Thai bank account, with no transfer fee. A good choice for larger amounts.
• We do not pay in foreign currencies. Use a money exchange afterwards if you need dollars or euros.

Questions about taking money out of Thailand are for your bank and Thai customs rules; please ask your bank directly.

What happens at the shop

1. Hand over your gold together with your passport.
2. We weigh it on a digital scale in front of you.
3. We test it on the XRF machine. You see the purity on screen, and nothing is cut or scratched.
4. We make an offer and explain how we got the number.
5. If you agree, you are paid immediately. If not, you take your gold back. The test costs nothing.

If Thai is difficult for you, send us a message and photos on LINE @hengsiri before you come, or bring a Thai-speaking friend. It makes the visit faster for everyone.

Staying safe when selling gold in Pattaya

1. Do not accept offers from people who approach you on the street. Sell at a real shop you can find on Google Maps.
2. Stay and watch while your gold is weighed and tested. Avoid shops that take it to a back room.
3. For larger amounts, compare two shops. Testing is free; it only costs you time.
4. Ask whether the price quoted is the final amount you will receive.

Our two shops in Pattaya

Both shops are open every day, including weekends and public holidays, from 10:00 to 20:00. No appointment needed.

The South Pattaya shop is closest for people staying in Jomtien, Pratumnak and South Pattaya. The Noen Plap Wan shop is closer to North Pattaya, Naklua and the Sukhumvit side. Show the Thai address to your taxi or motorbike driver.

Frequently asked questions