Charity Shop Surprises

[porkchop]

My wife recently paid £1.50 for a pair of mens spectacles in a charity shop. The frame is marked 14KT Gold and its genuine gold. Any idea how much the gold might be worth? Charity shops do have surprises, how the staff in the shop missed this one is unusual!

[black_cat51]

how do you know it's genuine gold? Wouldnt the glasses be extraordinarily heavy?

[sandyRoe]

It's £24.95 a gramme.
http://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/gold-price/latest-gold-price/

[boxtops]

Gold's not that heavy in a fine article like spec frames. You'd have to take it to a jeweller to look at the assay marks (if you haven't already). The value is by weight of gold, that's what a buyer would give you for it. The jeweller could give you an estimation.

[porkchop]

Its HALLMARKED, and they are very heavy. I know what real gold is.

[mikey4444]

It is more likely that these are gold plated I would have thought. If they are solid gold, then there should be a Hallmark on them somewhere. Please let us know the result of you investigations, as I have never heard of a solid gold glasses frame !

[mikey4444]

Sorry PC...post crossed ! Well done ...good bargain hunting !

[Mamyalynne]

14KT is around £14.50 per gramme just now.

[Mamyalynne]

Nice find anyway - I get smashing bargains most weeks.

[porkchop]

NO way they are gold plated. Please do not play down my discovery! You do not often pick up real gold for £1.50. Next step, i am getting out my digital weighing machine. A holiday in Bahamas would be nice!

[Mamyalynne]

Boy!! They must be heavy ;-)

[237SJ]

14K is usually American. You need to take them to one of those places that buys gold. You probably won`t get the market rate because the need to make a profit as well. I have got rid of a few bits of gold. It took minutes. They don`t spend ages studying hallmarks - they have a quick look through a magnifier, drop them on the scales and offer cash. You could be in and out of the door in less than 5 minutes.

[Tilly2]

I would actually take them back and tell them.

[mikey4444]

Porkchop....don't go booking that expensive holiday quite yet ! 14K gold is only just over half gold...the rest is copper or zinc. Get 3 different valuations before handing them over but just don't expect to rich overnight !

Don't forget to give us an update please !

[Tilly2]

If I had bought those at a car boot sale or a jumble sale then I would be delighted and get what money I could for them. However, a charity shop is a different matter, charity being the key word.

[tamborine]

Charity shop got £1.50 for donation, theyre happy. Lots of bsrgains in charity shops as its "easy come, easy go". I just sold a 99p charity shop designer shirt, on ebay for £15 exc p&p.

[Mamyalynne]

Tilly, I take your point and could understand if it was an old master painting worth millions, but...


I once spotted a Zandra Rhodes Kaftan style dress for £3, I even pointed it out to the lady on the till - 'I know' she replied'We all think it's hideous'.

I got £40 for it.

[Tilly2]

I couldn't do that either, tambo. I would have to give them a bit more after having sold the item.

[Mamyalynne]

In my case Tilly, for every bag of stuff I buy at least one goes back as a donation and I have done quizzes for them since they helped me when Bill was ill and then died.

[Mamyalynne]

I also used my profit to pay my electric bill, swings and roundabouts really.

[tamborine]

I donate more than Ive earned. Charity shops sell on ebay. Ebay has a wider showcase than any shop.