MOST OF US HAVE THE DRAWER. A tangle of broken chains, the single earring whose partner disappeared sometime in the nineties, a ring no longer fits and was never quite your style. Gold has done rather well lately, which means that drawer could be worth considerably more than it was a few years ago.
At some point, most of us start wondering whether it’s worth cashing those pieces in. The tricky part is knowing where to begin.
Unlike selling a car or a house, most of us know very little about gold. We don’t know the purity, the weight, the daily market price, or how buyers arrive at the figure they’re offering across the counter. That’s the gap Adelaide business Vintari was created to fill.
School friends Yvan Vincekovic and Pep Vottari opened the Clarence Gardens business in 2025 after an experience that stayed with Vincekovic for years. His grandmother sold some old gold jewellery and walked away with far less than it was worth. Nothing was tested or weighed where she could see it, nobody explained the valuation, and she had no way of knowing whether the offer was fair.
Vincekovic and Vottari wanted to create a different experience, one built around transparency and education.
There are no fees for testing or valuation, and no obligation to accept an offer. Be wary of any buyer who charges for a valuation or asks you to name your price first. An honest buyer will test your items free of charge and give you a fair quote, without needing a guess from you.
One piece of advice Vincekovic gives every customer is don’t be afraid to listen, ask questions and take your time.
“The information is yours whether you sell or not,” he says.
“Most people are nervous about selling their gold, and we understand why,” Vincekovic says. “We want people to understand exactly what they have and exactly how we’ve arrived at a price.”
One of the biggest misconceptions is that damaged jewellery has little value. In reality, a broken chain, single earring or dented ring is generally worth the same per gram as a piece in perfect condition. The value comes from the precious metal itself.
The hallmark stamped on a piece can provide a guide to purity. Nine-carat gold contains 37.5 per cent pure gold, 18-carat contains 75 per cent and 22-carat contains 91.6 per cent. Weight, purity and the current gold price all contribute to the final value.
The gold price itself isn’t a secret. It’s publicly available and changes daily, which is why it pays to do a little homework before visiting any buyer.
Vincekovic says sellers should feel comfortable asking questions throughout the process.
“You should know what purity your item is, how much it weighs and how the value has been calculated,” he says.
At Vintari, every item is tested using a certified XRF analyser and weighed on calibrated scales in front of the customer. Offers are calculated item by item using live gold and silver prices, with the figures explained as they go.
Vintari’s showroom is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. No appointment is required. For people who prefer not to travel, or who find it difficult to visit the showroom, Vintari also offers home appointments, bringing the same testing equipment and process directly to the customer.
Because sometimes the most valuable thing isn’t selling your gold. It’s finally knowing what it’s worth.
6 things to know before you sell
- Your jewellery is worth its metal, not its condition. Broken chains and single earrings still have value.
- Ask for every item to be tested and weighed in front of you.
- Make sure you understand the purity and weight of each piece.
- The gold price is public and changes daily, so it’s worth checking before you sell.
- Ask how the final offer has been calculated.
- You shouldn’t feel pressured to accept an offer on the spot.
Vintari
889 South Road, Clarence Gardens
vintari.com.au
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