# Selling gold without an intermediary: direct access to the refinery
Estimating and selling your gold directly at a refinery
The refinery: the top of the pyramid
In the gold trade, everything converges on a single point: the smelter, also called the refinery. It is the top of the pyramid, the direct source. Every intermediary ultimately sends its metals there to be melted, refined and certified: jewellers, gold buying and selling counters, merchants, auctioneers (for appraisals and sales at the best price), but also antique dealers, second-hand dealers, numismatists, collectors, tax advisers and even notaries acting in estate matters.
Traditionally, this stage remains closed to the general public. In Belgium, Gold & Silver Company has chosen an unprecedented model: opening its counter to private individuals, with the same rigour applied to renowned professionals.
Why choose the direct source?
Selling your gold directly to a smelter means removing every intermediary. In concrete terms: no additional margins, no hidden commissions, and a price calculated live on the international COMEX rate, to the nearest hundredth of a gram. It is fair access to the same rate as the great jewellery houses or the banks.
Unquestionable expertise
Gold & Silver Company brings together, in a single location, every trade related to precious metals: assayers approved by the Royal Mint of Belgium, smelters, refiners, numismatists, diamond experts, watchmakers and an auctioneer. With state-of-the-art scientific instruments such as the spectrometer and on-site melting, the appraisal is immediate, precise and beyond dispute.
The security of a banking-grade setting
Our premises meet the strictest banking standards: full armour plating, 24-hour video surveillance, a confidential room for transactions above €50,000, and a police station fifteen metres away. The client always keeps their belongings in sight, right up to the handover of the official certificate.
Conclusion
Selling your gold at a smelter means going straight back to the source, to the very top of the trade’s pyramid. With its single counter, Gold & Silver Company is the only refinery in Europe to give private individuals direct access at this level. Unmatched expertise, bank-grade security and a price aligned with the international market: this is what makes Gold & Silver Company the benchmark address for appraising and selling your gold with complete confidence.
*Updated on 27 September 2026.*
Frequently asked questions about gold
Why should I sell my gold directly to a refinery rather than through an intermediary?
Because every intermediary in the chain takes a margin. Jewellers, buying counters, merchants and antique dealers all ultimately send the metal they purchase to the smelter to be melted, refined and certified, which means their offer to you must leave room for their own commission. Selling directly to the refinery removes every one of those layers: no additional margins, no hidden commissions, and a price calculated live on the international COMEX rate, to the nearest hundredth of a gram. You receive fair access to the same rate as the great jewellery houses or the banks. Our page on selling your gold in Belgium explains exactly how this direct access works for private individuals.
What makes the refinery the top of the pyramid in the gold trade?
In the gold trade, everything converges on a single point: the smelter, also called the refinery. It is the direct source towards which every intermediary ultimately sends its metals to be melted, refined and certified, from jewellers and gold buying counters to auctioneers, numismatists, collectors, tax advisers and even notaries acting in estate matters. Traditionally, this stage remains closed to the general public and reserved for professionals. In Belgium, Gold & Silver Company has chosen an unprecedented model: opening the counter of its refinery to private individuals, with the same rigour applied to renowned professionals. With this single counter, it is the only refinery in Europe to give private individuals direct access at this level.
How is my gold appraised at Gold & Silver Company?
Your appraisal is carried out by assayers approved by the Royal Mint of Belgium, working alongside every trade related to precious metals gathered in a single location: smelters, refiners, numismatists, diamond experts, watchmakers and an auctioneer. The valuation relies on state-of-the-art scientific instruments, including the spectrometer, and on melting carried out on site, so that the composition and weight of your metal are established with a precision that leaves no room for dispute. The result is an immediate, precise and unquestionable appraisal, conducted in front of you, with your belongings remaining in your sight at every stage. The price is then calculated live on the international market, to the nearest hundredth of a gram.
Is it safe to sell gold at the Gold & Silver Company refinery?
Yes. The premises meet the strictest banking standards, with full armour plating, 24-hour video surveillance and a confidential room dedicated to transactions above €50,000. A police station stands just fifteen metres from the agency. Throughout the entire transaction, you keep your belongings in sight, and nothing is ever taken to a back room: the appraisal, the weighing and the valuation all happen in front of you, right up to the handover of the official certificate documenting your sale. This level of transparency and protection is normally reserved for professional transactions between institutions. You can book an appointment at the agency to sell your gold in this secure setting, whatever the quantity you wish to bring.
Do private sellers really receive the same price as professionals?
Yes. Because Gold & Silver Company operates as a smelter open to the public, private individuals access the same rate as the great jewellery houses or the banks. The price is calculated live on the international COMEX rate and applied to the nearest hundredth of a gram, with no additional margins and no hidden commissions, whether you bring a single piece of jewellery or a substantial estate lot. This democratic pricing is the direct consequence of the model: when you sell at the source, there is no intermediary left to take a share. You can follow the live gold price before your visit, and discover our certified gold bars if you wish to reinvest.