Introduction: The Boom in Remote Gold Buying
The online gold buying market has exploded in Europe and around the world. Driven by record high gold prices in 2025 (+46% in 2025) and a start to 2026 that is once again breaking all records, thousands of transactions are now being completed remotely every month: family jewelry sent by mail, scrap gold entrusted to a national counter, and ingots shipped from individuals to professionals.
This market has a specific enemy, different from that of sculptures or high-tech products. The risk here is not breakage: gold does not break. The risk is disappearance and substitution: a package that arrives "empty" or contains items of a different value than those shipped. These incidents are rare, but traceability is virtually impossible without a rigorous protocol.
This guide details the complete protocol for shipping precious metals and jewelry with maximum security, the legal pitfalls of carriers, and the insurance solution tailored to gold buyers who send regular volumes.
Hidden Exclusions by Carriers: The Trap of Terms and Conditions
Before sending any precious metals, read your Carrier terms and conditions. You may be surprised by what you find there.
La Poste: Declared Value and Colissimo Assurance Business are capped at €5,000 per shipment, and unprocessed precious metals (ingots, gold scrap, coins with face value) are explicitly excluded from certain offers. For gold redemption shipments exceeding this threshold, postal coverage is void.
Express carriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) : Their terms and conditions generally exclude "precious stones, precious metals, and jewelry" from standard coverage. They do offer special Art & Valuables services, but at rates close to 1.5% with cumbersome declaration procedures and compensation delays of 60 to 90 days.
Contractual gap: A package of gold shipped without a specific declaration of value or ad valorem insurance is covered up to €26/kg (CMR convention). For €25 , 000 worth of gold scrap weighing 200 grams, compensation would be €5.20 ( at the February 2026 rate).
The first line of protection is therefore not the packaging: it is the insurance contract that you sign before handing over the package to Carrier.
The Psychology of Packaging: The Principle of Anonymity
When transporting precious metals, packaging has a function that other product categories do not have: invisibility.
A package that attracts attention is a package at risk. Targeted thefts at sorting centers or during handling almost always occur with packages that are identifiable by their potential contents. The expert rule is simple and absolute.
Never use on packaging:
- Adhesive tape or boxes labeled "Jewelry," "Gold Counter," "Gold & Silver," or any other sign identifying the sector.
- Packaging in colors that are characteristic of your brand
- Your full company name as the sender if it contains the words "gold," "jewelry," "precious," or "repurchase."
Best practices for packaging:
- Use initials or a neutral name as the sender (e.g., "E. Martin" rather than "Martin Gold & Silver Counter").
- Opt for standard boxes and envelopes without external customization.
- Never mention the nature or value of the contents on the outside—a requirement also stipulated in the Claisy conditions to maintain coverage.
This principle of anonymity is the first barrier against targeted theft. It does not protect against all risks, but it eliminates the risk of opportunity, which accounts for the majority of disappearances in transit.
The Secure Envelope Protocol: VOID Bag Technique
The main problem with shipping precious metals is not external theft of the package. It is internal substitution: someone opens the package, removes some or all of the contents, and reseals it. Without proof of tampering, the dispute becomes impossible to resolve.
The answer to this risk isthe security-sealed envelope, known as a "VOID bag" or Securipak.
How the VOID Seal works
These envelopes or pouches are manufactured with a special adhesive closure that leaves a visible and irreversible message ("OPENED" or "VOID") on the protective film as soon as someone attempts to open or peel them off. Any attempt to open them is permanent and cannot be erased.
Consequence for insurance: If your package arrives with a VOID seal activated, you have physical evidence of tampering. At Claisy, this evidence can be used directly in the investigation of the claim and significantly speeds up the decision-making process.
Practical Recommendations for Shipping Valuable Goods
- Choose envelopes with unique numbering: note the number before sending and communicate it to the recipient. Any discrepancy in the number upon receipt is a reportable anomaly.
- For high-value shipments (> €2,000), use a double VOID envelope: an inner envelope around the jewelry and an outer envelope for the whole package. Opening either envelope leaves a trace.
- Keep a photo of the seal before closing: legibility of the number, intact condition of the protective film.
Claisy: The Ad Valorem Alternative
Why a Fixed Rate is More Profitable for Professionals
Traditional transport insurance policies offered by express carriers generally operate in tiers: $0 to $1,000 (fixed rate), $1,000 to $5,000 (tier 2), etc. For a gold buyer who ships varying volumes each week, this system results in either costly over-insurance or dangerous under-insurance.
Claisy operates on a single ad valorem rate of 0.60% Excluding VAT rate reserved for jewelers, gold buyers) regardless of the value shipped (up to €100,000). It is proportional, predictable, and competitive.
Claisy operates as a specialized Insurtech broker, which allows it to pool risk across a large portfolio of e-commerce and high-value shipping professionals. It is this model that justifies a rate of 0.60% where traditional insurers start at 1%-1.5% for precious metals.
The savings vs. DHL insurance: €40 per shipment. For a professional sending 3 shipments per week, or approximately 150 shipments per year: €6,000 in annual savings for equivalent coverage, with a compensation period reduced by a factor of 20.
Information on the carriers' terms and conditions and coverage limits is provided for informational purposes only and is subject to change. Please check the conditions in effect at the time of your shipment. ⚠️: For unprocessed precious metals, contact Claisy directly to check the coverage applicable to your situation.