A motorcycle taxi driver bought an old silver box and an old gold bracelet for 150 baht. At a gold smelting shop, they were found to be genuine gold worth over 100,000 baht.Tags: [motorcycle taxi, gold, silver, secondhand market, local business]
At Mangkorn Gold Smelting Shop in front of Rattanakosin 200 Years Village, a video was posted showing a motorcycle taxi driver bringing an old silver box and a vintage gold bracelet, which looked like fake gold, to be melted down. Mr. Sirasak Butchai, a shop employee and smelting technician, examined the items to determine if they were genuine silver or gold. The motorcycle taxi driver came with his girlfriend on 28 Aug 2026 GMT+7.Tags: [gold testing, local business, video, Rattanakosin 200 Years Village, inspection]
Mr. Chokcherd Duangngoen, 45, a motorcycle taxi driver, said he works as number 53 in his area. On a recent Friday to Sunday, there was a flea market selling antiques by the Rangsit railway. That day, he bought an old silver box for 100 baht and a bracelet resembling fake gold for 50 baht. He then took these items to Mangkorn Gold Smelting Shop in front of Rattanakosin 200 Years Village, where Mr. Sirasak Butchai examined them.Tags: [motorcycle taxi, flea market, antiques, Rangsit, gold testing]
Mr. Sirasak Butchai, a smelting technician at the shop, explained that when someone brings old silver boxes and gold-like bracelets to the shop, they conduct detailed tests using a German-standard Fresher device. This device reveals the mineral content and shows the percentage of gold present as well as other components.Tags: [gold testing, German equipment, smelting shop, mineral analysis]
After testing, it was found the silver box weighed 156.88 grams and was genuine silver, valued at over 9,844 baht. The gold bracelet was genuine gold, weighing 24.30 grams and valued at more than 94,881 baht. The combined value paid was 104,725 baht. Both customers were so happy they teared up after bringing these antiques to have them verified at the gold smelting shop.Tags: [gold valuation, silver, customer reaction, antiques, local business]
Mr. Sirasak added that the customer regularly brings rings, necklaces, and silver items found at flea markets for testing. On that day, the items included a silver box and a bracelet that looked like gold but appeared fake to the naked eye. However, after testing with the device, it showed a gold percentage. They asked permission to gently open the surface to test again, confirming the gold content and weight.Tags: [customer routine, flea markets, gold testing, verification process]
He said the customer was delighted to find the bracelet was genuine gold. Their shop carefully calculates the value down to decimal points, accepting all weights shown on the scale regardless of gold percentage. The gold content that day was about 80-90%. The total amount paid for both items was over 100,000 baht. The female companion was so excited she cried, and initially, the man could hardly believe he would receive so much money.Tags: [valuation process, customer emotion, gold content, precise measurement]
Mr. Chokcherd revealed that before obtaining these valuable items, his motorcycle used for work near Wat Rangsit was stolen from in front of his home. He borrowed his mother's old motorcycle to continue working as a taxi driver and visited the antique market, where he found these valuable items. He considers it luck both to find valuable antiques and to meet a shop that thoroughly checks items. He said other shops only perform rough checks, so if it weren’t for this detailed test, the gold bracelet might have been discarded or lost. This good fortune allowed him to buy a new, good-condition motorcycle to continue making a living.Tags: [motorcycle theft, livelihood, luck, antique market, gold verification]
He continues to collect antiques from markets as a side activity, learning and practicing the skills. He always carries a magnifying glass to check for gold or silver stamps on items. Previously, he brought a vintage triangular pen with a 13k gold stamp to the shop, which verified it as genuine silver, and he sold it for over 1,000 baht after buying it for only 10 baht.Tags: [side business, antiques collecting, gold stamps, magnifying glass, resale]