JAKARTA - A gold buying and selling stall stands simply on the edge\nof Senen Street and Senen Street III in Central Jakarta, right on the\ntree-shaded pavement.<\/p>\n
There is no large sign or luxurious display case like in typical\njewellery shops.<\/p>\n
Instead, what is visible is a small glass box resembling a mini\naquarium, framed in aluminium, placed on a stall table covered with old\nnewspapers.<\/p>\n
On the side of the glass box is a striking yellow-red inscription\nreading \u201cBUY GOLD\u201d, a clear indicator that the stall accepts direct gold\ntransactions on the spot.<\/p>\n
The bottom of the box is painted bluish-green, while the top is open\nwith a small glass door that can be opened and closed for transaction\nactivities.<\/p>\n
On the table, the atmosphere is filled with small items typical of\nstreet gold traders: transparent clip plastics containing metal\ngranules, a black testing stone used for rubbing gold, and small bottles\nof testing liquid.<\/p>\n
The bottles are small, clear, with pointed tips like pipettes,\nallowing the liquid to be dripped drop by drop onto the rub mark on the\ntesting stone.<\/p>\n
One of the most eye-catching items is a clip plastic containing\nsilver granules, shaped like small rough cylinders, not yet processed\ninto jewellery.<\/p>\n
The granules fill the bottom of the plastic, creating a\ncharacteristic metallic clinking sound when shaken.<\/p>\n
Behind this simple appearance, gold transactions take place almost\nnon-stop.<\/p>\n
This stall, along with several similar ones lined up around the Senen\nMarket area, serves as a shortcut for residents wanting to liquidate\njewellery without many procedures.<\/p>\n
Amid the popularity of digital gold investments and modern jewellery\nstores, roadside gold stalls remain resilient. In fact, some of them\noperate 24 hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf at a shop, they usually won\u2019t buy if there\u2019s no paperwork. But\nhere, even without papers, we\u2019ll buy it,\u201d said Limbong (45), a gold\ntrader who has been minding the stall for 10 years, when met by\nKompas.com on Tuesday (14\/4\/2026).<\/p>\n
Limbong is not the main owner of the business. He describes himself\nas just the stall keeper.<\/p>\n
However, his decade of experience is enough to read the changes in\nthe landscape of informal gold trading in Senen.<\/p>\n
He recounts that the street gold stalls have existed for decades. In\nthe past, there could be up to 30 traders in a row.<\/p>\n
They lined up long until nearing the hospital. Now, the number has\nshrunk drastically.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past, this place was full, up to 30 people lining up towards\nthe hospital. Now, only about nine people left in this Senen area,\u201d said\nLimbong.<\/p>\n
According to Limbong, the uniform form of the stalls is indeed a\ncharacteristic of Senen gold traders from way back.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it\u2019s been like this since the old days. The difference is, back\nthen they used candles, now they use lights at night,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The transaction process at the roadside gold stall does not require a\nspecial room. Buyers and sellers stand or sit facing each other on the\npavement, flanked by the sounds of vehicles and shouts from other\ntraders.<\/p>\n
When someone comes with jewellery, Limbong immediately asks for the\nitem to be tested. He rubs a small part of the gold on the black testing\nstone. After that, acid liquid is dripped on.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe test first, check the purity level. Rubbed on the stone, using\ntesting water. There\u2019s water to test if it\u2019s gold or not, and water to\ntest the gold purity in two types, Acid 1 and Acid 2,\u201d said Limbong.<\/p>\n
The liquid is known as nitric acid. Limbong explains that the colour\nreaction from the liquid helps the trader assess whether the item is\nreal gold or just plated.<\/p>\n
Once the purity is determined\u201418 carat, 22 carat, or 24 carat\u2014the\ntransaction moves to the bargaining stage for the price.<\/p>\n
On his stall table, a small digital scale is an equally important\ntool. Without it, the price cannot be determined.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn one transaction, I can get over Rp 200,000,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
However, Limbong emphasises that the profit is not always stable.\nSome days are busy, others are quiet.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/street-gold-buying-stall-in-senen-sidewalk-open-24-hours-sells-without-hassle-1776225053", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }