How to Check Gold Purity: Simple Methods to Know What You're Buying
Introduction
- Importance of gold purity for value, resale, and authenticity
Gold is a precious metal, and something that is precious derives its value from its purity. Since gold is found naturally in the earth and can be mixed with various metals, it is difficult to understand the metal’s purity based on a good look. There are certain tests, checks and balances that help determine the true purity of the metal and if it is an authentic gold that you’re purchasing.
Determining gold’s purity accurately can help accurately determine its value, which is essential in determining the market price, resale value, and authenticity.
- Overview of common problems with impure or fake gold
One of the most common problems faced by the people with an untrained eye or ones who are unaware of the gold purity is that since gold is a highly malleable metal, it can be fused with other metals. This results in the resulting metal retaining gold’s shine, however being less pure. The issue with the less pure gold is that although it retains value proportionate to the amount of gold, however the appeal in the resale market lessens, as the market demand is usually not that high for less pure gold. Also, 24k pure gold can be used for a host of purposes to form various ornaments, jewellery, etc. which is not the case with impure gold.
When it comes to fake gold, it is even worse, fake gold only possesses the shine and looks of pure gold however the intrinsic value is negligible, and has almost no demand in the secondary market due to low use case.
What is Gold Purity?
- Explanation of karats (24K, 22K, etc.) and fineness (999, 916)
Gold’s purity is measured in terms of karats (K) higher karat means higher purity and vice versa. These karat values are determined by the percentage of pure gold metal that is found in the alloy. A karat value of 24 i.e. 24K gold signifies gold in its purest form i.e. 99.9% purity. A gold purity of 22k signifies gold purity at 91.6% i.e. 91.6% of the alloy is pure gold. The purity levels are also shown as 999 meaning 24K, 916 meaning 22K or 91.6% purity. Etc. While purchasing gold, it is essential to check the karat value of the gold to ensure that the purchased asset aligns with the price that is being paid for the same and the purity of the gold alloys.
- Why purity affects price and durability
Gold is naturally very malleable, i.e. it is soft enough to change shape with bare hands with minimal efforts. This is the reason why gold in its purest form is not preferred to make daily wear jewellery, and ornaments. To ensure usability and durability of gold, other metals in appropriate proportion are mixed with gold which helps gold retain its luster while providing strength to withstand usage by the gold jewellery buyers.
Common Methods to Check Gold Purity
a. Hallmark Inspection
- Look for official marks (e.g., BIS, 916)
This is one of the most reliable methods to check gold purity without doing any over the counter scientific checks. While purchasing gold jewellery from a gold shop, the buyers can look for a hallmark which is a symbol of purity rated by the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) accurately describing the purity of gold. I.e. 916 hallmark indicating 91.6% purity of gold or 22 karat, etc. One of the main benefits of purchasing hallmark gold is the time and effort it saves and the peace of mind, and the transparency on gold purity offered during gold purchase.
- Reliable if from certified sources
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is one of the most reliable rating agencies that checks the gold for its purity using scientific methods and rates the gold accordingly. Checking for purity rating while making a purchase from a jewellery store can give unparalleled comfort to the gold jewelry buyers regarding the authenticity and purity of their purchase.
b. Acid Test
- Uses nitric acid to test reaction on gold
An acid test is one of the most reliable, however old school methods to test gold purity. The test is done by scratching gold at a random place of the jewellery, then pouring acid and waiting for the acid’s chemical reaction with the metal. Once reaction takes place, the gold is then compared to the colour chart to determine the purity of the gold metal.
- Fairly accurate but may damage the item
Although the test is fairly accurate and reliable, the biggest drawback is that it damages the metal. This effect is even more compounded when checked on gold jewellery which may spoil the look and feel of the ornament, making it less desirable for use. Considering the advancement in technology and new testing machines in use, this method slowly fading with very less tests performed this way.
c. Electronic & XRF Testing
- Non-destructive and accurate
Electronic & XRF testing is the new thing. Gone are the days when jewellers used to check gold purity by performing an acid test or rubbing gold on a black stone or ceramic surface. Now all the jewellers simply need to do is to place the gold metal in any form be it ornament, or utensils and place it in the machine. The machine then accurately tests for the purity and weight and gives extremely accurate results pretty quickly.
- Often used by professionals and jewelers
This test is often used by professionals and jewelers who would want to determine the purity most accurately without relying on age-old methods and also without damaging the metal. This test helps determine the valuation of gold extremely efficiently which is beneficial for the ones who are in the gold business.
d. Basic At-Home Checks (Less reliable)
- Magnet test, float test, skin test
These tests are designed in such a way so that even a layman can perform these at home to ensure that their gold purchase is legitimate. Often, to fool the buyers, other metal in heavy quantities is mixed with gold or a thin layer of gold is plated on top of metal like iron to give an illusion of more weight. In such cases, a simple magnet can be used to determine if iron is used in the ornament and understanding gold purity. Due to iron’s inherent properties, it is attracted to magnets, hence using a magnet to test purity of gold can help buyers determine if there is iron in the ornament.
Such tests are less reliable and are susceptible to user bias, hence it is recommended to do a more scientific check rather than test gold at home.
- Good for spotting fake gold, not precise purity
Tests like magnet test, float test, and skin test are less reliable in the sense that these are good to determine if your jewellery in question is made of other metals disguised as gold, but these tests cannot determine the actual purity of the metal. In essence, these tests are not useful as there is no way to determine if the gold is 24 karat gold, 22 karat, 18 karat, or even 14 karat.
Where to Test Gold Professionally
- Certified jewelers, hallmarking centers, assaying labs
Gold can be tested using a variety of methods mentioned earlier in the article, however not all these testing methods can always be accurate. To ensure that you’re not cheated of your hard earned money and the gold that you’re purchasing is aligned with the price that you’re paying, it is recommended to get the gold tested professionally. One can do this by taking the gold to certified jewellers who use highly advanced technology to determine the accurate weight and purity of the ornament. Or one can even get the same tested at a hallmark centre where the gold purity is determined accurately and then the ornament is graded as per hallmarking standards.
Assaying labs is another solid option. These labs assess the purity of metals using highly accurate and scientific methods, leaving zero to almost no chance of an incorrect determination of purity.
- Typically low-cost and quick
Getting these tests done by either at certified jewellers, assaying labs, or hallmarking centers are actually low cost. These testing facilities often charge a flat fee irrespective of the value of the metal. Which is a great thing considering the ever rising price of gold, and potential of high financial loss. Considering these factors and potential risk, the cost of testing is relatively on the lower side.
Smart Tips for Gold Buyers
- Always buy hallmarked gold : Hallmarking is done at hallmarking centres by BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards). These gold markings facilities are highly reliable and only certify the purity of gold after careful and strict purity checks. It is recommended to only buy jewellery that has been assessed and certified by hallmark for purity.
- Get a bill with karat and purity details : Having a bill with accurate representation of weight, karat and purity details can help the buyer escape any sort of fraud concerning inaccurate price charged to the relative value of the gold asset. Buying a BIS hallmark gold can further solidify your purchase as a more legitimate one highlighting the purity
- Buy from trusted, certified sellers : Buying gold items from trusted sellers can help the buyers stay at peace of mind. As this minimizes the risk of frauds concerning purity and weight of the gold metal. However, it is recommended to do all the relevant quality checks and buy hallmarked gold to ensure that you are not cheated out of your money!
Conclusion
Gold value, value for resale, and purity are all proportional to its purity. Gold being a naturally occurring element and usually alloyed with other metals, the exact purity cannot be determined by visual inspection alone. It is hence extremely important to know how to accurately test gold purity. The purest gold, or 24K or 99.9% pure gold, is the most expensive but so soft and unsuitable for daily purposes. It is because of this reason that gold is generally alloyed with other metals in an effort to harden it and make it suitable for ornamentation and other applications. Less pure gold, like 22K (91.6% pure gold), is used more largely in ornaments because of this increased hardness.
There are a couple of tried and tested processes through which gold purity can be verified. One of the consumer-friendly and most desired processes is hallmark testing. BIS-approved or hallmark gold carries approved stamps such as "916" for 22K gold, verifying the metal's purity. Acid test is also one process that applies nitric acid to test for gold, noting chemical reactions. Although very accurate, it is destructive to the jewelry and is being replaced. Electronic and XRF testing is accurate and non-destructive analysis. These are done usually by experts and jewelers and guarantee purity without destroying the product.
Skin, float, or magnet tests for light can detect fake gold but not for actual purity testing. The test must be performed at hallmarking centers, labs, or trusted jewelers to get the best results. Customers must always buy hallmark gold, ask for an original bill of karat and purity declared, and buy from approved, certified sellers.
