Want to know if the gold is real? Go for Gold Purity Check

May 24, 2024

Gold is among the most magical metals that appeal to our senses with its shimmering gold hue and worth. But you may have heard – Everything that glitters is not gold and this theory is pretty accurate because without the gold purity check, one cannot be sure whether what they are holding is really gold. Doesn’t matter if you are looking at gold as an investment or for jewellery, it is essential to know the purity of gold to avoid being conned.

So, we at GIVA will help you find out how to find gold purity, how gold is measured, and the techniques out there to check gold purity properly.

What is Gold Purity?

Gold purity means the proportion of actual gold in a gold jewellery piece, or gold bars and other products. Pure gold as named 24-karat (24K) gold is not suitable for general use because of its softness and easily deformable nature. Due to these low strength and ductility differences, pure gold is alloyed with other metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc. The level of purity is then given in karats with the 24K referring to pure gold and any number below 24, indicating the amount of gold in it.

Checking Gold Purity: How to Do it

Common Gold Purity Levels

24K Gold: 99.9% pure gold. It is bright yellow and very soft.

22K Gold: 91.6% pure gold. Mixed with 8.4% of other metals, often used in Gold Pendant Jewellery.

18K Gold: 75% pure gold. Contains 25% other metals, offering a good balance of purity and durability.

14K Gold: 58.3% pure gold. Common in jewellery, more affordable and more durable.

10K Gold: 41.7% pure gold. The lowest purity is legally considered gold in many countries, very durable and budget-friendly.

Why Gold Purity Matters

Gold purity directly affects the value, durability, and color of the gold item. Higher-purity gold items are more valuable but less durable, while lower-purity gold is stronger but contains more alloy metals. Understanding the purity helps in making informed decisions based on budget, usage, and personal preferences.

Methods to Check Gold Purity

1. Hallmarking

Hallmarks are imitation marks placed on articles of jewellery made of silver and gold to denote their standard quality. These are either set by government or private bodies whereby they act as a hallmark that confirms the karat of the gold. In many countries, hallmarks include:

The karat number (e.g., 22K, 18K, 14K).

The logo or the emblem of the concerned certification organization.

The jeweller’s mark.

How to Read Hallmarks:

Look for a stamp on the inner band of a ring, the clasp of a necklace, or the backside of a pendant.

Learn the symbols currently utilized in your country as they can guarantee the genuineness of the product.

2. Acid Testing

Being an ancient method of determining gold purity, the process starts with the use of a cupel, a set of acid solutions, and a touchstone. Here's how it works:

Place the gold item on a touchstone and move it around so that a stripe is left on a piece of paper.

Wash the streak with different kinds of acid solution, that is, wash the 14K sample with nitric acid, the 18K sample with hydrochloric acid, and so on.

Observe the reaction i.e. if the streak’s location is unchanged, the gold is of similar or better purity compared with the tested acid.

Pros and Cons:

Pros: More accurate and fairly reasonably priced than a lot of the restoring instruments.

Cons: Needs to be handled with Acids carefully and may cause damage to the gold piece if not done correctly.

3. Electronic Gold Tester

There are many types of equipment available to test the gold and one of them is the electronic gold tester which is fast and gives accurate readings of the gold. These devices apply some electrical current to the gold and measure the electrical conductivity and the result is displayed in terms of the karat value.

Just put the gold piece that requires testing on the sensor of the tester then look at the display for the karat reading.

Ideal for small businesses and personal usage for a moment.

Pros and Cons:

Pros: Quick, and severe but non-destructive and simple to operate.

Cons: One disadvantage that can be associated with initial cost, the cost of getting the device can sometimes be high.

4. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectrometry

There are different types of XRF spectrometry, and it is a very accurate technique employed by specialists when examining gold composition. This non-destructive method applies X-rays to stimulate the atoms in the gold sample and to use the fluorescent radiation output to infer the purity level.

This is common in jewellers, pawnshops, purchasers, and all who deal with valuable metals and other materials.

Comes with certain information other than the information relating to the purity of gold present in the exception complement.

Pros and Cons:

Pros: More precise and compliant.

Cons: Usually not affordable and not for individual use.

Let's Ring down the curtain:

There is nothing quite as crucial to someone in the gold buying or selling business as the ability to determine the purity of gold whether it be for gold jewellery, for junior mining companies investing in bullion, or for selling their gold items. Therefore, when evaluating the value and genuineness of your gold, you have mastered hallmarking, acid testing, electronic testers, and XRF spectrometry. In periods where the intention is to purchase gold, always ensure that you get it from the right dealers and highly accredited jewellers to get the real article in the expected purity.

At GIVA, we pride ourselves on transparency and quality, offering certified gold jewellery that meets the highest standards of purity. All our 14K & 18K gold jewellery comes with BIS Hallmark. Visit us to explore our exquisite collection and shop with confidence.

Back to blog