Xrf Thermo Scientific Gold Test
Its the most expensive precious metal tester, yet the most accurate and nondestructive one. This gold analyzer uses X-ray fluorescence spectrometers to test the gold piece. The device sends X-rays through the sample and makes atoms get momentarily excited, moving them into a higher energy state. When the atoms return to their ground state, they release radiation which is detected and read by the machine. The machine returns the exact Karat or metal composition of the tested piece. It also comes with a unique AuDIT gold-plating detection technology which alerts you if the tested item is gold plated.
So How Can I Test Gold At Home
Now that you know golds properties, the following tests will help you determine if your gold is real, and what is its true purity. Below are the most common ways to test gold, and you should always do more than one to test your gold. These include simple procedures from how to test gold at home to using gold testing machines for getting the most accurate results. First, we will start with DIY gold testing.
Performing A Density Test
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Look For Gold Hallmarks
The quickest and simplest way to check the authenticity of your gold is to inspect the piece for an official stamp. A magnifying glass may be helpful for this step. The stamp will show the purity of the gold in karats or fineness .
Is 10k gold any good?
Pure gold is 24k, while anything less than 10k is not considered real gold in the United States. Keep in mind that if its an older piece, like a gold heirloom, the stamp may not be visible anymore due to wear or previous repairs/work. Its also important to realize that even fakes can have an authentic looking stamp, so you may need to investigate further than just a visual inspection.
Another easy thing to look for is discoloration. Its not unusual to find discoloration from wear on the edges of the piece or in areas that experience heavy frictionthe key is whats underneath the gold thats coming off. If wear reveals another metal underneath the gold layer, your jewelry is probably gold plated, not 100% gold. Discoloration can also appear on your skin when wearing gold jewelry. If your jewelry leaves any green or black discoloration it is not real gold.
Test Your Gold Coins Weight And Size
The following test is also a fairly simple way to test your gold at home. Bullion coins come with a specific set of weight and size. This will give you a reference point to test your gold coins authenticity. Since gold is one of the densest metals on the planet, its close to impossible to replicate the exact physical properties such as seize and weight. For example a fake Maple leaf would need to be thicker or wider to exactly match the weight of the real one. Similarly, a Fake Maple Leaf that has the exact dimenions of the real one will be noticeably lighter.
Below you can find the weight, size and thickness of the most traded bullion coins world-wide.
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Test Against A Ceramic Tile
This test involves scratching your gold item however, you should be able to get results with minimum damage. Find or purchase an unglazed ceramic tile. It must be unglazed since tile glaze affects the results. Gently rub your item against the tile until you see fragments of gold flaking off. If it leaves a gold streak, theres a good chance your item is real gold. A black mark indicates the gold is fake.
Magnet Testing Not The Best Method
Testing a gold chain with a magnet is a popular way to check if the piece is fake.
The logic behind magnet testing is that since gold is not magnetic, a gold chain should not be attracted to the magnet. If it is, then it means that it contains other metals.
There are a few of problems with magnetic testing, however, which make it an unreliable method.
First, a chain can be made of solid gold, but the gold alloy can also contain magnetic metals, which will make the piece magnetic even though it is not fake.
Second, gold is not the only non-magnetic metal. There are other metals used in jewelry that are not attracted by a magnet. So it is possible for a chain to pass the magnet test and still turn out to be fake.
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Karat Rating Measures Gold Purity
Karat tells you the percentage of real gold in your jewelry relative to other metals. It indicates the fineness and quality of your item. The higher the karat value, the greater the proportion of actual gold metal in your object. An 18 karat gold ring will be made from 75% pure gold and 25% base metal . A 9 karat gold ring will contain only 37.5% pure gold. In the US and Canada, the most frequently used karat values are 14 karat and 18 karat . In the UK, 9, 18 and 24 carat gold are the most frequently used alloys.
An Easy Way To Tell If Your Gold Jewelry Is Fake
Last year for Valentine’s Day, your significant other gifted you a beautiful gold necklace .
But ever since, you’ve been tinged with an ounce of suspicion every time you catch a glimpse of it sitting on the nightstand. Did they really splurge on a high-quality 24-karat piece?
It turns out you dont have to make a trip to the jeweler to find out.
In the video above, Jeff Rossen, NBC News National Investigative Correspondent and host of Rossen Reports, shares with us a super easy way to figure out if your gold is real or not right at home.
A few men are going to be sleeping in the doghouse tonight.
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How To Get A 100% Accurate Gold Test
These DIY gold authentication tests are a good place to start if youre curious about an items authenticity. However, theyre not reliable or accurate when it comes to buying, selling, or investing in gold.
When you want a professional-grade reading, its best to take your gold coins and bars into a highly qualified and experienced precious metals consultant such as Scottsdale Bullion & Coin. This is the only way to get an accurate gold test.
At Scottsdale Bullion & Coin, we utilize industry-leading gold testing equipment to accurately determine the authenticity of gold coins and bars, as well as other precious metals. Watch the video below to learn more about the gold testing machines our experts use.
How To Test If Gold Is Real
A true symbol of high status, success, and prosperity, gold is a luxurious, highly desired precious metal. However, even if you own a stamped gold piece, its hallmark isnt a guarantee of its real gold content. This article reveals you the best testing methods on how to perform a proper gold test. Remember that you can always get a free top-notch appraisal from our expert NYC Bullion team.
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The Gold Coin Ping Test
Lay the gold coin on the top of your finger and strike it gently with another coin.
The gold coin ping test is a very quick way to test wheter your gold is real or not. If you gently strike your precious metals with another coin it will make a long, high-pitched ringing sound as opposed to base metals, whose respective sounds will be much shorter and duller. To perfrom the ping test for your gold coin do the following:
If you are in doubt what you should hear, listen to this youtube video.
How To Tell If Gold Is Real / How To Test Gold At Home
Counterfeit gold is common, so its helpful to understand some of the properties of this precious metal to determine whether your piece is in fact real gold. The first is that gold is not magnetic, so if you notice that your jewelry or bar jumps toward a magnetic surface, it is not real. Gold also doesnt corrode or tarnish, unlike aluminum, copper, silver, and brass. Therefore, if you notice any oxidation on your gold piece, it is not completely gold.
Another simple method is the float test. Drop your piece into a glass of water. If it sinks quickly, its more likely to be real gold since gold has a higher density than other metals. However, some metals that can pass for gold are also heavy, so this is a good test to try in conjunction with others.
The scratch test is a great way to determine if your jewelry is real gold, but it can damage your piece, so be careful. To perform this test, rub your gold against a piece of unglazed ceramic or porcelain. If the mark left is gold-colored, your piece is very likely real gold. If the mark is black, the piece is not real.
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The Smell Test: Ideal For Small Gold Pieces
While this test is far from being the most reliable way to tell real gold from fake gold, it’s one of the easiest and quickest to do, and will not damage your jewelry.
You know that awful smell your hands get after you hold some coins in it for some time? We’re looking for that smell in this test.
This test can be done in three easy steps:
You see, one cheap metal used in the making of coinage is brass, a mixture of copper and zinc along with other materials. Brass can look like gold, especially if made into an alloy with other metal, to try to approximate gold’s weight and color. However, brass is much more reactive than gold when in contact with salty water and air, it produces the characteristic acidic smell most coins have, due to an electrolytic reaction.
As such, if your “gold” jewelry exhibits the same smell, it very likely is not real gold, or at least not pure gold. But even if your gold jewelry passes this test, it can still be fake gold.
How To Test Gold At Home
If youve ever bought a piece of gold that youre not sure is real, you want to figure out quickly if its real or not! Luckily, its easy to test gold at home to save you time and money from having a professional assess the item.
When most people think of testing gold at home, they might think of gold panhandlers biting a chunk of gold to see if its real. Thankfully, there are easier ways to see if your gold is real at home.
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We recommend doing more than one of these tests to verify. If youve done multiple tests and get similar results, youre likely on track to determining whether or not your gold is real at home!
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Perform An Acid Test To Authenticate Gold
This at-home gold test may be difficult since it can be hard to obtain nitric acid and theres always risk involved when bringing any type of acid into your home. If you do perform this task, you should wear a mask since this can be a potential health hazard if not handled properly. If youre uncomfortable with this process, leave it to the professionals!
Many jewelers use the nitric acid method to determine the authenticity of gold jewelry. Drop a small amount of nitric acid onto the piece and look for a reaction.
If the jewelry is gold plated, you may have to make a tiny scratch in the metal to allow the acid to saturate the underlying metal.
If the acid produces a green reaction, the jewelry in question is probably a base metal or gold plated. A white, milky reaction is most likely indicative of gold plating over sterling silver.
What you really want to see is no reaction at allreal gold should not react when it comes in contact with nitric acid.
What Is White Vinegar
White vinegar is an acidic solution that is made from a combination of acetic acid and water . It is a versatile solution with antibacterial and antifungal properties, that can be used for many different tasks. Although it is a mildly corrosive liquid, it will not harm gold in any way, which makes it the perfect solution for testing if a sample is real gold. You can purchase white vinegar from your local supermarket or hardware store.
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What If I Want A Professional To Examine My Gold
All of these tests can be performed at home some with more caution than others. However, none of these methods are infallible. The best way to tell if gold is real or not is to have a reputable jewelry buyer take a look at it. This way, youre able to get an honest assessment of your jewelry or watch from a competent gold buyer.
Most jewelry stores charge a small fee to test if your gold is real, but Leo Hamels offers this service for free.
If you are in the San Diego region and would like your jewelry or watches tested to see if they are real gold, fill out this web form or contact us at 299-1500 and well evaluate it for free. If you enjoyed this article about testing your gold to see if its real, please share this on Facebook!
Using A Nitric Acid Test
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Drop The Item In Water
Fill a container at least half-full with water, plenty to cover your gold item with some to spare. Gently drop your gold item into the water. Real gold is a heavy metal and will not float, so if your gold item floats you know it is not real gold. Also, if you notice rust or tarnishing on the item after being in water, this is also a sign it is not real gold since gold doesnt rust or tarnish. Given the risk of tarnishing, you may not want to do this experiment with an item that is valuable to you.
