Curious to know if the gold you have is genuine? Whether it's gold jewelry passed down from your parents or gold bars received on special occasions like your wedding, how can you check its purity percentage? Today, Fancycollection.co has the answers and simple methods for testing gold purity that you won't want to miss!
How can you check the percentage of gold?
Gold Testing Stone This method involves rubbing the gold on a testing stone in a straight line about 1 cm long. Then, drop nitric acid on the area where the gold was rubbed. If the gold color remains, it indicates that it is 96.5% pure gold. However, if it’s fake gold, the color will disappear immediately.
Fire Test Pure gold is fire-resistant. If you burn the gold and it does not melt or turn black, it indicates that it is 96.5% pure gold. If there are black marks, it may be gold with a percentage lower than 90%. But don’t worry; you can soak it in a weak acid solution to remove the black marks.
Specific Gravity Soak the gold in Methylene Iodide solution. If the gold sinks, it indicates that it is 96.5% pure gold due to its high specific gravity. Fake gold will float. However, this method is suitable only for high-purity gold.
Gold Testing Machine This device analyzes the percentage of gold using X-ray fluorescence. It can quickly check the purity of gold without damaging the gold itself, making it ideal for checking large quantities of gold bars or jewelry.
Additional Simple Tips for Authenticating Gold
Weigh Comparison: Compare the weight with another piece of gold. Authentic gold will have similar weight if compared with the same item. Fake gold is often significantly lighter or heavier.
Hallmark: If you inspect it with a magnifying glass and see a hallmark, such as the percentage of gold or the name of the store, it indicates that it is genuine. However, don’t forget that fake gold can also have hallmarks.
Magnet Test: Pure gold will not be attracted to a magnet. If it’s fake gold that contains other metals, it will be attracted immediately.
Sound Test: When dropped on glass, pure gold produces a soft sound, while fake gold gives a sharp sound.
Water Test: Real gold will sink to the bottom of a container of water, while fake gold may float or change color.
Bite Test (Caution): Pure gold is malleable when bitten, but avoid biting hard as it may deform the gold.
Nitric Acid Test (Caution): If no marks appear after dropping nitric acid, it indicates that it is pure gold. Fake gold will show marks.
Ceramic Plate Test (Caution): Rubbing the gold on the bottom of a ceramic plate for about 15 seconds should leave no marks if it’s real gold. If there are black marks, it indicates it is fake gold with copper mixed in.
Fire Test (Caution): Pure gold will not melt or change color when burned, while fake gold will melt and deform.
No matter which method you choose, it's essential to be thorough and cautious in your examination to ensure that the gold you have is genuine and fully valuable!
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