How to Check Gold Purity at Home: Simple Tests You Can Do

Gold purity is an important factor when deciding to buy, sell, or pledge it for gold loans. Many people like to test their gold at home before taking it to a jeweller, as it offers quick confirmation and greater assurance. This guide provides simple steps to assess your gold's purity.

Gold Purity Chart: Understanding Karat Gold

To test your gold at home, you must first understand what ‘purity’ means and how gold is measured in karats.

Pure gold is very soft and can be easily bent or reshaped. Therefore, goldsmiths mix other metals to prevent them from bending or being damaged during everyday wear. Karat gold indicates the amount of pure gold in an ornament compared to other metals mixed to create the jewellery. The karat number tells you how many parts out of 24 are pure gold. Check the gold purity chart below for a better understanding:

Read Also: What is the Difference Between 22 Karat and 24 Karat Gold?

Smart Ways to Check Gold Purity at Home

Before taking your gold to a jeweller for assessment, testing your gold for its purity at home can be done with a few basic tests:

Check Hallmark Stamps

The easiest test to conduct is to look for hallmark stamps on gold ornaments. Gold items with a BIS hallmark generally have the following:

• The BIS logo (Bureau of Indian Standards)
• Karat/purity marking (e.g., 916 for 22K, 750 for 18K, 585 for 14K)
• The hallmarking centre’s identification/assay centre code
• The jeweller’s identification mark

If your gold item has a clear hallmarked stamp, you can be sure that its purity has been officially certified.

Magnet Test

Gold, in its purest form, is not attracted to magnets. Therefore, if your gold item attracts a magnet, it is likely made of other metals or only gold-plated. If it does not respond to a magnet, it is a good sign; however, this alone is not enough to confirm its purity. You can use the following methods for conformity.

Ceramic Scratch Test

A straightforward method for testing gold purity is the ceramic scratch test. Simply rub the gold item on an unglazed ceramic tile. If the tile shows a golden streak, the item is likely real gold. If it leaves a black or grey streak, the item is likely made of base metals. Use caution when performing this test to avoid scratching or damaging the jewellery.

Density Test

Due to its high density, a pure gold item will sink quickly in water. To perform this test, drop the item into water and observe the result. If the item floats or remains suspended, it may contain hollow areas or a high proportion of other metals. This float test is suitable for gold coins and bangles.

Skin Sensitivity Observation

Alloys of gold can cause skin discolouration. If you notice any green, red, or black discolouration after wearing the gold item, it means the item contains copper or nickel. Pure gold ornaments rarely produce a negative reaction with the skin.

Nitric Acid Test

Apply one drop of nitric acid to a lightly scratched, hidden area of the gold item. If the gold is pure, there will be no reaction. If the item is not pure gold, a green or milky reaction will occur. Use caution when performing this test, as it may damage delicate pieces.

Factors That Influence Gold Purity Test Results at Home

Understanding these crucial factors that affect gold purity tests will help you avoid confusion when testing at home. 

Impact of Other Metals Like Copper, Silver, and Nickel in Gold Alloys

The metals in gold alloys can affect the colour, weight, and other features of jewellery during home tests. Gold jewellery with a higher copper content often has a reddish hue. Jewellery that contains more silver appears paler compared to other gold pieces.

Intricate and Lightweight Gold Jewellery May Affect Test Accuracy

Jewellery with intricate designs has a lower exposed-gold surface area than simpler pieces, which can affect the accuracy of ceramic streak and magnet tests. Hollow gold jewellery may contain air pockets or fillers, leading to inaccurate buoyancy test results. Additionally, gold-plated jewellery can exhibit features and reactions different from those of solid gold or gold-alloy jewellery.

Differences Between Pure Gold, White Gold, and Rose Gold

Gold comes in various colours. Rose gold contains more copper, while white gold includes nickel or palladium. These metals also influence how gold reacts to its environment. Due to the effects of these additional metals, home tests should be considered only preliminary. They should not be viewed as a definitive determination of whether an item is real gold.

Also Read :- Are Gold Loan Repayments Affected by GST? Know the Facts

To Conclude

Knowing the purity of your gold gives you peace of mind and helps you make informed financial decisions when selling, pledging, or exchanging it. Testing your gold at home can provide a general idea of its value. However, for pledging purposes, having your gold tested by a professional ensures an accurate valuation. 

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FAQs

How does mixing gold with other metals affect its colour?

Other metals, such as silver, copper, and nickel, alter the colour and strength of gold, creating alloyed forms such as white gold and rose gold.

Is the nitric acid test on gold jewellery damaging?

Yes, nitric acid can damage the surface of gold. Therefore, it should only be applied to hidden or barely noticeable areas of the jewellery.

How does choosing high-purity gold affect its long-term value?

Selecting gold with confirmed purity helps preserve its long-term worth for future resale, inheritance, or investment.

Why is it important to verify the purity of gold before buying jewellery or gold coins?

The purity of gold directly affects its price, valuation, resale value, and financial planning, making verification essential before purchase.

Do home gold testing methods have complete accuracy?

Only an initial sign of purity can be obtained with home gold testing. For more accurate results, professional methods such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing are recommended.