How Do Gold Buyers Test Gold? XRF, Acid Testing, Hallmarks and Weighing
At Sell Your Gold, we may test gold using hallmarks, XRF, acid testing, magnetic testing, and precision weighing, with the exact combination depending on the item. A plain gold chain, a mixed-metal piece of jewelry, a coin, and a bullion item may not need the same evaluation. If you want the full step-by-step selling process, our How It Works page explains the mail-in journey from requesting a kit through accepting an offer or having your items returned.
Key Takeaways
- Hallmarks and purity marks are helpful, but they are not the only evidence used to evaluate gold.
- Depending on the item, testing may include XRF, acid testing, magnetic testing, and precision weighing.
- Purity and precious-metal weight are important, but they don’t determine an offer by themselves.
- Coins, bullion, jewelry, and items with gemstones can require different evaluation methods.
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Why Do Gold Buyers Use More Than One Test?
Gold items can vary widely in construction, purity, condition, and form. A visible hallmark can be helpful, but a mark alone doesn’t always tell the full story. The same is true of appearance. Two pieces can look very similar while containing different amounts or types of precious metal.
That’s why professional evaluation usually relies on more than one piece of information. We may look at markings, weight, composition, and other item-specific characteristics before deciding which testing methods are appropriate. Using several relevant checks helps us evaluate the actual item rather than making assumptions based on appearance alone.
What Can Hallmarks and Purity Marks Tell You?
Hallmarks and purity marks can provide an early indication of what a piece is represented to contain. We inspect those marks as part of the evaluation, especially when they help identify karat or precious-metal purity.
But marks alone aren’t conclusive, so we do not rely on them by themselves to confirm an item’s precious-metal content or purity. That’s why hallmark inspection is only one part of a broader evaluation. When appropriate, we combine it with analytical testing and precision weighing for greater accuracy.
How Does XRF Help Test Gold?
X-ray fluorescence, commonly called XRF, helps our appraisers assess an item’s elemental composition without relying only on its color or markings. It gives us another way to evaluate what metals are present and supports our evaluation of the item’s precious-metal content.
XRF is useful because many pieces are not as simple as they first appear. Jewelry can contain solder, mixed components, stones, or different metal sections. The test results are considered alongside the construction of the item and other relevant checks rather than treated as a one-step answer for every piece.
When Is Acid Testing Used?
Acid testing can help evaluate gold purity by applying testing acid to a streak made from the item on a testing stone. The touchstone method described by GIA compares a streak from the item with samples of known karat purity on a testing stone, using their reactions to acid.
Our appraisers may use acid testing alongside other checks when it is appropriate for the item. You don’t need to perform an acid test yourself before sending your items.
Why Is Precision Weighing Important?
Weight is an important part of precious-metal evaluation, but the useful number isn’t always the simple total weight of everything placed on a scale. Stones, nonprecious components, mixed materials, or other construction details can affect how the relevant precious-metal weight is understood.
Sell Your Gold uses A&D EK-1200i precision scales as part of the evaluation process. We also use three weight-validation checkpoints during the receiving and evaluation process.
What Does Magnetic Testing Tell a Gold Buyer?
Magnetic testing checks whether an item or one of its components is attracted to a magnet. This can help identify components that need closer examination, but it does not establish the purity of the whole piece.
A gold chain can have a magnetic clasp. A nonmagnetic item is not necessarily gold, since other metals used in jewelry may also be nonmagnetic.
Are Coins and Bullion Tested the Same Way as Jewelry?
Not always. Coins and bullion can require different verification because their value may depend on more than precious-metal content alone. Depending on the item, we may consider weight, purity, mint or manufacturer, authenticity, condition, and potential numismatic value.
For eligible coins and bullion, Sell Your Gold may also use Sigma Metalytics precious-metal verification technology as part of authentication. The methods used depend on the item, so not every coin or bullion piece follows the same procedure.
What If Gold Jewelry Also Contains Diamonds or Gemstones?
When jewelry contains diamonds or gemstones, we evaluate those components separately from the precious-metal setting when relevant. Diamond characteristics can include carat weight, cut, color, clarity, natural or laboratory-grown status, and condition.
Our diamond evaluation capabilities can include Yehuda AI diamond detection and Presidium testing when appropriate, and Sell Your Gold works with professionals who have GIA training and education. This is another reason an item-specific evaluation matters. A gold ring with a diamond isn’t evaluated the same way as a plain gold band.
How Does Testing Affect the Offer?
Testing helps establish important facts about the item, especially precious-metal type, purity, and relevant weight. Those findings can then be considered with current market information and other item-specific characteristics.
Testing alone does not determine the offer. For a fuller explanation of how Sell Your Gold calculates an offer, visit our What We Pay page. Put simply, testing identifies what we are evaluating, while the offer reflects the value factors relevant to that item.
What Happens After the Evaluation?
After the evaluation, Sell Your Gold prepares an item-specific offer. For current offer terms and pricing details, review What We Pay; for the complete selling journey, review How It Works. If you want an item-specific evaluation, request a Free Appraisal Kit today.