Have you bought gold jewellery on Dhanteras and not sure about the purity of the item? Though gold hallmarking is mandatory now for all products, large or tiny, sold by jewellers, customers still want to be sure about the purity of gold items they intend to purchase or have already bought. In this article, we will learn how to check gold purity at home. There are more than seven tests to check gold at home.

Gold may have a specific purity mark, but this is not always proof of its actual gold content. Some low-quality gold products have higher fineness markings. Also, there are gold-plated fake products.

On the other hand, you may have an unmarked gold piece. In such a case, you need to confirm it. All of these reasons explain how important it is to know whether gold is real or not. It will help you protect your investment, properly evaluate your property, or make sure you are getting the gold you are paying for.

Gold hallmarking is mandatory for 6 purity levels – 24 carat, 23 carat, 22 carat, 20 carat, 18 carat and 14 carat. For 24-carat gold, 995 fineness is used for hallmarking.

Gold hallmarking is mandatory for jewellery and artefacts. Hallmarking is not mandatory for gold coins, gold biscuits and gold chocolates.

You will learn how to avoid buying fake gold products by following a few simple steps. But before we get into the specific steps of testing gold, let’s recall its key characteristics.

Also read: Sovereign Gold Bonds or Gold ETFs: What should you buy this Diwali-Dhanteras

Characteristics of gold:

First, let’s recall the chemical characteristics of gold. The chemical symbol for gold is Au. Gold is a long-lasting metal because it:

It is resistant to oxidation – it does not tarnish or rust.

Gold is non-magnetic – still wondering “is gold magnetic?” – now you know it is not.

It is highly thermally and electrically conductive – plus it is corrosion-resistant. That’s why it is indispensable in electronics.

Gold dissolved only by nitro-hydrochloric acid – a mixture of 75% nitric acid and 25% hydrochloric acid which is yellow-orange in colour.

Gold is malleable – it can be pressed into very thin sheets, 10 times thinner than sheets of paper. These sheets are used for infrared reflectance, dental fillings etc.

Gold is ductile – it can be drawn into thin wires which are deposited on circuits, such as transistors, useful as brazing alloys, industrial solder, orthodontic appliances, jet engine manufacturing etc.

Since gold is sextile, its alloys are usually measured according to the karat system. One karat is the unit that is equal to 1/24th of the actual gold in the alloy.

So, when you see 24K, it means it is pure gold. However, 18K gold items indicate that it is only 18 parts pure gold and six parts other metals.

You can also know the reality of gold from the millesimal fineness system. The purity of gold is expressed in thousandths of the mass of the actual gold in the alloy. Check out the gold purity chart below, which displays the difference between these two scales and the percentage of the actual gold content. You should remember that products with a karat value of less than 10K are not counted as commercial gold products according to US standards.

Also read: Sovereign Gold Bonds or Gold ETFs: What should you buy this Diwali-Dhanteras

Here are 7 ways to test gold at home

Magnifying glass Test: You can use a magnifying glass to test your gold item’s purity. Look for signs of discoloration, as real gold does not tarnish. Genuine gold should have a soft yellow color and no excessive shine.

Hallmark test: Always check official marking called Hallmark on your jewelry. Genuine gold items have purity marks (in Karats) and the manufacturer’s stamp.

Skin test: Hold the gold item for a few minutes. If it discolors your skin (black or green), it’s likely fake. Ensure your skin is clean for accurate results.

Makeup test: Apply a thin layer of foundation on your skin and press the gold against it. A black streak indicates authentic gold; no streak suggests it might be fake or gold-plated.

Float test: Fill a cup with water and drop in your gold item. Genuine gold will sink due to its high density. If it floats or hovers, it’s likely fake or plated. This test is not foolproof, as some fake items can also be dense.

Magnet test: Gold is not magnetic. Use a strong magnet; if it attracts the gold, it’s likely not real. However, some non-magnetic fake items exist, so further tests may be necessary.

Acid test: This is the most accurate method. Use a gold testing acid kit, which includes nitric acid. Apply a drop to a small scratch on the gold item. A green reaction indicates fake gold, while no reaction suggests high purity.