Gold Purity Test: Sure-shot ways to check the purity of your gold (2024)

Gold is among the most expensive metals on the planet and is also known to be the symbol of royalty. The purity of gold is calculated based on Karats. However, 24k gold cannot be used to shape jewellery and ornaments. Pure gold is 24k, thus an alloy of 14k to 18k is usually used for producing jewellery, which at times gives room to fraudsters to dupe customers with fake gold. Therefore, you should know how to check gold purity at home and can save yourself from buying fake gold.

The magnet test is the easiest way to check the purity of gold and is inexpensive too. Gold is a non-reactive and non-magnetic metal, whereas the other metals do have magnetic properties. Thus, if you put real gold near a magnet, you will notice no change. However, if it is fake then it will immediately get attracted to the magnet. Magnet is readily available in the market and the test is completely safe to conduct.

Gold is a hard metal with high density, thus float test works best in determining the authenticity of the gold ornaments. It is also one of the easiest ways of checking gold purity at home, thus you can put your gold jewellery in a bucket of water and if it sinks then it is made of pure gold. As pure gold is dense and thus will not float while other metals would or at least hover over water.

An acid test is another reliable method to check your gold at home, but this must be carried with all precautions in a well-ventilated room. You need a gold testing acid kit comprising hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, with a black stone similar to the jeweler's stone. Thus, rub your piece of jewellery on the stone and then add nitric acid to the mark. If the mark dissolves, then it confirms the gold is pure.

The hallmark test is the initial inspection for testing the purity of gold. If you have a stamped hallmark then it would testify to its purity. The hallmark specifies the purity of gold in karats which should be certified by the BIS. Manufacturers also stamp an identity mark on their ornaments, thus you can use the hallmark test to check gold purity without spending anything.

Gold has a natural yellow radiance and people with enough experience can judge its purity by the colour. The purity of gold is measured in carat age and the purest form of gold is 24k. Mostly 14k to 18k gold is used to produce jewellery and is considered pure, as 24k gold is very soft. Metals like copper or silver are mixed with 24k gold to increase its durability.