How to Test Scrap Gold
- 1). Use your senses for preliminary testing on scrap gold. Feel it. Gold feels very smooth, and it flows when heated, so it does not have sharp edges.
- 2). Look at it. Check the color. The color is not a gaudy yellow like some imitation jewelry. Look for gold marks. Although this is not foolproof, items incised with a gold content mark are more likely gold.
- 3). Check the scrap gold with a loupe or magnifying glass on the edges where wear is most likely. If the edge shows wear, your piece is probably plated gold or costume jewelry.
- 1). Purchase an acid test kit. This kit for testing scrap gold comes with a stone and various bottles of acid that test for different karats of gold.
- 2). Find a spot that is least visible for scraping. This test is invasive and does some damage to your jewelry or scrap gold. Rake the scrap gold across the stone to make a visible line.
- 3). Drop a tiny amount of one of the acids on the line on the stone and watch for the result.
- 4). Check to see if the acid dissolved the line, or if the line held without dissolution. If the acid dissolves the line, use the 10-karat acid to test again. If the 10-karat acid solution dissolves the metal line, the scrap is not gold or is less than 10-karat gold. Some old gold is 9 karat, but American standards no longer consider less than 10 karat as gold.
- 1). Purchase an electronic gold tester. This tool operates on batteries and uses a gel to make a seal for testing. If you intend to buy and sell much gold, it is faster and more accurate than the acid test kit, and worth the purchase.
- 2). Connect the testing pen and clipboard to the electronic tester.
- 3). Turn the pen top counterclockwise to place a small amount of the gel on the end of the pen.
- 4). Place the edge of the scrap gold under the clip, and turn the tester on. Touch the pen to the gold and push the "test" button.
- 5). Wait for the result. A number will show on the screen. The number translates to a karat amount as shown on the front of the gold tester, so you can determine if your item is 10-karat, 14-karat or 18-karat gold---or somewhere in between those fractional amounts.