How to Check the Purity of Gold and Silver at Home?

Humans have always adored the precious metals. Be it gold or silver, they have had sacred places in our hearts and traditions. Decades ago, precious metals were used as a form of currency. Today, rare metals are not only brought for their beauty but also as an additional investment. People are investing their money in metals such as gold and silver, they consider it as a way to preserve their buying power. But just like any other form of investment, the legitimacy and authenticity of the gold and silver we buy matters the most. This is the reason why you should always test your silver and gold. Testing these metals will also save you from any fraudulent transaction.
If you are thinking of investing in valuable metals, it is in your best that you verify the quality of the product. Fortunately, testing precious metals is much easier than you think. In a matter of few minutes and with the help of right materials, you can test the legitimacy of these precious metals right at your home!

Below are 5 different test you can use to save yourself from buying any counterfeit.

Test 1: Size & Weight

Besides being extremely precious metals adorned by everyone, gold and silver are extraordinarily dense metals, pretty much denser than other common metals. This characteristic of gold and silver can make it easier for you to identify fake gold and silver items. So let’s first start with checking their size and weight. By simply comparing the diameter and thickness of the gold and silver coin in question with other genuine metals you can recognize the real gold. Also, many coins, jewellery items, and gold bars have their weight inscribed on them. You can also simply compare the inscribed value with the actual weight of the product. Use a jeweller’s scale or a set of calipers to test the size, weight, and dimension.

Test 2: Marking & Relief

Typically, all metalwork bears mint mark of their producer. For example, in India, hallmarking of all gold jewelry is essential. A BIS Standard mark, Purity Grade, Hallmarking center marks, Year of Marking, and Jewelers identification mark ensures the purity of gold. Check for such marks, which are certified by the government or any other authoritative department.

Test 3: Magnet Test

Unlike most metals, gold and silver are not magnetic in nature. It means that authentic gold and silver metals will not stick to a magnet. To conduct this test, use a strong magnet and bring it closer to the metal. If it does not stick, the metal is authentic. It is advisable to use one more test with magnetic test to test the authenticity.

Test 4: Ringing Test

If you have a pure piece of silver or gold with you, it should chime. To conduct this test, pick up a smooth piece of metal and hit it against your precious metal. When you strike metal with metal it should continue to ring for upto 2 minutes. But if you hear a dull sound for just a few seconds, you might have a fake piece of gold or silver with you.

Test 5: Acid Test

Precious metals like gold, platinum and silver can withstand corrosion and oxidation. An acid test verifies the legitimacy through a simple chemical reaction. Purchase a gold and silver acid test kit. Carefully read all the instructions before performing the test. Observe the color change to know the authenticity of the metal. If you observe green, brown and red colours, it means your silver is authentic.  
There are plenty of ways to test the validity of precious metals. These metals are expensive and come with hefty price tag. Any kind of fraud or inaccuracy will cause you a huge discomfort. You should learn the tricks to check the purity of metals. Still, it is highly recommended that you take help from a recognized metal testing labs to confirm authenticity.
Metal testing labs have a qualified and professional team who test the metals for any inaccuracy and give faster and trustworthy results. A professional metal testing services provider will test the precious metals and check whether it conforms to national and international industry standards for fineness and purity. This will save you from any unnecessary inconvenience and troubles. Follow the above tricks and rightly invest your hard earned money in genuine products: