Gold Purity Check: As soon as the festive season arrives, the demand for gold jewelery starts increasing in the market. On Dhanteras, a large number of people invest their savings in gold jewelery and coins. But a little carelessness while making expensive purchases can cost you dearly. Actually, the quality of every shiny jewelery available in the market is not the same. Therefore, while purchasing, it is not enough to just pay attention to the design and price, but it is also important to know how much gold is actually present in it.
The good thing is that now customers also have the digital facility to identify their jewellery. Important information related to jewelery can be obtained through BIS Hallmark and HUID code. Apart from this, some preliminary testing methods are also prevalent, but they do not guarantee the purity of gold.
A small code made on jewelery can reveal their identity
While buying gold jewellery, first look for the hallmarking marks on it. The hallmarking system of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) aims to provide consumers with reliable information about the quality of gold.
There are mainly three types of identification on hallmarked jewellery. These include the BIS logo, the fineness mark indicating the purity of gold and the six-digit HUID code.
For example, 22 carat jewelry may be marked 22K916 and 18 carat jewelry may be marked 18K750. With the help of these marks, customers can understand what purity of gold they have purchased.
How much real gold is there in 24, 22 and 18 carat?
Before buying jewellery, it is important to understand the meaning of carat. The purity of gold is measured on the basis of 24 parts. This is how different carats are identified.
- 24 carat: Approximately 99.9 percent pure gold. It is mainly used in making coins and gold bars.
- 22 carat: It contains about 91.6 percent gold. It is used in general gold jewellery.
- 18 carat: It contains 75 percent gold. It is quite popular in diamond and stone jewellery.
- 14 carat: About 58.5 percent gold is present in it.
Find out complete information about jewelery like this from smartphone (Gold Purity Check)
If you have purchased hallmarked jewellery, you can use BIS Care app to check its details. For this you do not need to go to any shop.
First of all install BIS Care app in mobile. After this open Verify HUID feature. Now enter the six digit HUID number recorded on your jewellery. Once the information is verified, the available hallmarking details of the concerned jewelery will appear on the screen.
This method is especially useful for those who want to be assured of the quality of the jewelry at the time of purchase.
These methods are given in the name of testing gold at home
Many home remedies for identifying gold are suggested on the internet. These include things like testing with magnet, water and vinegar. However, these methods do not prove the actual purity of gold.
Magnet probe: Gold is not normally attracted to a magnet. If a piece of jewelry is pulled by a magnet, it may contain magnetic metal. But not being attracted by a magnet is also not a proof of real gold.
Try putting it in water: Gold has a high density, but submersion of jewelery in water does not determine its purity. Therefore this method should not be considered as the final test.
Vinegar test: Some home remedies claim to identify gold with vinegar drops. But this does not give correct information about carat and is not appropriate to use on jewellery.
Rubbing: Rubbing the jewelry on a rough surface can damage its shine or surface. Even with this method accuracy is not confirmed.
By what techniques do jewelery experts do the actual testing?
To know the actual quality of gold, experts take the help of scientific instruments. XRF machine is an important technology in this. Through this, the structure of gold and other metals present in the jewelery is analyzed with the help of X-ray.
Whereas in fire assay test, the amount of gold is detected by testing the sample. This is considered a very accurate testing method, although samples are used in it.
You can also get the purity of old jewelery checked
If you have gold jewelery kept in your house which is many years old and does not have a hallmark, then its quality can still be checked. For this, BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Center can be contacted.
At such centres, the facility of testing jewelery is available as per the prescribed procedure and fee. After investigation, the customer can get information related to its accuracy.
Do not make these mistakes while buying gold on Dhanteras
While purchasing gold, always take a valid bill from the shopkeeper. Information like weight of the jewellery, carat, price of gold and making charges should be clear in the bill. Also don’t forget to check the HUID code.
The most important thing is not to judge the authenticity of the jewelery based only on its shine, color or home taste. Official hallmarks and certified tests are the best basis for understanding the quality of gold.