subject: What Do Gold Appraisers Look At Anyway? [print this page] What Do Gold Appraisers Look At Anyway? What Do Gold Appraisers Look At Anyway?
With the price of gold increasing in today's fluid currency market and huge nations' debts, more and more are looking at getting into the gold market. The buying and selling of gold can be as lucrative as any other investment; maybe even more. Unfortunately there is no accreditation requirement for gold appraisers. That being the case, you may or may not be getting top dollar in your assessment of your gold rings, earrings, coins and other valuables. You really are at the mercy of gold appraisers. What exactly are gold appraisers looking for?
Many factors are included in the valuing and appraisal of your jewelry. To complicate things, many jewelry pieces include stones. This adds to the appraisal factor exponentially include cut and clarity of the stone but that is a different subject. We're only saying that this adds a level of difficulty and agreement among gold appraisers. You must understand that if you sell your jewelry for its scrap value you're likely to lose as much as 75% of its original value. Scrap value means the selling of your gold literally for its very weight. It will likely be melted down, refined and used in another piece.
The price of gold is based on a 24-karat troy ounce of gold. Gold less than 24-karat is discounted proportionately (18k is 75% the value of 24k; 14k is 58.3% the value of 24k and so on).
There are several lay means of testing the authenticity and quality of gold. You must be careful as these means may actually damage your gold piece and decrease the value of your gold. These means include:
Method 1:
Rub the piece of jewelry across a piece of unglazed porcelain tile. Gold will not make a black stripe. If the streak is golden yellow then it is gold. Unglazed porcelain tile can be found at a hardware store.
Method 2:
Use the Moh's scale to determine the hardness of the metal. Gold has a hardness of about 2.5 to 3 on the Moh's scale.
Method 3:
Hold a magnet near the piece of gold. If the magnet attracts the gold piece, then there are other metals mixed in the gold. This is not pure gold.
Method 4:
A drop of hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid may also be placed onto the gold. If the gold begins to dissolve, then there is some other type of metal mixed with the gold and it is not pure.
The testing of the purity of gold may include each of the following techniques using the following materials and tools:
- Black acid testing Stone that is washed thoroughly with water prior to each test.
- Acids
- Gold testing needles with gold tips used for comparison with test pieces.
Testing For 10K, 12K, 14K
Scratch the gold piece to be tested on the stone. Next to this position, scratch the appropriate needle (10, 12 or 14K). Place a drop of the appropriate acid on the stone where the gold was rubbed off. If the gold is the same karat or higher, the color of the scratch mark for the gold piece will appear the same as the mark from the needle. If that gold piece is a lower karat, the scratched deposit will become fainter and eventually disappear.
Testing For 18K
Scratch the test piece on the stone and apply 18K acid. Any gold that is less than 18K will disappear in less than 30 seconds. Gold that remains on the stone is 18K or higher.
Testing For 20K & 24K
Scratch the gold piece on the stone. Next, scratch any item of known karat (coin or needle) on the stone. Apply one drop of acid to area. The material that starts to disappear first has the lower karat.
Testing For Platinum
Scratch the test item on the stone and apply one drop of acid to the application on the stone. If the material is platinum, it should keep its white, bright color.
Testing For White Gold
The same procedure for platinum can be used for 18K white gold. The material on the stone should start changing to a light bronze in about three minutes. For 14K white gold, the material on the stone should disappear in 15 seconds.
Testing For Silver
Place a drop of acid on the object to be tested.
90 to 100% silver, the acid will show a creamy color.
77-90% silver, the acid turns a gray color.
65-75% silver, then the acid will show a light green color.
With a little knowledge you can protect yourself and your valuables at your next gold party or gold appraisal.
