HOW ELECTRONIC GOLD TESTING WORKS

Get Accurate Electronic Gold Test Results

Part 1 – How Electronic Gold Testing Works

Topics Covered:

  • Why use Electronic Testers
  • How Electronic Testers Function
  • Electronic Gold Testing Considerations

Part 2 – Electronic Gold Testers

Part 3 – Testing Gold Electronically

Why Use Electronic Gold Testers

To be effective at electronic gold testing, it is critical to understand the gold alloys being tested, use the correct gold testing devices, and know how to properly interpret the gold testing reading results.

I am a gold buyer.  As such, I buy plenty of items manufactured out of gold alloys.  Most of this material is in the form of jewelry.  However, I buy plenty of other gold bearing alloys.  If something is made out of gold bearing alloy, I want to buy it.  So, I buy gold in all its forms.  This includes gold bullion, gold dental implants, gold bearing electronic components, etc. 

As the highly active gold buyer that I am, I test gold just about every day.  Gold testing is especially important to me because I pay based on the fineness of the gold alloy in question.  Thus, I pay more for 18 karat gold fineness material than for 10 karat.  The question is how to accurately distinguish the metal.  Well, that is were electronic testing comes into play.

How Electronic Gold Testers Function

Electronic gold testing is based on the electrical conductivity pattern of the tested gold alloy sample.  In a borderline oversimplified manner of explaining, this is how electronic gold testers work.  The electronic gold tester passes an electrical pulse through the metal tested.  As the electrical pulse travels the core of the gold sample, it develops certain characteristics and becomes a specific type of signal.  The sensor of the electronic gold tester sensor receives that signal and interprets it through an algorithm.  Based on that algorithm, it displays the gold alloy’s fineness reading. 

Electronic gold testing is simple and accurate within a short-range.  However, there are plenty of caveats.  To electronically test gold alloys properly, and correctly interpret the tester’s results, it is critical to understand the electronic gold testing equipment used, as well as the materials being tested.  Otherwise, the gold testing results will not be accurate, which can result in expensive blunders.

Electronic Gold Testing Considerations

Electronic gold testers are “indicators”.  They do not provide a final, definitive assessment on the fineness of a gold-bearing alloy.  In fact, if not used properly, the result may be a false positive, which can result in a financial loss. 

There are all kinds of metals, additives, and plating combinations that, if not considered, can lead to electronic gold testers provide false positives on gold simulants.  In addition, gold alloys themselves may have be such that the tester interprets a higher, or lower fineness than actual.  Unnoticed possible plating also affects gold tester readings.  Type of construction of the testing subject is also an important matter.  An un-modified gold wedding band should provide an accurate result right away.  Not so much a chain made of the same material because it is made of a lot of smaller parts.

To be effective with electronic gold testers, it is important to also take into consideration all kinds of other factors.  Thus, electronic testing should always be considered part of the gold buyer’s tool arsenal.  It, in conjunction with the other tools are aids to the gold buyer’s knowledge.  A knowledgeable, well equipped gold buyer is in a good position to make profitable gold acquisitions.

Part 2 – Electronic Gold Testers

Part 3 – Testing Gold Electronically