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How to Use a Gold Test Kit

Testing gold with a manual test kit helps determine what karat your gold is

The test kit comes with a testing stone, acids for common karats and needles with gold tips in different karats. With a little practice, you can test hundreds of items with one small test kit in a few hours. The kit is not foolproof, but determines if the item contains gold in the tested area. Gold may be as low as 9 karat or as high as 24 karat--or pure gold. The 24k gold is too soft for solid use, but works as a coating on sterling silver or other metals. Most gold in the U.S. market is 10k, 14k or 18k.

Things You'll Need

Gold or gold-colored items
Gold test kit

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the acid bottle for 10k or 14k, the testing stone and the needles from the kit.
- 2
  Wash and dry the testing stone. Scratch a short line across the stone with the 10k needle, as this is the most common gold alloy.
- 3
  Rub the gold item on the stone close to the scratch line, using an inconspicuous area of the gold item. Press hard enough to make a mark on the stone.
- 4
  Apply a tiny drop of 10k acid on the gold item mark and across the scratch line.
- 5
  Wait 30 seconds. If the item is not gold or less than the acid solution you use, the gold item mark will fade and disappear. If it is gold, the mark will continue to show after 30 seconds. If the gold is the same karat as the needle mark, it will look the same in the area where you applied the acid across the needle mark.
- 6
  Test again if the gold does not look the same as the needle mark. Rub the gold item on the test stone and use the 14k needle to scratch the stone. Squeeze a drop of 14k acid to stretch across the gold test and the needle scratch. Wait 30 seconds before comparing the needle scratch and the gold mark in the acid area. If the two marks look the same, the item may be 14k gold. If the mark fades from view, the item may be less than 14k or not gold at all.

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