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How to Determine the Quality of Gold

Pure gold, or 24 karat gold, is soft and yellow. Gold quality is measured in karats. For example, 18 karat gold is 75 percent gold, 14 karat gold is 60 percent gold, 12 karat gold is 50 percent gold and 10 karat gold is 40 percent gold. The best way to determine the quality of gold is to purchase an acid gold test, which contains a black testing stone, scratch test needles and acids for 10, 14 and 18 karat gold.

Things You'll Need

Acid test

Instructions

- 1
  Scratch the gold item over the black testing stone that comes with the kit. Scratch the stone until a solid line appears.
- 2
  Create a second scratch with one of the gold scratch needles provided with the kit on the test stone.
- 3
  Put a drop from the 10 karat gold acid test onto the scratch from the gold material. Put another drop on the scratch from the gold scratch needle for comparison. Watch carefully. If the acid dissolves the scratch from the gold material, it is less than 10 karat gold.
- 4
  Repeat steps 1 and 2. Then use the 14 karat gold acid to test the scratch. If it dissolves, it is less than 14 karat gold. However, if it dissolves slowly and leaves some color on the test stone, it is most likely in the 12 karat gold range.
- 5
  Repeat steps 1 and 2 and use the 18 karat gold acid to test. Once again, if the scratch does not dissolve quickly and some color is left on the stone, it is probably approximately two karats below the test acid.

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