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How to Test Gold With a Meter

People have been mining and searching for gold throughout recorded history, often using it as a standard for money as well as ornamentation and jewelry. Known as a noble metal because it is immune to ordinary chemical reactions, gold is used in dental fillings and can be found in electronic components. Gold alloys with other metals, such as palladium, silver and copper. If you have items made from gold, such as jewelry, old coins or trinkets, you might be wondering how pure the metal is. Gold purity is measured in karats, with 24 karats being designated as pure gold. You can test gold with an electronic meter by following a few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

ET18 activator electrolyte fluid
ET18 electrolyte fluid
Paper towel
Eraser
Test strips

Instructions

Kee Gold
- 1
  Plug the Kee Gold meter's test probe's red wire into either red socket on the meter, and plug the alligator clips' black wire into the middle socket.
- 2
  Push the "On/Off" button to turn on the meter, and then rotate the dial until it hits "S" on the dial to calibrate it for gold testing.
- 3
  Rub the tip of the testing probe against the gold being tested to polish it.
- 4
  Place the gold on top of the test plate, or clip it with the alligator clip.
- 5
  Touch the probe's contact tip against the gold at three different sites. The meter will detect the karat value and display it on the scale.
Mizar
- 6
  Slide the Mizar meter's power switch down for testing white or pink gold or up for testing yellow or green gold. The "Not Gold" indicator will be illuminated.
- 7
  Drip one drop of the included ET18 activator fluid into the meter's test well, and then drip three drops of the included ET18 electrolyte fluid into the test well. Polish the gold with the included eraser.
- 8
  Connect the meter's wired alligator clip to the gold item. Lower the gold into the liquid in the test well, and do not make contact with the reference gold located at the bottom of the well, and do not let the alligator clip touch the liquid. Hold the gold in the liquid for two seconds. The gold's karat value will appear in the display.
- 9
  Wipe out the test well with a paper towel, and then discard it.
Golden Touch
- 10
  Turn the Golden Touch meter's black screw counterclockwise. Place a test strip (included) under the meter's open window, and then turn the screw clockwise to lock it in place.
- 11
  Turn the rotary switch clockwise to the "Test" position to turn on the meter. The light will turn on.
- 12
  Fasten the wired alligator clip to the gold item. Hold the gold between two fingers, press it lightly against the test strip for about four seconds, and then slide it along the strip. If the item contains gold between six and 24 karats, it will draw a brownish line on the test strip.
- 13
  Turn the rotary knob to the highest setting, "22K." If the gold item leaves an orange-brown line at this setting, it is 22 karat. If no line appears, rotate the knob to the next lowest setting, "18K," and slide the item along the test strip again. You can also test at "14K" and "9K." The line grows less orange and more brown as each lower karat is detected.

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