How we test your gold and silver

The short version: XRF reads the metal content of a piece in seconds without scratching or marking it. You see the result on the screen, piece by piece.

Stamps like “14K” or “925” are a good start, but stamps can be worn, wrong or missing. That is why we test every piece before we make an offer.

What XRF is

XRF stands for X-ray fluorescence. The analyzer aims a small, low-power beam at the metal, and each element in it answers with its own signature. Within seconds the screen shows what the piece is made of, for example 58.5% gold, with the rest silver, copper and zinc.

Why we use it

• No damage. Unlike scratch or acid testing, XRF leaves no mark, so heirlooms and coins come back exactly as they were.
• Fast and specific. It reads gold, silver, platinum and palladium, and tells karat grades apart.
• Transparent. You see the same reading we see.

What it cannot see

XRF reads the surface of the metal. A gold-plated or gold-filled piece can read differently from the metal underneath. If something looks plated or the reading does not match its stamp, we will tell you before going any further.

Then we weigh it

Purity alone does not set value; weight does too. We weigh each piece on a calibrated scale, in grams or troy ounces, and show you the number. See Spot price vs. melt value for how purity and weight come together.