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When people sell gold, they often wonder how buyers decide the value. The process is not just about looking at the jewellery or coins. A gold buyer carefully checks purity and weight before making an offer. These two factors play the biggest role in deciding the final price.

If you understand how purity and weight are tested, you will feel more confident when you sell your gold. You will also know if the price you get is fair. In this blog, we will explain the common methods that a gold buyer uses to test purity and measure weight. This will help you when choosing the Best Gold Buyer in Australia.

Understanding Gold Purity

What is gold purity?

Gold purity means how much pure gold is in an item. Pure gold is very soft, so it is often mixed with other metals like copper, silver, or nickel to make it stronger. These mixes are called alloys.

The Karat (K) system

Gold purity is usually measured using the karat system. The higher the karat, the more gold the item contains.

  • 24K gold: This is 99.9% pure gold. It is bright yellow but soft and easy to bend.

  • 18K gold: This has 75% pure gold and 25% other metals. It is harder and more durable.

  • 14K gold: This has 58.3% pure gold. It is commonly used in jewellery as it is strong and affordable.

So, the karat tells a buyer how much real gold is inside the item.

Methods to Determine Purity

Gold buyers use different tools and techniques to check purity. Here are the most common ones:

1. Acid Test

The acid test is a traditional method. A small scratch is made on the gold surface and then acid solutions of different strengths are applied. Depending on how the gold reacts, the buyer can tell the karat level.

  • Advantages: It is simple, cheap, and widely used.

  • Limitations: It can slightly damage the item and is not always 100% accurate.

2. Electronic Gold Tester

An electronic gold tester uses a probe and measures how the metal conducts electricity. Each metal reacts differently, so the machine can identify the gold’s purity.

  • Pros: Quick results and less chance of damaging jewellery.

  • Cons: The machine can be expensive and sometimes less accurate than other advanced methods.

3. X-ray Fluorescence (XRF)

This is a modern and very accurate method. The XRF machine shines X-rays onto the gold, and then measures the energy that bounces back. This shows the exact composition of metals in the item.

  • Accuracy: Very precise and gives a detailed breakdown.

  • Cost: The equipment is expensive, so not all buyers use it.

Understanding Gold Weight

What is gold weight?

Weight is another important factor in valuing gold. Buyers measure gold in grams or in troy ounces.

  • 1 troy ounce = 31.1 grams

  • 1 regular ounce = 28.35 grams

Gold buyers always use troy ounces or grams because that is the international standard.

Why is weight important?

The price of gold is usually shown per gram or per troy ounce. So, the heavier your gold item, the higher the value. But the final price also depends on purity.

Methods to Determine Weight

1. Precision Scale

Gold buyers use highly sensitive digital or electronic scales. These scales are carefully calibrated to give the most accurate measurement. Even a small difference in weight can change the price, so precision is very important.

2. Water Displacement Method

Sometimes, buyers may use the water displacement method. The gold item is placed in water, and the change in volume is measured. From this, the weight and density can be calculated.

  • Benefits: Useful for checking if an item is pure or mixed with other metals.

  • Drawbacks: Less common today because precision scales are easier and faster.

Factors Influencing Purity and Weight Evaluation

Even though purity and weight are the main things, other factors can also affect how much money you get when selling gold.

1. Market Conditions

The global gold price changes every day. Buyers check the live gold rate before making offers. If prices are high, you get more money for your gold.

2. Quality and Condition of Gold Items

The condition of jewellery also matters. Scratches, dents, missing stones, or broken parts may reduce the resale value, even if the gold purity is high.

3. Regional Variations

In some countries, gold buying rules are stricter than in others. In Australia, reputable buyers follow fair trading laws. This gives sellers more protection compared to some other regions.

Conclusion

When you sell gold, the buyer will always check purity and weight before deciding the value. Purity shows how much real gold is in your item, while weight tells how heavy it is. Together, these two factors form the base price.

Different methods like acid testing, electronic testers, and advanced XRF machines help buyers know purity. Precision scales and sometimes water displacement help measure weight.

Since the gold price changes daily, it is very important to choose a trusted buyer who explains the process clearly and pays fairly. If you want peace of mind, always go to the Best Gold Buyer in Australia, who uses reliable methods and gives honest value for your gold.