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| Instructions for Scratch Testing Gold, Platinum & Silver |
CAUTION
Use extreme care in handling gold and silver testing solutions,
bicarbonate or baking soda. If swallowed, contact a physician or
hospital at once. In case of spills. treat with water and then
sodium bicarbonate or baking soda.
TESTING FOR GOLD
Scratch the piece to be tested over the surface of the black
stone provided, press well so as to leave a visible deposit,
preferably a line of one to one-half inches long. For the most
accurate testing it is recommended that the user becomes
familiar with comparative testing using standard gold testing
needles. For highest sensitivity place a scratch line with a gold
test needle next to the scratch line of the metal you are testing.
Compare the speed at which the scratches dissolve. If the test
scratch dissolves more quickly than the needle scratch, it is a
lower karat than the needle.
Transfer a drop of the 10K solution to the scratch made. If the
solution dissolves the scratch on the stone. it means the object
is less than 10K gold or not gold at all. If the, solution leaves the
scratch intact, it means the object being tested is 10K or greater
than 10K.
The scratching and testing is repeated with the 14K solution. If
the Solution dissolves the scratch on the stone, it means the
object is less than 14K gold (if the scratch dissolves slowly and
leaves rusty color particles, it is probably 12k gold). If the
solution leaves the scratch intact, it means the object being
tested is 14K or greater than 14K. (CAUTION: Many objects are
marked 14K, but were fabricated prior to 1982 when it was legal
to mark items 14K, but in reality the gold was 13.5K. When
testing 13.5K gold, the 14K solution will not dissolve the scratch,
but it will make it lose its brightness and it will turn it into a
yellow-rusty color).
The scratching and testing is repeated with the 18K solution and
the 22K solution (if available) until the karat of the object is
determined. Remember that when the solution being used
dissolves the scratch slowly and leaves rusty color particles it is
probably two karats lower than the solution being used.
On items of heavy weight and volume such as chains, coins, etc,
where plating could hide the true metal, it is recommended that
a deep notch in the test piece be made and the testing be made
with the metal inside the piece
TESTING FOR SILVER
Scratch the piece to be tested over the surface of the black
stone provided, press well so as to leave a LARGE AND THICK
visible deposit, preferably a line of one to one-half inches long.
Transfer a drop of the silver solution to the scratch made, The
color reaction of the solution with the metal scratch will be as
follows: (Take into consideration that the background of the test
stone is black).
90%-100%= Creamy color
77%-90% = Gray color
65%-75% = Light Green color
NOTE: With the silver solution, it is possible to test directly on
the piece being tested, however, the solution will dull the
polishing of the piece, and leave a mark where the acid was
placed.
TESTING FOR PLATINUM AND WHITE GOLD
Scratch the piece to be tested over the surface of the black
stone provided, press well so as to leave a LARGE AND THICK
visible deposit, preferably a line of one to one-half inches long.
Transfer a drop of the platinum test solution to the scratch
made. (Take into consideration that the background of the test
stone is black). The material on the stone is platinum, it should
keep its white, bright color. Platinum test liquid can also be used
for 18k and 14K white gold. In the case of 18K, the material on
the stone should start changing to a light bronze color in about 3
minutes. For 14K white gold, the material on the stone should
disappear in about 15 seconds.
Use extreme care in handling gold and silver testing solutions,
bicarbonate or baking soda. If swallowed, contact a physician or
hospital at once. In case of spills. treat with water and then
sodium bicarbonate or baking soda.
TESTING FOR GOLD
Scratch the piece to be tested over the surface of the black
stone provided, press well so as to leave a visible deposit,
preferably a line of one to one-half inches long. For the most
accurate testing it is recommended that the user becomes
familiar with comparative testing using standard gold testing
needles. For highest sensitivity place a scratch line with a gold
test needle next to the scratch line of the metal you are testing.
Compare the speed at which the scratches dissolve. If the test
scratch dissolves more quickly than the needle scratch, it is a
lower karat than the needle.
Transfer a drop of the 10K solution to the scratch made. If the
solution dissolves the scratch on the stone. it means the object
is less than 10K gold or not gold at all. If the, solution leaves the
scratch intact, it means the object being tested is 10K or greater
than 10K.
The scratching and testing is repeated with the 14K solution. If
the Solution dissolves the scratch on the stone, it means the
object is less than 14K gold (if the scratch dissolves slowly and
leaves rusty color particles, it is probably 12k gold). If the
solution leaves the scratch intact, it means the object being
tested is 14K or greater than 14K. (CAUTION: Many objects are
marked 14K, but were fabricated prior to 1982 when it was legal
to mark items 14K, but in reality the gold was 13.5K. When
testing 13.5K gold, the 14K solution will not dissolve the scratch,
but it will make it lose its brightness and it will turn it into a
yellow-rusty color).
The scratching and testing is repeated with the 18K solution and
the 22K solution (if available) until the karat of the object is
determined. Remember that when the solution being used
dissolves the scratch slowly and leaves rusty color particles it is
probably two karats lower than the solution being used.
On items of heavy weight and volume such as chains, coins, etc,
where plating could hide the true metal, it is recommended that
a deep notch in the test piece be made and the testing be made
with the metal inside the piece
TESTING FOR SILVER
Scratch the piece to be tested over the surface of the black
stone provided, press well so as to leave a LARGE AND THICK
visible deposit, preferably a line of one to one-half inches long.
Transfer a drop of the silver solution to the scratch made, The
color reaction of the solution with the metal scratch will be as
follows: (Take into consideration that the background of the test
stone is black).
90%-100%= Creamy color
77%-90% = Gray color
65%-75% = Light Green color
NOTE: With the silver solution, it is possible to test directly on
the piece being tested, however, the solution will dull the
polishing of the piece, and leave a mark where the acid was
placed.
TESTING FOR PLATINUM AND WHITE GOLD
Scratch the piece to be tested over the surface of the black
stone provided, press well so as to leave a LARGE AND THICK
visible deposit, preferably a line of one to one-half inches long.
Transfer a drop of the platinum test solution to the scratch
made. (Take into consideration that the background of the test
stone is black). The material on the stone is platinum, it should
keep its white, bright color. Platinum test liquid can also be used
for 18k and 14K white gold. In the case of 18K, the material on
the stone should start changing to a light bronze color in about 3
minutes. For 14K white gold, the material on the stone should
disappear in about 15 seconds.
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