How to Check Gold Purity at Home — 6 Tests That Actually Work (UAE Guide)

Buying gold in Dubai's Gold Souk is generally safe — UAE hallmarking regulations are enforced — but the question "is this real gold?" is completely legitimate, especially for second-hand purchases or pieces without clear hallmarks. This guide covers every practical test, from free home methods to the professional XRF test available at UAE assay offices.

Method 1: Check the Hallmark (Always First)

The fastest and most reliable check is the hallmark stamp on the piece. UAE-regulated gold must carry one of these stamps:

Hallmark	Karat	Gold Content
999 or 999.9	24K	99.9% gold
916	22K	91.6% gold
875	21K	87.5% gold
750	18K	75.0% gold
585	14K	58.5% gold
375	9K	37.5% gold

Look with a magnifying glass or phone camera zoom. On rings, look inside the band. On chains, near the clasp. On bangles, on the inner surface.

Limitation: Hallmarks can be faked. A hallmark confirms nothing on its own for a piece from an unknown source — use it as a first filter, then proceed to a physical test.

Method 2: The Magnet Test (Free, 30 Seconds)

Real gold is not magnetic. Hold a strong magnet (neodymium/rare earth magnet — available in hardware stores) near your piece.

• Attracted to magnet: The piece contains significant iron or steel — it is fake or heavily plated.
• Not attracted: Passes this test. Note: some non-gold metals (brass, copper, aluminium) also pass the magnet test, so this is a pass/fail screen, not a confirmation of purity.

Method 3: The Ceramic Plate Scratch Test (Free)

Drag the piece firmly across an unglazed ceramic tile (the back of a bathroom tile works perfectly).

• Gold-coloured streak: Real gold.
• Black streak: Fake or heavily alloyed.

This is a surface test and will leave a very small mark on the piece. Use only on an inconspicuous area.

Method 4: The Float Test (Free)

Gold is extremely dense (19.3 g/cm³). Drop the piece into a glass of water. Real gold sinks immediately and completely. Gold-plated or fake metals are less dense and may float or sink slowly. However, hollow gold pieces (common in chain-link jewellery) contain air and may appear to float — do not use this test on hollow pieces.

Method 5: Acid Test Kit (AED 50–100, Available Online)

Gold acid test kits are widely available on Amazon.ae and in tool shops across the UAE. They include small bottles of nitric acid solution calibrated for different gold karats (10K, 14K, 18K, 22K).

1. Scratch a small mark on the piece against the black test stone included in the kit.
2. Apply a drop of the appropriate acid.
3. Observe the reaction: gold of the correct karat does not react (the mark stays clear). Lower-karat or fake gold bubbles or discolours.

This test is reliable and used by Gold Souk dealers to verify scrap gold. The acid is corrosive — use gloves and keep away from children.

Method 6: XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) — Professional Standard

XRF testing is the gold standard (literally) for purity verification. It is completely non-destructive and gives a precise percentage reading (e.g., "91.6% gold, 8.4% silver"). In the UAE, XRF testing is available at:

• Dubai Central Laboratory Department (Municipality)
• Emirates Gold assay office
• Some Gold Souk dealers with in-store XRF machines (ask to use it before purchase)
• Gold refineries (Kaloti, Emirates Gold) — typically for larger quantities

Cost: typically AED 20–50 per test. For any purchase above AED 5,000, requesting an XRF test before completing the transaction is completely normal and no reputable dealer will refuse.

What to Do If Your Gold Fails a Test

If you purchased from a UAE-registered dealer and suspect the gold is not as described, you can report to the Dubai Municipality Consumer Protection or the UAE Ministry of Economy. Keep your receipt and the physical piece. Dubai's consumer protection laws are strong — fraudulent gold sales are treated seriously by regulators. For second-hand purchases, your recourse is limited, which is why testing before buying is important.

Once you have confirmed purity, use our Scrap Gold Calculator to calculate the exact metal value, and check today's live rate before any sale or purchase.