Gold Testing and Authentication
If you are unsure whether a gold or silver bar is what it claims to be, bring it in. We verify 999 and 999.9 bars at our counter, free, while you watch, and without opening or damaging the assay card.
Free testing for gold and silver bars
We test 999 and 999.9 gold and silver bars free of charge, whether or not you bought them from us, and whether or not you decide to sell them to us. Bring them to our counter and we will verify them while you watch.
Free for up to 10 bars per visit. Beyond 10, testing is $2 per piece.
How we test bars
- Sigma Metalytics precious metal verifier. This reads the metal's electrical signature through the bar itself, not just the surface. It works straight through sealed assay card packaging, so nothing has to be opened, scratched or damaged. It is what catches tungsten and base-metal cores that pass a magnet test or a surface acid test.
- Weight check on calibrated scales. Gold is unusually dense. A bar of the right size that weighs wrong is not gold.
- Visual inspection of the card, seal and stamping. We check the assay card, the tamper seal and the refiner's stamp for signs of tampering or reprinting.
Jewellery and other items: XRF testing
We do not test jewellery in-house. For 916 and 750 jewellery, coins, and anything that is not a 999 or 999.9 bar, we arrange XRF analysis through a partner facility.
| Cost | $20 per test, covering up to 10 pieces |
|---|---|
| Time | About 2 hours |
XRF gives you an exact reading of the metal content, which matters most when you are deciding whether to sell a piece or keep it. Bring your items to the counter and we will arrange it.
Why the magnet test is not enough
Gold is not magnetic, so a magnet will tell you that a heavily magnetic item is definitely not solid gold. But it will not catch the fakes that matter. Tungsten has almost exactly the same density as gold and is not magnetic. A tungsten core wrapped in real gold will pass a magnet test, a visual inspection and often a surface acid test. It fails conductivity testing, which is why that is the test worth doing.
Warning signs on a gold bar
- A broken or resealed assay card, or a card that does not match the bar
- A serial number that does not appear in the refiner's records
- Correct dimensions but noticeably light weight
- Soft or blurred stamping. Genuine refiner stamps are crisp
- A price well below the market. Nobody sells real gold at a loss
Come and have it checked
FAZ GOLD PTE. LTD. is registered with Singapore's Ministry of Law as a precious stones and precious metals dealer, UEN 202323906C. We are at 10 Jalan Besar, #B1-19/20, Sim Lim Tower, Singapore 208787, open 10.30am to 8pm daily. No appointment needed, or contact us first if you prefer.