How To Confirm A Gold Bar's Purity
Gold purity affects both value and demand. Before buying or selling, verifying the bar’s content is a crucial step. Even if a gold bar appears legitimate, confirming purity ensures you're working with a quality product.
Common methods include:
- Check stamped details – Most bars include purity markings, usually .999 or .9999, and a hallmark from the mint.
- Review assay cards – Many bars are packaged with tamper-proof certification verifying purity and weight.
- Use a scale and caliper – Measurements that align with manufacturer specs help confirm authenticity.
- Magnet and sound tests – Gold is non-magnetic and has a distinct sound when tapped. These are useful basic checks.
- Seek professional testing – XRF analysis or ultrasonic tests can confirm purity without damaging the bar.
Confirming these details helps prevent fraud and makes resale smoother. Dealers and buyers alike benefit from a gold bar with verified characteristics.