During the festive season when Dhanteras and Diwali are not far from now, many people buy gold. But buying gold is a costly affair for many people. So when you pay a high amount to buy the yellow metal, it is necessary to know whether you are getting the gold purity you are paying for.
For many such buyers, checking a hallmark on a gold article can be the most common way to assess purity. But there are a number of other ways to check gold’s purity.
Here are some methods to test the purity of gold by following some simple tests at home:
Important marks on hallmarked gold jewellery:
BIS logo – This confirms the item is certified by the BIS.
Purity mark (Karat stamp) – It tells you how much ‘real’ gold is inside the jewellery.
HUID code – It’s a unique 6-digit alphanumeric sequence that is used to cross check the authenticity of gold.
These marks can be checked while buying gold to see if the jewellery has the required hallmark details.
Also read: Gold and silver rate today (October 28, 2026): Check 24k, 22k, 20k and 18k gold jewellery prices from IBJA, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, Kalyan Jewellers and Tanishq
Here’s how you can do it:
Use a piece of rough, unglazed tile or the back of a ceramic plate.
Drag the jewellery across the surface firmly (do not push too hard).
Pay attention to the colour of the streak.
How to interpret the result of ceramic test:
A gold-coloured streak generally indicates genuine gold. A black or dark grey streak may suggest that the item contains other metals or is only gold-plated.
A ceramic streak test should only be conducted as an initial test. Professional testing is always best to be entirely certain.
How to do the vinegar test to check gold purity
Place the jewellery on a clean and flat surface. Apply two to three drops of white vinegar directly onto the item. Alternatively, place the jewellery in a small container filled with white vinegar. Leave it undisturbed for approximately 15 minutes.
Observe the metal and determine if anything has changed.
How to read the result:
If there is no colour change on jewellery, this may be consistent with gold, which did not change when exposed to vinegar.
If the metal blackens or changes to green or fizzes or bubbles, it likely had other metals or heat/electro plating.
The vinegar test does not tell you what the percent purity or karat is. It is always recommended to do a professional test.
If you cannot be confident that the purity of the jewellery is what the seller claimed, you should not test it at home but have it professionally tested. This is specially important for expensive jewellery, as the value will depend on the actual amount of gold.
For many such buyers, checking a hallmark on a gold article can be the most common way to assess purity. But there are a number of other ways to check gold’s purity.
Here are some methods to test the purity of gold by following some simple tests at home:
1. Check gold purity through the BIS hallmark
One of the easiest ways to check the purity of gold is to look at the Bureau of Indian Standards’ (BIS) hallmark.Important marks on hallmarked gold jewellery:
BIS logo – This confirms the item is certified by the BIS.
Purity mark (Karat stamp) – It tells you how much ‘real’ gold is inside the jewellery.
HUID code – It’s a unique 6-digit alphanumeric sequence that is used to cross check the authenticity of gold.
These marks can be checked while buying gold to see if the jewellery has the required hallmark details.
Also read: Gold and silver rate today (October 28, 2026): Check 24k, 22k, 20k and 18k gold jewellery prices from IBJA, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, Kalyan Jewellers and Tanishq
2. Find HUID number on BIS Care App
The Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number is a 6-digit alphanumeric code assigned to each hallmarked jewel. It is unique to each item and is traceable.3. How to do a ceramic streak test to check gold purity
The ceramic streak test is an easy test you can do with gold, involving rubbing the jewellery on an unglazed piece of ceramic to see what colour is left.Here’s how you can do it:
Use a piece of rough, unglazed tile or the back of a ceramic plate.
Drag the jewellery across the surface firmly (do not push too hard).
Pay attention to the colour of the streak.
How to interpret the result of ceramic test:
A gold-coloured streak generally indicates genuine gold. A black or dark grey streak may suggest that the item contains other metals or is only gold-plated.
A ceramic streak test should only be conducted as an initial test. Professional testing is always best to be entirely certain.
4. How to conduct the vinegar test to check purity at home
Another popular at-home test for gold is the vinegar test. Rub a bit of white vinegar on the piece of jewellery and observe for a change in the colour of the metal.How to do the vinegar test to check gold purity
Place the jewellery on a clean and flat surface. Apply two to three drops of white vinegar directly onto the item. Alternatively, place the jewellery in a small container filled with white vinegar. Leave it undisturbed for approximately 15 minutes.
Observe the metal and determine if anything has changed.
How to read the result:
If there is no colour change on jewellery, this may be consistent with gold, which did not change when exposed to vinegar.
If the metal blackens or changes to green or fizzes or bubbles, it likely had other metals or heat/electro plating.
The vinegar test does not tell you what the percent purity or karat is. It is always recommended to do a professional test.
What not to forget while checking the purity of gold
Most importantly, if you are purchasing hallmarked gold, look for the BIS hallmark and the HUID number. Ceramic, vinegar, and skin tests may give you some indication, but none can come close to guaranteeing a proper purity of gold.If you cannot be confident that the purity of the jewellery is what the seller claimed, you should not test it at home but have it professionally tested. This is specially important for expensive jewellery, as the value will depend on the actual amount of gold.
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