How to Use an Electronic Gold Tester for Jewelry

GT-3000 Gold Tester makes testing gold easy

With gold nearing record prices, many of us are digging in the jewelry box to see if we can turn up some gold. However, before attempting to sell any quantity of gold, it is worthwhile to either test or have it tested with an electronic tester. Many of us have been testing gold for years with acid, but it is not totally reliable. The gold tester will not give a false positive, so if it indicates that your piece is gold, you can be assured it is gold.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• An Electronic Gold Tester
• A recent tube of sensor gel
• A piece of metal to test

1. This is the Electronic Gold Tester--No Electricity Required

   CONNECT all the cords and the gel tube. The GT-3000 from Tri Electronics is the electronic tester we show here, and it works with batteries and a tube of gel. I take it apart when done, so I have to connect the cords back to the tester and take the gel out of the refrigerator. It seems to last longer if refrigerated. Be sure the tip is clean and that there is gel at the tip.

2. Touch the Tester Pen to the Metal, Not Touching the Clip or Backboard

   PLACE the item in the clip. There is an alligator clip on the backboard. This may be rough on your jewelry, so try to set the jewelry in carefully and clip softly. Once you have the item in the clip, turn the tester on. Give it a few seconds to register. Touch the tip of the tester to the piece of metal you have in the clip, making sure you do not touch the clip with the testing pen.

3. This Piece Has Pearls, Too. Do Not Touch the Pearls.

   While holding the pen to the metal you are testing, push the TEST button and wait three seconds for a reading. You will get a reading from an MINUS to 1100 or so, and there is a graph on the tester itself that indicates the karat for the different numbers.

4. The GT-3000 is an older gold tester from Tri-Electronics

   READ the number and COMPARE to the graph on the tester. This piece shows a reading of 806. Anything between 675 and 865 in yellow gold is 13 to 14k and is considered 14k. We know that this one is gold, although it is UNMARKED. You would be surprised how much unmarked gold is available in jewelry boxes. When I was young many years ago, gold was $35 an OUNCE, so there was more gold jewelry available to the middle class.

Tips & Warnings

• If you get a reading under 400, try again and be sure you have gel on the tip. The tester will often give a false negative--indicating that the item is not gold when it is. This is because of the connection, residue or oils on the metals, or even a solder area.

• If you want to sell gold, know what your item is before you take it some place for sale. There are many who will try to convince you that the item is not gold, and buy it from you as costume jewelry.

• Beware of anyone who wants to appraise an item and then purchase it from you. This is considered a conflict of interest in the appraisal business, and is not ethical.

• Copyright 2009 Linda Richard

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