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Buying gold in Pakistan is rarely a small decision. Whether it is a wedding set, a gift, or an investment for the future, you want to be sure that what you are paying for is genuinely the purity the jeweller claims. With gold prices at record highs, even a small difference in purity can mean a significant difference in value.
That is exactly why knowing how to check gold purity at home is such a useful skill for any buyer. The fastest way is to look for the hallmark stamp, a genuine piece of 22 karat gold will carry a “916” mark, which tells you it is 91.6% pure. But hallmarks are not foolproof, and they can be faked, so it pays to know a few backup methods.
Below are five simple tests you can do at home before buying or selling gold, along with an honest explanation of what each one can and cannot tell you. Used together, they give you a strong sense of whether a piece is genuine before you commit your money.
Gold purity is measured in karats. The higher the karat, the more pure gold is in the piece. In Pakistan, most jewellery is 21 or 22 karat, while 24 karat is reserved mainly for coins and bars because it is too soft for everyday wear. When you buy a 22 karat ring, you are paying for 91.6% pure gold mixed with a small amount of stronger alloy metals.
The problem is that you cannot tell purity just by looking. Two pieces can look identical, yet one may contain far less gold than the other. Some pieces are hollow, some are gold-plated over a cheaper metal, and some carry misleading stamps. Learning a few simple checks protects you from paying full price for something worth much less, and it gives you confidence whether you are buying new jewellery or selling an old piece.
None of these methods on its own is perfect, but together they paint a reliable picture. Start with the hallmark, then use the others as backup checks.
Every piece of genuine gold jewellery should carry a tiny stamp showing its purity. In Pakistan, 22 karat gold is marked “916”, 21 karat is marked “875”, and 24 karat bullion is marked “999”. These numbers represent the percentage of pure gold in the piece.
Use a magnifying glass to find the stamp. It is usually placed somewhere discreet, such as the inner band of a ring, the clasp of a chain, or the back of a pendant. A missing hallmark does not automatically mean the gold is fake, but it is a clear signal to ask the jeweller for a purity certificate or to test the piece before buying.
Gold is not magnetic. Hold a strong magnet close to your piece and watch what happens. If the jewellery is pulled toward the magnet, it contains magnetic base metals such as iron, which means it is not solid gold.
Keep in mind that this test only catches the more obvious fakes. Many imitation pieces are made with non-magnetic metals like brass or copper, and these will pass the magnet test even though they contain no gold. So while a strong magnetic pull is a definite warning sign, passing the test does not prove a piece is pure.
Hold the piece tightly in your hand for a few minutes so it warms against your skin. Real gold will not react with your body. If you notice your skin turning green, blue, or black where the metal touched it, the piece is likely gold-plated or mixed with reactive base metals.
This is an old bazaar trick and it can be a helpful quick check, especially in warm weather when your skin perspires slightly. Like the others, though, it is an indicator rather than proof, so never rely on it alone for an expensive purchase.
Gold is a very dense, heavy metal. Fill a glass with water and gently drop your loose piece in. Real gold sinks quickly and firmly to the bottom. If the piece floats, hovers, or drifts down slowly, it is almost certainly fake or made from a lighter metal.
Be careful when testing hollow gold jewellery. Hollow pieces are made from real gold built around empty space, so their behaviour in water can be misleading. This is one of the reasons hollow jewellery is a common source of confusion among buyers, and another reason to combine tests rather than trust a single result.
The only truly reliable way to confirm gold purity is an XRF (X-ray fluorescence) test. Most established jewellers in Lahore, including those in Suha Bazaar and the major showrooms, have this machine. It reads the exact purity of a piece in about thirty seconds without causing any damage to the jewellery.
If a jeweller hesitates or refuses to run an XRF test in front of you, treat it as a serious red flag and consider walking away. A trustworthy jeweller has nothing to hide and will always let you verify exactly what you are buying before you pay. According to the World Gold Council, purity standards are central to how gold value is measured worldwide.
Some popular home tests can actually damage your jewellery, so it is worth knowing what to avoid. The acid test, for example, involves applying nitric acid to the gold and watching the reaction. While jewellers use this professionally, doing it yourself risks damaging the piece and harming your skin, so it is best left to experts.
Scratching the gold hard against a ceramic tile to check the colour of the streak can leave permanent marks on your jewellery. Similarly, biting gold to test softness, an old habit some people still rely on, can damage both the piece and your teeth, and it tells you very little about actual purity. Stick to the gentle, non-destructive methods above, and leave anything involving chemicals or force to a professional.
Home tests are a helpful first filter, but they are not a substitute for professional verification, especially for high-value purchases like bridal sets or investment gold. If you are spending a significant amount, the small effort of asking for an XRF test and a proper hallmark gives you far more certainty than any home method.
The simplest protection of all is to buy from a jeweller who hallmarks every piece, tests gold openly, and provides a clear receipt showing weight, karat, and price. Every piece in our Gold Jewellery collection is hallmarked and verified, so you always know exactly what you are paying for. When transparency is built into the way a jeweller works, the guesswork disappears entirely and you can buy with complete peace of mind. If you are ever unsure about a piece you already own, contact us and our team will be glad to help you check it.
