How to Identify Pure Gold: Hallmarks, Karat Stamps and Simple Tests

Before buying gold jewellery, coins, or bars, it's worth knowing the basic signs of genuine, correctly-marked gold — and the limits of what you can verify yourself without professional equipment.

Look for a hallmark or karat stamp

Genuine gold jewellery sold by reputable dealers should carry a small stamp indicating purity, such as "916" (meaning 91.6% pure, i.e. 22K), "875" (21K), "750" (18K), or "999" (24K). In Pakistan, hallmarking is regulated but not universally enforced at every small shop, so a missing stamp isn't automatic proof of a problem, but a clear stamp is a good sign.

Buy from a dealer with a verifiable reputation

Established jewellers with a long operating history and physical storefront have a strong incentive to maintain their reputation, and are generally a safer bet than an unfamiliar seller offering unusually low prices. Ask whether they offer a buy-back or exchange guarantee, which is a practical sign of confidence in their own product.

Simple checks you can do yourself

• Magnet test: Pure gold is not magnetic. If a piece is strongly attracted to a magnet, it likely contains significant non-gold metal content. This isn't conclusive on its own (some fake pieces use non-magnetic alloys) but a quick first check.
• Visual inspection: Check for an even colour with no discolouration, flaking, or unusual wear patterns that might suggest gold plating over a different base metal.
• Weight and feel: Gold is notably dense; a piece that feels unusually light for its size can be a red flag, though this takes some experience to judge accurately.

Why professional testing matters for larger purchases

For significant purchases, ask the jeweller to test the piece in front of you using acid testing or an electronic gold tester, or get an independent assay from a certified lab. This is standard practice and a reputable dealer should have no objection to it.

Get an itemized receipt

Always get a detailed receipt listing the weight, purity/karat, gold rate used, and making charges separately. This protects you if you ever need to resell or dispute the purchase later — see our related guide on common gold buying scams in Pakistan.

Frequently Asked Questions