The Equipment We Test With
XRF Testing
A safe X-ray makes every metal give off its own energy signature. The analyser reads them and reports exactly what your item is made of — without damaging it.
18ct Yellow Gold
- Au
- 75.1%
- Ag
- 12.4%
- Cu
- 12.5%
The benefits
| Included | Benefit | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| No damage | Nothing is scratched, filed or marked. | |
| Only takes seconds | Each piece is tested at the table, in front of you. | |
| Exact results | How much gold or silver is really there. | |
| You see the results | The screen faces you as it reads. | |
| No hallmark needed | It reads the metal itself, marked or not. |
Our XRF vs the alternatives
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What we use
XRF analyser
Reads the metal itself. Exact composition, nothing touched.
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Leaves a mark
Acid testing
A file scratch, then acid on the streak. An estimate, and metal is removed.
-
Guesswork
By eye
A loupe and the hallmark. Nothing at all if the piece is unmarked.
Gemstone Testing
An X-ray reads metal, not stones. Diamonds and coloured stones are tested and graded separately — so you are paid for those too.
0.71ct brilliant
- Cut
- Excellent
- Colour
- G
- Clarity
- VS1
The benefits
| Included | Benefit | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Real or imitation | A tester separates diamond from cubic zirconia and moissanite. | |
| Priced separately | You are paid for the stones, not only the metal around them. | |
| Nothing is unset | Stones stay in their mounts while we work. | |
| Graded under a loupe | Cut, colour and clarity, by an eye trained on thousands. | |
| Papers add value | Bring GIA or AGS certificates and they count towards the offer. |
Our testing vs the alternatives
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What we use
Tested and graded
Diamond tester, loupe and gauge. Every stone judged on its own merit.
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Stones ignored
Melt weight only
The mount is weighed and the stones are written off as worthless.
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Guesswork
A glance
No tester, so nothing separates a real diamond from a good imitation.