Precision Gold & Silver Appraisals in Montreal

How FairGold Tests Your Gold: XRF Explained

Most gold buyers estimate your karat. We measure it — with advanced X-ray fluorescence equipment, in front of you, in seconds. Discover how XRF technology works and why exact purity testing pays you significantly more.

Reviewed July 30, 2026 · Approximately 7 minutes to read

On this page What Is XRF? Why Other Methods Cost You The 6-Step Appraisal Payout Examples FAQ Visit Us

Scientific Purity Verification

What Is XRF Testing?

XRF stands for X-ray fluorescence. It is a highly sophisticated, non-destructive analytical technique that fires a focused beam of primary X-rays at a precious metal alloy and measures the unique energy spectrum of the secondary (fluorescent) X-rays emitted back by the atoms in the piece.

Because every element in the periodic table has a unique atomic structure, each metal produces a distinct, unmistakable energy signature. The XRF analyzer reads these spectral signals instantly, identifying the precise percentage breakdown of gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, zinc, and nickel present in the alloy down to fractions of a percent.

Crucially, XRF testing causes zero damage to your items. There is no filing, no scratching on a stone, and no corrosive nitric acid applied to your jewelry. Your ring, chain, or coin is placed on a small sample stage inside the analyzer window. Within 10 to 30 seconds, the complete metallurgical composition appears on a high-resolution display screen facing you.

This exact same technology is utilized by commercial refineries, precious metal mints, geological assay laboratories, and museum conservationists to evaluate priceless historical artifacts without touching or altering them. It represents the gold standard in non-destructive metal analysis.

Testing Comparisons

How Most Gold Buyers Test Gold — and Why It Costs You Money

Understanding how traditional gold buyers evaluate items reveals why so many sellers leave money on the table. Most buyers rely on decades-old field estimates that systematically favor the buyer over the seller.

The Scratch Test

The traditional acid-on-touchstone method used by pawnbrokers and standard gold buyers.

How it works: The buyer firmly scratches your jewelry across a hard stone slate to leave a streak of metal, then applies nitric acid drops.
The flaw: Acid only tests if metal survives a specific threshold (e.g., 14K acid dissolves 10K gold). It cannot measure intermediate purities.
The financial risk: When an item falls between standard tiers (such as 15K or 17K gold), buyers round down to the lower tier to protect themselves. You pay for their uncertainty.

The Hallmark Assumption

Pricing items purely off stamped hallmarks (10K, 14K, 18K) without independent testing.

How it works: The buyer inspects the tiny stamped hallmark on a clasp or inside band and quotes an offer based solely on that stamp.
The flaw: Hallmarks can be worn down, misread, or inaccurate. Older vintage items often vary from modern standards, and solder from past repairs can dilute overall purity.
The financial risk: Unstamped items are often refused or bought as 10K scrap, even if the actual alloy is 18K or higher.

The Karat-Tier Penalty

How traditional approximation creates hidden financial losses for sellers.

The Mechanics: Because scratch tests cannot read decimal precision, buyers force every piece into a rigid bucket: 10K (41.7%), 14K (58.5%), or 18K (75.0%).
The Gap: The jump from 14K to 18K is 16.5 percentage points of pure gold. On a 20-gram item at current market prices, that gap represents over $80 to $100 CAD in pure gold value.
The FairGold Advantage: XRF eliminates the karat-tier penalty entirely by paying for exact measured purity.

Transparent Appraisal

What Happens During Your Appraisal at FairGold

We believe in complete transparency. Every appraisal is conducted directly at our counter in your full view, taking under 15 minutes.

Bring In Your Items

Bring any gold, silver, or platinum items in any condition — broken chains, single earrings, dental gold, or estate pieces. No sorting required.

Place On XRF Stage

Each piece is set onto the sample window inside our XRF analyzer. The machine beams focused X-rays onto the metal surface for 10 to 30 seconds.

See Results On Screen

The screen instantly displays the exact percentage of gold, silver, copper, and trace alloys. The precise karat equivalent is calculated directly from the gold percentage.

Measure Payable Weight

Weighing is done on calibrated Measurement Canada approved scales. Stones, watch mechanisms, and non-precious components are excluded so you are weighed only on pure metal.

Offer Is Calculated

Your offer equals: XRF purity percentage × payable weight × live MetalPriceAPI spot rate × volume tier. Zero rounding, zero guesswork.

You Decide

The appraisal is completely free with no obligation. If you accept, you receive immediate payment on the spot. If not, you walk away with your items intact.

Financial Impact

Why XRF Testing Pays You More

Decimal-precision testing directly translates into higher cash payouts. Here are two real-world examples demonstrating the financial difference XRF makes compared to traditional scratch testing.

Example 1 — The 17.1K Custom Ring

A customer brought in a heavy gold ring with no clear stamp. Many custom-made or foreign jewelry pieces use non-standard gold alloys that do not match exact commercial karat tiers.

Traditional Scratch Test Buyer

The scratch test shows the metal survives 14K acid but dissolves under 18K acid. Because 17.1K falls in between, the buyer offers the safe 14K payout rate (58.5% gold content).

$249 CAD

Based on 5.0 grams @ 14K payout rate (~$49.80/g)

FairGold XRF Precision Payout

Our XRF analyzer reads exact 71.25% gold content (17.1K). You are paid for 17.1K gold content rather than being penalized and rounded down to 14K.

$303 CAD

+ $54 CAD extra on a single ring

Example 2 — The Unmarked Family Chain

A customer inherited a heavy gold chain where the clasp had been replaced during a repair, leaving no visible hallmark stamp anywhere on the piece.

Traditional Buyer Approach: Most gold buyers either refuse to evaluate unstamped items or offer the lowest safe baseline rate — usually 10K (41.7% gold) — to insulate themselves against potential loss.

FairGold XRF Approach: XRF measures unstamped metal with the exact same speed and accuracy as stamped items. The chain analyzed at 18.0K (75.0% gold). The seller received the full 18K payout, avoiding a loss of hundreds of dollars on a single chain.

Common Questions

XRF Testing Questions

Clear answers to technical and practical questions about our X-ray fluorescence equipment and testing process.

Does XRF testing damage my jewelry?

No. XRF is entirely non-destructive. The X-ray beam does not scratch, discolor, cut, or alter the piece in any way. The same technology is used in museum conservation to analyze ancient artifacts without touching them.

How accurate is XRF testing?

XRF is accurate to within ±0.1% for most precious metal compositions. For a 14K piece (58.5% gold), the reading will typically fall between 58.4% and 58.6%. For offer calculation purposes, this level of precision is exact.

Can XRF test pieces through plating or surface coatings?

For heavily gold-plated items, XRF reads the surface layer and may return a higher reading than the base metal core. This is why plated items are not purchased as solid gold. For solid gold items, the reading reflects the true alloy composition throughout the piece.

What if my piece is a gold-filled or rolled-gold item?

Gold-filled and rolled-gold items are not solid gold — they are a base metal core with a mechanical layer of gold bonded to the outside. XRF will identify this because the gold layer reading will be inconsistent with a solid alloy. We explain what the test shows and price accordingly.

Do you test silver the same way?

Yes. The same XRF equipment tests silver pieces and reads fineness to the same level of precision. Sterling (925), 900, and 800 silver are all confirmed by XRF — not by hallmark alone.

Can I watch the XRF test?

Yes. The machine display faces you during every test. You see the exact percentage reading before we calculate your offer.

Experience Precision Appraisals

See It For Yourself

The best way to understand XRF testing is to watch it happen live. Bring any gold or silver piece — even a single ring, chain, or coin — and we will run a free XRF test with zero obligation to sell.

📍 Walk in: Côte-Saint-Luc Shopping Centre, 7075 Chemin de la Côte-Saint-Luc, Montreal. Free parking, ground floor access, no appointment needed.

📞 Call us: 514-234-0192

💻 Get an online estimate: Request a Free Quote online →

Explore FairGold Services & Resources

Sell Gold in Montreal Scrap gold, chains, rings, coins, and bullion with live rates. Sell Silver in Montreal Sterling silver flatware, tea sets, silver coins, and bars. Sell Jewelry in Montreal Gold jewelry, diamond pieces, estate collections, and broken jewelry. How Gold Offers Are Calculated Step-by-step breakdown of weight, karat purity, and spot price math. Today's Posted Buying Rates Check live per-gram gold and silver buying rates by karat and volume. About FairGold Montreal Meet Simon and Nancy, family-owned precious metal buyers since 2015.