How do we authenticate our jewels ?
Once we receive our treasures, our initial step involves subjecting them to a gentle bath using an ultrasonic machine, which efficiently cleans every surface.
Click here to learn more about this process.
2. Reading
A hallmark is a tiny stamp revealing the maker and metal content. It's a key to authenticity, with the maker's mark connecting the piece to its artisan, and the purity mark indicating metal quality. Decoding these symbols unveils a piece's unique story and origin.
Mastering the interpretation of these marks is essential for authentication.
Unfortunately, sometimes, there is no hallmark due to time effects, modifications made on the jewel and a lot of others reason, so we continue our testing with the next steps.
3. Touchstone
We utilize a method that includes scratching a touchstone, a smooth-surfaced black stone, with the jewelry to be tested. Subsequently, we apply a drop of gold testing acid to the scratch. The reaction of the acid with the gold depends on its karat, and by comparing this reaction to established standards, the gold's karat can be determined.
If the scratch on the jewel disappears when the acid is applied, it indicates that the tested metal is not present.
Sometimes, old gold-plated jewelry is crafted with such precision that it contains a certain amount of gold and can pass the acid test.
4. Visit to a specialist
At Sou, we prefer to ensure 100% accuracy, so once the touchstone test yields a positive result, we consult with a specialist. This individual is a professional accessible only through jewelers, and their contact information is confidential.
They employ a gold density tester accurate to the thousandth for verification. Following this, we can proceed with the listing for sale!
We hope we have addressed your questions regarding authentication! Please feel free to contact us here for any additional information you may require, we'd be glad to hear from you !