Why Authentication Matters
The vast majority of gold sold in licensed UAE outlets — particularly in the Dubai Gold Souk — is genuine and accurately hallmarked. The Dubai Municipality conducts regular spot-checks and takes quality violations seriously. However, understanding how to verify gold yourself provides peace of mind and is particularly useful when buying from informal sources, overseas, or second-hand.
Hallmarks: The First Check
In the UAE, all gold jewellery sold legally must be hallmarked with its karat purity. The hallmark is a number representing the parts per thousand of gold:
- 999 = 24K (99.9% pure gold)
- 916 = 22K (91.6% gold)
- 875 = 21K (87.5% gold)
- 750 = 18K (75% gold)
- 585 = 14K (58.5% gold)
Look for the hallmark stamp inside a ring band, on the clasp of a necklace or bracelet, or on the back of a pendant or earring. It is usually very small — a jeweller's loupe or a magnifying app on a smartphone can help. A piece with no hallmark should prompt scepticism, particularly if being sold as a specific karat.
Verify the Weight
A reputable dealer will weigh the piece in front of you on a calibrated scale, and show you the weight used to calculate the price. The formula is simple: weight (grams) × today's AED/gram price for the stated karat = metal value. Any significant discrepancy between this calculation and the quoted metal price is a red flag.
You can bring a digital pocket scale to verify — this is not unusual in the Gold Souk and reputable dealers will not object. Scales accurate to 0.01g are widely available.
The Acid Test
The acid test has been used by gold dealers for centuries. A small sample of the metal is scratched on a touchstone, and nitric acid (for lower karats) or aqua regia (for 24K) is applied. Genuine gold is resistant to acid; base metals react visibly. This test is destructive at a tiny scale — a minute scratch — and is typically performed by dealers and pawnbrokers rather than retail buyers. Some jewellery testing kits with acid solutions are available commercially if you want to test suspect pieces at home.
Electronic Gold Testers
Electronic gold testing devices (also called XRF spectrometers or goldmeters) provide non-destructive, highly accurate purity readings within seconds. They are standard equipment at gold buying businesses, pawnshops, and some larger Gold Souk dealers. If you are selling gold or have any doubt about a purchased piece, you can ask a gold dealer to test it electronically — many will do this for a small fee or free if you are a customer.
XRF (X-ray fluorescence) devices give the most precise readings — they can identify not just karat but the exact alloy composition. If you are buying significant quantities of gold, having an XRF test done on the piece before purchase is reasonable to request.
Simple Home Checks
- Magnet test: Gold is not magnetic. If a piece is attracted to a strong magnet, it contains ferrous (iron) content and is not solid gold. Note: some alloys in gold jewellery may contain small amounts of non-ferrous metals that won't react to a magnet even if impure — so a negative magnet result doesn't guarantee genuine gold, but a positive result rules it out.
- Density check: Gold is very dense (19.3 g/cm³ for 24K). Fake gold using heavier base metals (like tungsten, which has a similar density) can defeat this test — but it's still a useful basic check. Drop the piece in water and calculate volume vs. weight.
- Nitric acid: A small drop of nitric acid on an inconspicuous part of the piece — a scratch or hidden surface — will cause a green or grey reaction on base metals but leave gold unaffected. Use with caution.
Certificates for Investment Gold
For gold bars and coins, always request and retain the manufacturer's certificate of authenticity. DMCC-accredited refiners (PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, Emirates Gold, etc.) produce bars with unique serial numbers and assay certificates that can be verified against manufacturer records. Do not buy investment gold bars that are not from a recognised refinery or that lack documentation.