How to Test Silver and Gold at Home - Specific Gravity Test

This video shows how to test silver and gold at home using the specific gravity test! If you are wanting to learn about how to test gold or how to test silver then this is the video for you. The specific gravity test is testing for the specific gravity of the metal and it can be done by weighing the piece and then weighing it again in water and dividing the second number by original weight. Here are the specific gravities of a few metals that you might be testing:
Silver: 10.49
Sterling Silver: 10.36
90% Silver: 10.31
24K Gold: 19.32
22K Yellow Gold: 18
Copper 8.96
Because this test only requires a scale it is a very cheap gold test and a cheap silver test that you can do at home or on the go. If you are wanting to test silver coins or silver bars this text will work just fine. I do the test on an American Silver Eagle and a piece of poured silver. This test is better than testing gold with acid or testing silver with acid because it will not damage the piece. This test for gold and silver should not be done on pieces with numismatic value or slabbed pieces.
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Topics I cover in this video: testing gold at home, testing silver at home, how to test gold at home, how to test silver at home, specific gravity silver, specific gravity gold, testing gold, testing silver, gold test, silver test, cheap gold test, cheap silver test, how to test gold jewlery, how to test silver and gold
#silver #gold #preciousmetals
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[@dc6354]

For a more accurate test, the water should be cold. Ideally 4 C or 39 F. However any temperature below 50 F or even 60 F will be as accurate as the 0.01 g scale. Put an ice cube in the water; that will be near perfect.

[@jimboha]

Good point and suggestion. The density of water at 4 C is greatest and specified for the actual density measurement. We ARE assuming that 1.0 cc of water displaced equals 1.0 gram. For best effect, chill the silver to near freezing as well...

[@serdgeedgerunner]

also you can use ice to test silver

[@johnsmith1953x]

@@jimboha STP vs. SATP. You must be a chemist versus a physicist!

[@dannypresson4815]

Alternatively: weigh the coin first. If you have a measured mL beaker place the coin in the water to measure how much water is displaced. The level will rise. This gives the volume of the coin. Divide the weight by volume to get specific gravity. Excellent video. Thank you.

[@Rye.Wanderer]

Tough to find glassware big enough for a round that also has mL gradations

[@drfill9210]

@@Rye.Wanderer measuring cylinder? I was thinking of some crazy method that involved filling a container to the brim, putting object in them measuring the weight of water spilled. String method is easier

[@alabonga]

The specific gravity for 22k gold with copper alloy is 17.6.

[@SilverDragons47]

Eagle 47 perfect thanks for that my friend!!🔥🐉

[@AhmedSiddieg]

22k gold = 17.71

[@ptaeiy]

I think the accepted tolerance for the SG test is +/- 1%(0.01). It would be greater for kitchen table testing. So for 10.49 value, the tolerance and range is 0.1 and (10.385 -10.59) for 0.999 silver. Now, the range even for the 0.90 silver is between 10.21 - 10.41. So the values overlaps even between 0.999 silver and 0.90 silver. It means that the SG test is not precise enough to distinguish between 0.999, 0.925 or 0.90 silvers. I'm sure with highly sensitive lab scales and other more controlled and better designed test, the SG test would be more precise and able to distinguish between 0.999 and other purity silver. As such the kitchen table test can only say that you have ''some kinda'' silver with approximate silver content between so and so purities, or get this . . . ''some kinda'' copper/lead alloyed to 10.49 g/cm3.

[@ptaeiy]

The better test is the ultrasonic thickness to caliper verification test. The UTM goes for under $190 and a set of calipers goes for $10. You'll know if you got lead, copper/lead alloy or tungsten bars or inserts right away. Go to ''Basics of Testing for Silver Gold . . .'' by Silver Bullion TV for some informative facts about metal properties that are behind ALL the testing methods.

[@sherpabill]

Ultrasonic is good if you don't mind cleaning the goop off from your metal.

[@ptaeiy]

@@sherpabill I only use them on my 100oz and 1kg bars. I don't use them on my Reverse Proof Libertads hahaha

[@drfill9210]

I just want an idea! This is far simpler than xrf- in kinda ashamed I didn't realise

[@SonnyTheMoney]

In your video you stated that +/- 0.2 was an acceptable variance for specific grav testing of silver. But that would put it below Sterling or 90% Ag. Your acceptable range would be 10.29 to 10.69? And should the water be distilled?

[@jonathans1472]

I didn’t understand that either. If +-0.2 is as accurate as this test is, then it seems the variability with this setup makes the test pointless. I hope he comments to help us understand.

[@amdfanatyk]

@@jonathans1472 this test is useless for testing gold coins. For 1oz 999 silver coins I get ~2.95 divisior.

[@ThirdCoastElectronics]

Very cool. I’m going to test a metal bar I found on the beach a while back. Could you just tare the scale with the string in water then skip the subtraction step?

[@doublecheckityt]

That would work except each time you dip something, even the string without the coin, water will be removed from the cup. Each dip will remove at least a drop so you would want to zero the scale after each dip.

[@crtreasures1136]

I weigh all my Morgans and Peace dollars and if the weight is off I do the specific gravity test. I use thin dental floss to tie my coins. String and thread is made of cotton and thus absorbs water. Great video my friend 👍🏻

[@SilverDragons47]

C & R Treasures yes I have used dental floss as well 👍🏽 thanks for watching my friend! 🔥🐉

[@sherpabill]

Floss is buoyant (floats on water). It is not known how much it detracts from the actual weight of the coin in water. I also had a concern with the tied coin falling out of the loop. I now use a small net coin holder made from fishing line. It is strong, easy to tie (for a fisherman), absorbs no water, has a known weight, secures the coin quickly, and is durable. You just have to make sure that the coin stays vertical in the water for measurement otherwise the water pressure created as you hold the coin will have an impact on the weight and it will fluctuate as you hold it in the water. US 90% still varies wildly from coin to coin due to the assorted impurities and aggerate of assorted metals in the remaining 10%.

[@scottthroop6208]

A thin rubber band with a knot in the middle (looks like "8") works great and stretches to adapt to any size coin or bar. Also doesnt absorb water.

[@chetmyers7041]

@@sherpabill You can also use a rigid screen basket. Just "tare" the scale with the basket submerged in the water BEFORE you add the coin.

[@1000frolly]

This doen't work for chains because they always hold some bubbles of air between the links, which causes a 'lowering' of the measured carat.

[@scottthroop6208]

A Silver Eagle is not pure silver. This is why the specific gravity test was off compared to your pure silver pour. Note that Eagles do not state 999 or 9999. They contain a tiny amount of copper. An Eagle does contain exactly 1ozt of silver within the alloy of the coin. This is why Eagles weigh slightly more than 1ozt. The excess weight is the additional copper in the alloy. The same test with a 9999 1ozt Canadian Silver Maple will be spot on with the numbers. A Maple will direct melt into exactly 1ozt of pure silver. An Eagle will require melting to shot, additional refining, re-melt and pour to produce exactly 1ozt of pure silver.

[@markpennella]

Figures, those in charge here in America have screwd people out of everthing possible. I guess im turning my Eagles into Maples.

[@user-jq8wr8ru2s]

Thank you for this video.. tested a silver bar i was a little wary of... 10.44 ... right on & great video. Thank you!

[@mironlang]

Amazing! I tested my Chinese silver bar and read 10.5 .. Thank you!

[@tomr6254]

This is interesting. I want to use this for jewelry, but I feel like there are so many variables, such as air bubbles trapped in the items which would throw it off dramatically and hollow pieces. Solder might also be a problem too. Has anyone tried this with jewelry and had success? Mostly, I just wanna know something is gold or silver plated, without scratching it down and reducing the value.

[@JGsgarage_unboxings]

Damn I didn't know this. I have some videos about using a strong magnet. A scale and the acid test. But not this. I only use bars

[@SilverDragons47]

chaotic twig awesome well i’m happy that I was able to teach you something!! 👍🏽🔥🐉

[@ptaeiy]

You might want to look into a more reliable test especially for 0.999 bars that can test what's 'inside' of the bars. It's called ultrasonic thickness test. You can go to 'Basics of Testing silver and Gold...' by Silver Bullion TV to learn ALL about metal authenticating tests and their weaknesses. I myself trust the ultrasonic-to-caliper verification test 99.99%.

[@yoyomon19]

If the tolerance is .2 how can you tell .999 from junk or sterling?

[@ariellenicholas9843]

uh yeah this is a great video, but you forgot to mention the temp of water because the weight will completely change when the temp of water is diff. so these numbers you have only work with 15 degrees Celsius, and the result you get is much more accurate.

[@angtuah1]

There is no sample for fake silver or fake gold. It prefer to test fake one for comparision

[@johnsmith1953x]

Okay Mr. Smart Pants, why does the meter measure ANY mass increase when the object is immersed in water BUT its weight is held by a string?

[@Alan-zl5il]

What would happen if a fake gold coin was the correct weight? 1 Troy Ounce. Would the result state that a fake coin was authentic?

[@kintarogintama9149]

sg is volume / weight so only if they mixed the alloys so perfectly ie not just weight the relative compensatory volume adjustment ie got the approx RATIO right

[@philmckracken1354]

Thanks for the video, I purchased a 925 ss necklace on ebay and it is 152.94g and I did all the other tests for silver (ice cube, magnet) but still wasn't comfortable with knowing it was real or not... didn't even think of specific gravity testing. My reading were 15.06 wd and the end result is 10.15 of 10.36 for sterling, so I think that's close enough lol thanks again for the info.

[@ifitflipsitships5102]

cool video thanks for the info.

[@SilverDragons47]

drain the swamp 2.0 you are welcome and thanks for watching!! 🔥🐉

[@lequelam]

I may ask , if i use copper wire instead of yarn , will the results is going to be affected

[@josephotoet7377]

Whaoooooo, thank you , you gave great knowledge

[@ehrenkrause9861]

I used floss. Didn't dip the string. Great tip to replicate the scenario. Thats what i didnt account for.😁👍

[@SilverDragons47]

Ehren Krause yeah I have used that before as well and it works great! thanks 😁🔥🐉

[@jasonpolo916]

Cool video. Was hoping to see the 90% silver at the end.

[@HardKnocksTime]

What would the gravity be of 14k?

[@looksmaxxing101]

wait what the heck, how is the scale changing if the weight of the silver is being held by the string

[@frankdonarumo]

So it takes 30 mins to test 1 coin ?

[@ehrenkrause9861]

Have done the same thing and I had a hard time with consistency. Might have been easier with a big scale. Being a numbers guy had too much variables and I gave up on the test but I do know it is the most accurate way testing silver and gold.

[@SilverDragons47]

Ehren Krause yeah it can be a little tricky for sure but IMO as long as the result you are getting isnt way off then it’s probably legit 🤷🏽‍♂️🔥🐉

[@buggsy5]

It isn't the best way for silver, as there are metals both higher and lower in density than silver. It is better with gold, since there are not many easy to obtain metals denser than gold. That American Eagle is suspiciously dense - I would not accept it without confirmatory tests. Dimensions plus weight specifications confirmation would be good. So would the acid test. There are a lot of fake Eagles out there, even at coin dealers.

[@tonypolistina3357]

If you are holding the weight of coin with the peice of string ...... Wouldnt it be weighing slightly less than true weight???

[@drfill9210]

Great vid! Quick q- why not tare the scale with the string dipped in?

[@sherpabill]

If you do that your wet string will remove some of the "tared" water from the container and it may be lost when you actually tie the the string to the coin/bar. If you decide to do it this way use fishing line and not dental floss. Floss floats. I use a rig made from a rubber washer suspended into the water horizontally by four strands of floss. It is held, by a device, in a fixed position in the water. The scale is tared and the sample is gently placed into the water and onto the washer.

[@thebudgetprepper]

DUDE!!! FINALLY, a way I can check for the real deal without dropping $1200! (I love science!)

[@sriharisha251]

best explanation. u r the best man

[@gabrielkawa432]

Thanks for making this video

[@SILVERSTREAK925]

Eureka!! Eureka!! I've found it! 😂Nice video Silver Dragons!! I definitely need to buy a new scale as mine is not 0.01g.

[@SilverDragons47]

Silver Streak awesome i’m happy I was able to help and yes that scale is the key for sure!! 🔥🐉

[@TomokosEnterprize]

Pick up a couple "Standards" so you can test and or calibrate any scale.

[@amdfanatyk]

Yep, for 1oz 999 silver coins I get ~2.95 as divisor.

[@DanCooper404]

Awesome. I thought I was off when I got 2.96.

[@doxasmenos]

Hey bro love your shows is it possible to tell me if Gorham sterling is real silver just bought 600 oz of silverware with this marking I want to make sure thanks

[@CrayCrayRedneck]

how about finding it's density? gotta be 100% fool proof.

[@laurencerilling5873]

“Legit” is the wrong word. Passing this test, which the coin did NOT, is not definitive. Tests are a series of no/ maybe decisions

[@kingmanta7679]

why didn't you just zero it out with the string in the water?

[@TomokosEnterprize]

This method is as good as a Sigma machine. The most expensive part is a scale that will handle the weight and be accurate enough. Great post for all son.

[@SilverDragons47]

Tomoko's Enterprize yes a whole $12 dollars 😁 thanks for watching!!! 🔥🐉

[@ptaeiy]

The sigma is not foolproof.

[@TomokosEnterprize]

@@ptaeiy Yes, I agree. I suppose it is either a mass spectrometer or other x-ray type testing. All really hard for us all to acquire. I have a slide and use the Specific Gravity test a fair bit. I have had a questionable 10 ozt bar I got from SGB that when making shot discovered a copperish hue in the shot. I sent it away to find out it was 10% copper. 3 separate sigma machines (at the Toronto coin show) came up with the same answer. As I had changed the shape of the bar SGB would not replace it. That ended my association with them. What is your preferred test ?

[@ptaeiy]

@@TomokosEnterprize My go to #1 test is the ultrasonic thickness measurement to caliper verification test. And it goes for under $200.

[@TomokosEnterprize]

@@ptaeiy Where do you find this. I have never heard about it before today. I am a machinist so I do have a few calipers.

[@tehyonglip9203]

Archimedes Principle combating fake precious metals!

[@nartnugget]

What are the numbers you wrote? Are they g/cm^3?

[@SilverDragons47]

Ramsey Desiga 🤯🤯🤯 is this a math joke? 😏🔥🐉

[@kintarogintama9149]

Yes ! of course …its convention …how fast were you doing back there ? oh about 120 ! or could say 120 kmph

[@LANDSHARKK]

How does the scale register a weight when the object is only suspended in the water? Am I the only one.....?

[@63dmt]

It's measuring the buoyant force on the coin. By Newton's Third Law, the water is being pushed down by a force equal to the buoyant force the water is pushing the coin up.

[@erichhonecker8548]

Gold and silver bars in China get a bad rap for being fake as most things in China are copies etc. If I go shopping for gold and silver bars in China what method is best for testing while I'm there?

[@Sirchud68]

I ain’t no physicist, but I knows what matters

[@ajinkyaborgaonkar1435]

How to detect or any chemicle test to detect cadmium melted mixed with pure silver?

[@chanhomephanthavong1412]

Don't do this alone . If you don't know the dangers then you have not done enough research to attempt . This is deep meditation it is powerful you should know how to keep it under control.

[@maplestacker3065]

Hey bro just a quick tip. If you put the glass of water and the string on the scale begore you turn it on you wont have to tear😉

[@SilverDragons47]

David Salama I know I do that sometimes as well 😁👍🏽🔥🐉

[@buggsy5]

@@SilverDragons47 But that would throw the submerged weight off since not all of the string is submerged in water. In reality, as long as the volume of the string is very small compared to the object being weighed, the string probably doesn't matter.

[@1977ajax]

Easier to just re-zero your scale with the wet string in it? Saves a calculation step.

[@teamSnaG01]

Will this work for any small silver items? Like a Brooch or ring?

[@hasibmanap]

Can this be done if the jewellery has gemstone, diamond etc?

[@chetmyers7041]

No. Solid metal only.

[@markaf4446]

Interesting video.

[@rmura221]

Hello Silver Dragons! Thanks for this very helpful video for those of us that cannot afford a Sigma. BTW do you know the specific gravity for 40% silver US half dollars? Thanks very much!

[@jeffw1267]

It's easy to calculate if you know the composition of a 40% Ike (or Kennedy half dollar). The Eisenhower silver dollar is 60% copper and 40% silver. The specific gravity of copper is 8.96 g/cm^3 and the specific gravity of silver is 10.49 g/cm^3. 40% is silver and 60% is copper. So with this equation I get the specific gravity of the 40% alloy: .60(8.96 g/cm^3) + .40 (10.49 g/cm^3) = 9.57 g/cm^3.

[@rmura221]

@@jeffw1267 Thanks very much!!!

[@preciouscointester]

@@jeffw1267 This formula is not quite accurate. For example it doesn't work well with 22k gold alloyed with copper. The reason is that if you mix two kind of materials, the total volume may shrink. (since small atoms may enter into the gaps between big atoms). Anyway, it can be a quick and rough estimation.

[@ashutoshghosh5353]

How to do this with alloy coin ?

[@ghiyathudeenabdulsalam6842]

2.95 is for what?anybody knows?

[@kintarogintama9149]

Thanx for the cool tip vid …and Now for the Best part reading the YT comments … Looney Tunes delight.omg eg re alloys the smaller silver molecules hide in the larger copper molecules . but did you measure dem dere lil molekuleys ? dats a mitey fine piece a string der boy lmfao

[@toddrodgers446]

Good info. Why not just tare with the string in the water?

[@SilverDragons47]

Todd Rodgers yes that is an option as well but once I pull the string out usually a drop or 2 of water falls off of it and then i’m off with the result 🤷🏽‍♂️🔥🐉

[@jmonaghan6496]

Wouldn't 22K be 17.71? I don't know what 24K is for sure but going off your number for 24K @ 19.32 ÷ 24 X 22 = 17.71

[@karmakarl6673]

Would have been good to have done a test with a fake gold eagle to show the difference

[@jimcatanzaro7808]

Good video

[@EmpirePreciousMetals]

I challenge you to do a video doing this test on every piece of bullion you own. Ready???? BREAK!

[@SilverDragons47]

Stacking Stormtrooper but what about the slabs lol🔥🐉

[@EmpirePreciousMetals]

Silver Dragons simple- find the weight of the slabs using the gravity test, then deduct that number from the slabbed coin number.... 🤯

[@user-pk5tz2ll2u]

طريقه رائعه جدا . good job

[@chikaworldpeace3446]

I prefer just dropping them on the ground and hearing the sound

[@chetmyers7041]

I visit the cemetery on a cold moonless night and drop the coins on a polished marble grave marker. If you drop 5 gold eagles one at a time, any body recently buried can be heard sighing.

[@Asian_Connection]

Just found out all my Chinatown 24k gold chains are only 10k gold

[@chetmyers7041]

Were you surprised? Didn't you get a good discount?

[@RadioactiveRoach]

Do you have to measure the cup the water it's in and subtract it as well?

[@mikekokomomike]

No, you just zero the tare on the scale before you submerge the sample, the container and amount of water just needs to be big enough to fully submerge the sample without touching the sides or bottom. Ask Archimedes

[@manojmuraboina6834]

I got 9.57 what would be it's purity?

[@RS-ub3we]

If you measured it correctly, thats silver plated copper. Even .925 sterling silver is 10.36

[@socal92871]

how is the scale measuring the coin if you are holding it in your hand? please clarify.

[@nunyabisnis1448]

He ties a piece of string to the coin and he has a cup of water on the scale, first you weigh the item just sitting on the scale, then zero the cup of water and you suspend the coin in the cup of water ,the volume of water is displaced and you get a different weight on the scale from the water displacement! after recording both numbers, you divide them and you come up with another number, this is the number witch tells you if it's copper gold silver tin brass aluminum steel all threw the periodic table of elements atomic weights chart, all have different weights ! You got it ?

[@chetmyers7041]

@@nunyabisnis1448 Where does the displaced water go?

[@jahanzaibkhan-nc1tl]

Very hreat video

[@rpddsmith]

any idea what a specific gravity of 10.84 for silver bullion means??

[@paganphil100]

rpddsmith: Pure silver should have a specific gravity between 10.4 - 10.6 so its possible you might have a fake OR you didn't do the test correctly.

[@rpddsmith]

@@paganphil100 I found out that using waxed flavored floss was causing the high reading. When I used unwaxed unflavored floss the numbers were correct.

[@humbllbug]

Yahshua - you know Him as Jesus - was born to a virgin, turned water to wine, taught, healed the sick, raised the dead, casted out demons, walked on water, and calmed the storm, among many other things. He was killed on the cross as payment for the sins of all mankind, three days later He rose from the dead. Forty days later He ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father. He is returning very soon, but before He does, Satan, the devil, is coming to pretend to be Jesus/God. Satan is an angel, and he will have certain supernatural powers with which to try to fool everyone. He will, for example, be able to make fire come down from heaven in the sight of men. He will only be on earth a short time before the real King of Kings, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, returns. When the real Jesus comes we will all be transformed into our spiritual bodies at the same moment. Jesus came in the flesh to offer forgiveness of sins and eternal life to anyone who believes and calls on His precious name!! Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. - Matthew 26:6-13

[@tharuneinstiein7669]

You got wrong answer because you deduct the rope weigh.... Don't deduct rope weigh...and calculate It shows very close answer.......

[@georgefulk8699]

22k spgr = 17.77

[@ioanstef1983]

Density!

[@D-FIANT415]

Now let's see you test your hole stack🤣 JK. Good info as always 😎

[@SilverDragons47]

D Money 415 lol see you in few days 😂🔥🐉

[@rogershealy4908]

What’s brass ?

[@RS-ub3we]

Brass is copper and zinc. The zinc stops it from tarnishing so its a great consumer metal

[@nerotikzombie]

Freakin Gravity! It’s EVERYWHERE!!! 🤣🤣 JK - This was an interesting video to say the least! Where do people come up with this stuff? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@SilverDragons47]

nerotikzombie lol thanks a bunch 😁🔥🐉

[@ygkremer]

Archimedes law ;p

[@aduedc]

I do not understand your method. Ok density is mass/volume You measure the mass of the object, ok so far so good. Then you deep it in the water while not letting touch the bottom, now you measure rise in the water level as a result of displaced water. the rise in the water level depends on cross section of say your cylinder, if you have a perfect cylinder. In a wide Cylinder Water rises a little, and in small cylinder water rises a lot.

[@Steveman27]

You don't like gold, do you?

[@toplistcrew7645]

Tenths of grams

[@kamendanev152]

Cool❤

[@sparcx86channel42]

the gravity changes around the Wolrd, there is any way to adjust it regarding where in the globe we are?

[@RS-ub3we]

this is completely wrong. Any differences in gravity wont show up on a cheap scale

[@cool_chemist7644]

Specific gravity has nothing to do with gravity actually. It is simply the ratio of a given substance's density to that of water. A better term for it would be "relative density."

[@kintarogintama9149]

yes just use the balstrum adjustment factors …ez pz

[@lucienwilliams4359]

Eureka!

[@IbrahimKhalil-bt9yh]

Cool

[@luvdr350]

Should have tested something fake

[@jumatttp3706]

Screen English writing close

[@JakeSmith-wj1xy]

#Science ✌️😎👍

[@SilverDragons47]

Jake Smith lol science is our friend 😁🔥🐉

[@joshsnakes688]

First time watching

[@SilverDragons47]

josh snakes awesome welcome to the channel!!! 🔥🐉

[@serdgeedgerunner]

clean your scales!