Our Testing Laboratory

Visual inspection plays a key role in evaluating diamonds and bullion, complementing scientific testing by providing immediate insights that inform further verification. While not a substitute for laboratory methods, it offers several advantages:

Initial Assessment: A first step in verifying an item’s authenticity, visual inspection allows for a quick evaluation before formal testing.

Identifying Surface Irregularities: Scratches, damage, or inconsistencies in a metal’s surface may indicate prior alterations, affecting purity assessments.

Detecting Potential Misrepresentation: Counterfeit or altered items often exhibit inconsistencies in markings, settings, or finishes, which may warrant further testing.

Quick Verification for Routine Transactions: For lower-risk evaluations, a visual review may provide sufficient confirmation before proceeding with advanced testing.

Recognizing Handling and Storage Considerations: Surface characteristics can indicate whether an item has been stored or maintained properly, offering insights into its condition.

In summary, while laboratory testing remains the standard for verifying purity and composition, visual inspection serves as an essential first step, ensuring that any potential discrepancies are identified and addressed before more in-depth analysis.

Magnetic testing provides a quick, non-invasive method to assess the composition of bullion and other high-value metal assets. While not a definitive verification method, it serves as an effective preliminary screening tool in authentication processes and provides several key benefits:

Detecting Non-Precious Metals: Gold, silver, and platinum are non-magnetic. If a bullion bar or coin exhibits magnetic properties, it may contain base metals such as iron, nickel, or cobalt, indicating potential misrepresentation.

Preliminary Fraud Detection: Some counterfeit bullion bars or coins are plated with a thin layer of gold or silver over a magnetic core. Magnetic testing helps identify these deceptive compositions.

Immediate Results: Magnetic testing offers instant feedback, making it useful for rapid assessments during bulk evaluations or high-volume transactions.

Non-Destructive Verification: Because this method does not alter or damage the item, it is ideal for preserving the integrity of high-value bullion while conducting preliminary assessments.

Complementary to Other Tests: While magnetic testing alone does not confirm authenticity, it serves as a valuable first step before further analysis using density measurement, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), or electrical conductivity testing.

In summary, magnetic testing is a fast and effective method for detecting base metal contamination in bullion. When used in conjunction with advanced verification techniques, it provides an added layer of confidence in assessing the purity and authenticity of precious metals.

Electrical conductivity testing offers a precise and reliable method for assessing the composition and authenticity of precious metals. This technique measures how well a material conducts electricity, revealing important details about its metal content. Here are the key benefits of this testing method:

Accurate Metal Identification: Different metals have distinct conductivity levels. Precious metals like gold, silver, and copper are excellent conductors, while tungsten, nickel, and other base metals used in counterfeits have significantly lower conductivity. This test helps confirm whether a sample matches the expected properties of authentic gold, silver, or platinum.

Non-Destructive: Electrical conductivity testing is a non-invasive method that does not alter or damage bullion or other tested materials. It provides precise analysis without compromising the integrity of the item.

Detecting Counterfeits: Counterfeit bullion and plated metals often contain base metals with different conductivity properties from genuine items. Conductivity testing quickly reveals discrepancies, identifying fakes that might otherwise pass visual inspection or basic magnetic testing.

Verifying Purity: For bullion bars and coins, electrical conductivity testing assists in verifying purity levels. Pure gold (24k) has a higher conductivity than lower karat alloys or gold-plated items, making this an effective tool for identifying purity variances.

Testing Layered or Plated Metals: This method can distinguish between solid and surface-plated metals. For example, gold-plated items display different conductivity characteristics compared to solid gold, helping to reveal non-precious metal cores.

Complementary to Other Tests: While electrical conductivity testing provides valuable insights, it is most effective when combined with additional methods such as density measurement, X-ray fluorescence, and other advanced verification techniques.

In summary, electrical conductivity testing is a reliable, non-invasive method for identifying metal composition, detecting counterfeits, and verifying purity, making it an essential tool for precise bullion authentication.

Electrical resistivity testing provides a scientifically precise method for verifying the composition and authenticity of bullion. By measuring how much a material resists the flow of electric current, this test offers key insights into metal properties. While similar to electrical conductivity testing, resistivity testing focuses on the inverse property, measuring resistance rather than conductivity. Here are the key benefits:

Precise Metal Identification: Every metal has a unique resistivity value. Precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum exhibit low resistivity, while non-precious metals such as tungsten, nickel, and certain alloys display higher resistivity. This method ensures accurate identification of metal composition.

Detecting Impurities and Alloys: Resistivity testing is highly effective in detecting variations in metal composition. Lower-karat gold, for example, has a different resistivity than pure gold, allowing for verification of both purity and alloy content.

Non-Destructive: Like conductivity testing, resistivity testing is completely non-invasive. It provides reliable analysis without altering or damaging the bullion, which is critical for high-value assets.

Identifying Counterfeits: Counterfeit bullion often contains base metals with significantly higher resistivity values than genuine precious metals. Even if surface-plated with a thin layer of gold or silver, the core material will reveal discrepancies, making this an effective fraud detection method.

Verifying Thickness and Purity of Plated Metals: Resistivity testing helps determine whether an item is solid metal or merely surface-plated. For instance, a gold-plated object will show higher resistivity beneath the plating layer, exposing the presence of a non-precious core.

Complementary to Other Tests: Electrical resistivity testing enhances overall accuracy when used in conjunction with density measurement, X-ray fluorescence, and other scientific methods, creating a comprehensive metal authentication process.

In summary, electrical resistivity testing provides a non-destructive, highly effective way to detect counterfeit bullion, verify metal purity, and determine whether an item is solid or plated. This ensures that high-value assets are assessed with the highest level of precision.

Conducting electrical resistivity through-metal testing of bullion involves measuring how much the entire bulk of a metal object resists the flow of electrical current. This method goes beyond surface evaluation, offering deeper insight into the internal composition and structure of the metal. Here are the key benefits:

Comprehensive Metal Composition Analysis: Through-metal resistivity testing measures resistivity across the entire piece, not just its surface. This ensures that the core composition matches the outer appearance, helping detect internal impurities or alloying that may not be visible from the surface.

Detection of Counterfeits and Plated Items: A significant advantage of this method is identifying counterfeit bullion that may be surface-plated with a thin layer of precious metal while containing a cheaper, high-resistivity metal at its core. For example, gold or silver plating over tungsten or lead is easily detected, as the resistivity through the bulk of the material will be much higher than that of pure gold or silver.

Verification of Metal Purity: Through-metal resistivity testing verifies purity by detecting whether the entire piece is alloyed with other metals. Since pure gold has a specific resistivity value, deviations from this standard indicate possible mixing with other metals such as copper or silver. This is especially valuable when testing bullion bars or coins, where internal purity is critical.

Non-Destructive: Like surface resistivity testing, through-metal resistivity testing is entirely non-destructive, preserving the integrity of the item. This is particularly important for high-value bullion, where maintaining pristine condition is essential.

Detection of Voids and Internal Defects: This method can identify internal voids, inconsistencies, or defects in the metal that surface testing might overlook. Some counterfeit items contain hollow sections or non-metal fillers, which would remain undetected by surface-only tests. Through-metal resistivity testing can reveal such structural inconsistencies.

Suitable for Large Pieces: Larger bullion items, such as bars, greatly benefit from through-metal resistivity testing, as it ensures that the internal composition matches the external appearance. Standard surface testing may not be sufficient for these larger items, particularly if counterfeiting involves altering the core structure.

Complementary to Other Tests: Through-metal resistivity testing works best when combined with other verification methods, such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), density measurement, and visual inspection. Together, these techniques provide a comprehensive assessment of both surface and internal composition.

In summary, through-metal resistivity testing is a powerful, non-invasive method for verifying the full internal and external composition of bullion. It is highly effective at detecting counterfeits, ensuring purity, and identifying hidden structural defects, making it an essential tool in the authentication of high-value precious metals.

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing is a powerful analytical method used to determine the elemental composition of precious metals, including bullion. This method provides several key benefits:

Precise Elemental Analysis: XRF delivers highly accurate identification and quantification of multiple elements in a sample, including precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum, as well as base metals like copper and nickel.

Non-Destructive: XRF testing does not damage or alter the tested item. It measures the fluorescent X-rays emitted when exposed to an X-ray beam, making it ideal for analyzing bullion and other valuable metals.

Immediate Results: The process is quick and provides real-time verification, which is an advantage for assessing large quantities of bullion efficiently.

Comprehensive Analysis: XRF detects trace elements and impurities that may not be visible through surface testing, ensuring an accurate assessment of purity and composition.

Detection of Counterfeits and Plated Metals: XRF can distinguish between genuine precious metals and items that are plated or alloyed with base metals, helping to detect fraudulent bullion.

Verification of Metal Purity: The test accurately determines the purity of metals, such as confirming whether gold is 24k or if it contains alloyed elements.

No Sample Preparation Required: Items can be tested in their original state without modifications, preserving their integrity.

Data Documentation: XRF machines generate detailed reports of each test, providing verifiable records for compliance and inventory management.

Regulatory Compliance: XRF ensures that bullion meets industry purity and authenticity standards, crucial for businesses dealing in precious metals.

Judith Capital employs silicon drift detector (SDD) XRF, which surpasses traditional silicon PIN (Si-PIN) detectors in several ways:

Higher Resolution: SDDs provide superior energy resolution, enabling precise differentiation between elements with closely spaced X-ray emission lines.

Faster Detection: The advanced design of SDDs allows for quicker data acquisition and higher count rates, making them more efficient for processing large volumes of material.

Enhanced Sensitivity: SDDs detect lower concentrations of elements with greater accuracy, making them ideal for trace element analysis.

Improved Signal-to-Noise Ratio: This results in clearer and more reliable spectra, essential for precise metal verification.

Superior Low-Energy X-ray Performance: SDDs excel at detecting low-energy X-rays, allowing for accurate analysis of elements with low atomic numbers.

Compact and Efficient Design: The advanced engineering of SDDs contributes to more flexible and portable XRF instrument configurations, enhancing overall performance.

In summary, XRF testing provides a non-destructive, highly precise method for analyzing the elemental composition of bullion, verifying purity, and detecting counterfeits. Judith Capital’s use of superior SDD technology ensures the highest level of accuracy and efficiency, making it an essential tool for metal authentication and compliance.

Temperature-compensated density (purity) determination is a specialized testing method used to measure the density of bullion, offering several key benefits:

Accurate Purity Assessment: The density of a metal is directly related to its purity. Precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum have specific densities, and variations from these values can indicate the presence of alloys or impurities. Temperature-compensated density testing provides an accurate measurement of density, allowing for precise determination of metal purity.

Compensation for Temperature Variations: Density measurements can be affected by temperature changes, as metals expand or contract with temperature fluctuations. This method adjusts for such variations, ensuring that density measurements remain accurate regardless of environmental conditions. This accuracy is crucial for achieving reliable results in varying temperatures.

Non-Destructive: This method does not alter or damage bullion during testing, making it particularly valuable for high-value items where preservation of condition is essential.

Detection of Counterfeits: Counterfeit bullion or plated items often have different densities compared to the claimed precious metal. For example, gold-plated bars or bullion with a base metal core will show density variations when compared to pure gold or silver. Temperature-compensated density testing can reveal such discrepancies, helping to identify fraudulent or misrepresented items.

Verification of Alloy Composition: By determining density and comparing it to known values of various alloys, this method helps verify whether a bullion product meets specified purity standards.

Maintaining Industry Standards: In the refining, manufacturing, and trading of bullion, upholding strict quality standards is essential. This testing method ensures that bullion meets required purity specifications, contributing to overall product integrity and trust.

Complementary to Other Tests: Density measurement works best when combined with other verification techniques such as XRF, electrical conductivity, or visual inspection. Together, these methods provide a comprehensive assessment of metal authenticity and purity.

In summary, temperature-compensated density testing provides an accurate, non-destructive, and reliable method for assessing the purity of bullion. By accounting for temperature variations, detecting counterfeits, and verifying alloy composition, it plays a critical role in quality control and authentication in the precious metals industry.

Ultrasonic thickness testing (UTT) is a valuable tool for inspecting bullion bars, particularly for detecting fraudulent inserts or verifying the uniformity of the bar’s composition. Here are the key benefits of using UTT for this purpose:

Detection of Fraudulent Inserts: UTT measures the thickness of the bullion bar at different points. If a fraudulent insert (such as a cheaper metal) is hidden inside the bar, it may cause inconsistencies in the thickness. Any significant deviation in thickness can suggest the presence of a non-precious core or voids within the bar.

Non-Destructive: Ultrasonic thickness testing is a non-invasive method, meaning it doesn’t damage or alter the bullion bar in any way. This is important for high-value bullion, as preserving the item’s original condition is essential during inspection.

Quick and Efficient: UTT provides quick measurements of the thickness across various points on the bar. This allows for fast, efficient inspections, making it ideal for situations where a large number of bullion bars need to be tested in a short amount of time.

Identify Hollow or Thin Areas: A bullion bar with fraudulent inserts might contain hollow spaces or thin layers of precious metal over a cheaper core. UTT can detect these hollow areas by identifying unexpected drops in thickness across the bar, indicating that the internal structure is not uniform.

Portable: UTT devices are generally portable, making them suitable for use in the field, at storage facilities, or during on-site inspections. This flexibility makes it convenient for quick inspections of bullion bars in various settings.

Reliable for Surface-to-Surface Verification: UTT can confirm that the thickness of the bullion bar is consistent across its surface. For example, a fraudulent bar might be thicker in some areas to compensate for a thinner layer of precious metal over a cheaper material. UTT identifies these variations, helping to ensure the bar is solid and genuine.

Complementary to Other Tests: UTT is often used in combination with other testing methods like XRF or ultrasonic flaw detection to provide a more comprehensive analysis. While UTT measures thickness, other methods can confirm the metal’s composition, further verifying the bar’s authenticity.

Effective for Various Metal Types: UTT can be used on various types of precious metal bullion, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Its versatility makes it applicable to different metals, ensuring consistent results across a wide range of bullion products.

Detection of Major Anomalies: While UTT might not detect fine internal features like small voids or cracks (which are better identified through full ultrasonic testing), it is effective at detecting large-scale fraud where a significant portion of the bar is not composed of the claimed material.

In summary, ultrasonic thickness testing is a non-destructive way to detect fraudulent inserts and verify the structural integrity of bullion bars. It quickly measures the thickness of the bar, revealing inconsistencies that could indicate hidden non-precious metals or hollow spaces. UTT is portable and ideal for fast, on-site inspections. When combined with other testing methods, it provides an additional layer of security in verifying the authenticity of bullion.

Thermal conductivity testing is a widely used method for evaluating diamonds, and it offers several distinct benefits:

Accurate Identification of Diamonds: Thermal conductivity testing is highly effective in distinguishing genuine diamonds from diamond simulants or imitations like cubic zirconia or moissanite. Diamonds have a unique thermal conductivity that is significantly higher than most other gemstones. This property allows the test to accurately identify diamonds.

Non-Destructive: Thermal conductivity testing is non-invasive and does not damage or alter the gemstone. This is crucial for preserving the integrity and value of the diamond, especially when dealing with high-value or delicate stones.

High Sensitivity: Thermal conductivity testers are highly sensitive and can detect even slight differences in thermal properties. This high sensitivity ensures accurate identification of diamonds, including distinguishing between natural diamonds and high-quality synthetic diamonds.

Consistency Across Different Conditions: The method performs consistently across different environmental conditions, such as temperature variations and lighting. This reliability makes it a dependable tool for gemologists and jewelers.

Complementary to Other Tests: While thermal conductivity testing is highly effective, it is often used in conjunction with other testing methods, such as visual inspection, UV fluorescence, or spectroscopy. Combining these methods provides a more comprehensive assessment of the diamond’s authenticity and quality.

In summary, thermal conductivity testing offers accurate, non-destructive, and rapid identification of diamonds by measuring their unique thermal properties. It effectively distinguishes genuine diamonds from simulants, provides reliable results, and is an essential tool for gemologists, jewelers, and anyone involved in the diamond trade.

Ultraviolet fluorescence testing is a valuable method for evaluating diamonds and can be particularly useful for identifying lab-grown diamonds and simulants. Here are the key benefits of this testing method:

Distinguishing Lab-Grown Diamonds from Natural Diamonds: Natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds often exhibit different fluorescence patterns under UV light. For instance, natural diamonds may show various fluorescence colors and intensities, while lab-grown diamonds, especially those created by the High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) methods, might exhibit specific fluorescence characteristics or sometimes show no fluorescence at all. This helps in distinguishing between natural and lab-grown diamonds.

Identifying Diamond Simulants: Many diamond simulants, such as cubic zirconia and moissanite, react differently to UV light compared to natural diamonds. For example, cubic zirconia may exhibit a distinct fluorescence pattern or color under UV light that differs from that of genuine diamonds. This difference aids in identifying simulants and verifying the authenticity of the gemstone.

Non-Destructive: Ultraviolet fluorescence testing is a non-invasive method that does not damage or alter the gemstone. This is crucial for preserving the value and integrity of high-value diamonds and other gemstones during testing.

Complementary to Other Tests: While UV fluorescence testing is effective, it is often used alongside other methods such as thermal conductivity testing, visual inspection, and spectroscopy. Combining these tests provides a more comprehensive analysis of the gemstone’s authenticity and origin.

Detection of Treatments: UV fluorescence can sometimes help identify certain treatments applied to diamonds, such as high-temperature annealing, which may alter the fluorescence pattern. This can provide additional information about the diamond’s treatment history.

Effective for Varied Types of Diamonds: UV fluorescence testing is effective for a wide range of diamonds, including those with different color grades and sizes. It can be used to assess both high-quality and lower-grade diamonds, making it a versatile tool in gemology.

In summary, ultraviolet fluorescence testing offers an efficient, non-destructive way to identify lab-grown diamonds and simulants by revealing their unique fluorescence patterns. It helps distinguish between natural and lab-grown diamonds, spot diamond simulants, and provides additional insights into the gemstone’s characteristics. When used alongside other testing methods, it contributes to a thorough and accurate assessment of diamonds and gemstones.