The concept involves applying a mild abrasive, specifically toothpaste, to a potentially gold item and observing the result. The aim is to identify scratches left on the item. Pure gold is a soft metal; therefore, a true gold item should exhibit minimal to no scratching from the gentle abrasives in standard toothpaste.
This method is employed for its accessible and non-destructive nature. It offers a preliminary indication of the authenticity of a gold item. Historically, individuals have sought simple, readily available methods to distinguish genuine precious metals from base metals or plated items, making this kind of test a common practice. However, this test method provides only a basic estimation of purity and is not a replacement for professional appraisal techniques.
