Verification · Service
XRF computer
assay.
X-ray fluorescence reads Au, Ag, Cu, Pt, Pd, and common alloy metals in seconds. No melting. No scratching. An instant, defensible read on purity — the number on the screen is what we pay against.
Live readout from a Bayshore intake
The technology
What XRF measures, and why it matters.
XRF (X-ray fluorescence) bombards a sample with low-energy X-rays and reads the secondary photons each element emits. Every metal has a unique emission signature, so the analyzer can quantify exact composition without cutting, scratching, or melting the piece.
For dealers, that means confidence before payout. A fake 18K stamp is obvious in the readout. So is a hollow charm filled with base metal. So is rhodium plating that masks a different underlying alloy.
Every intake at Bayshore gets XRF before a number is quoted. We’d rather spend sixty seconds knowing than write the wrong check.
By the numbers
60s
Typical read time
100%
Of intakes XRF-verified
0
Pieces damaged by test
When to use XRF
Six places the analyzer earns its keep.
Estate lots
Mixed-era jewelry where original karat marks are unreliable or have worn off entirely.
Bullion verification
Confirms purity on small bars or coins before purchase. Catches plated impostors instantly.
Counterfeit screening
Detects tungsten cores, gold-plated lead, rhodium masking, and substitution scams in seconds.
Refiner pre-checks
Quick yield estimate before committing a mixed lot to melt — no surprises at settlement.
Insurance / appraisal
Documented elemental composition for high-value collection pieces, on Bayshore letterhead.
Counter intake
Every lot crossing our counter is XRF-read before a number is quoted. No exceptions.
How it works
Five steps, sixty seconds.
01
Surface prep
A small clean area on the piece is wiped — no cuts, scratches, or chemical etch needed.
02
Calibrate
Analyzer is calibrated against a certified reference standard before each session.
03
Read
X-ray exposure of a few seconds. Live elemental composition appears on screen and is logged.
04
Verify
Composition + karat readout printed for the customer. Suspicious results re-tested at a second point.
05
Document
Reading filed against the lot or piece for traceability through smelt and settlement.
Walk-in or wholesale
Assay-only? That works too.
Don’t want to sell? You don’t have to. Bayshore offers stand-alone XRF assay for jewelers, refiners, and collectors who need an independent opinion on a piece. Per-test pricing for retail; volume contracts for trade accounts.