Usage Considerations - Sigma Metalytics Precious Metal Verifier Quick Start Manual

Use Considerations
USE WITH CAUTION
It is not our recommendation or intention for the Precious Metal Verifier
(PMV) to be the sole means for identification of counterfeit coins and bars.
Our measurement of a material's electrical characteristic (resistivity or
conductivity) is necessary, but not by itself sufficient for such a purpose.
We recommend that you check the item being measured against its
specified weight, and size along with the resistivity measurement. You
should use your normal visual checks of the material as well.
Other materials have the same resistivity as pure gold, and as such
can look like gold on the PMV. These materials will be less dense than
gold, so they will be larger or weigh less than the specified value. If you
check material that looks good on the PMV, but has the wrong weight or
dimensions, then you should not accept the material as consistent with
the correct metal.
Do not try to use the PMV to determine what a material is. The PMV will
only provide the electrical characteristic (resistivity or conductivity) of
the metal, not the atomic structure. Correct use is to have an expectation
of the material type (gold, silver, platinum, etc.), and alloy content (22K,
coin silver, sterling, .999 pure, etc.), and to verify that the material being
tested is consistent with your expectation.
Used in this way, the PMV is a great asset in avoiding counterfeit products
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