When you sell gold, you're trusting that the buyer's analysis is correct. The carat and weight you're told directly affect the amount that lands in your account. How can you know whether the measurement is reliable?
One way to assess this is to look at whether the buyer operates under a standardized quality management system. The international standard ISO/IEC 17025 exists for exactly this purpose — it applies specifically to testing and calibration laboratories, which includes the analysis of gold batches.
What is ISO 17025?
ISO/IEC 17025 is a joint standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It sets out the requirements for laboratories that perform testing or calibration and want to formally demonstrate their competence.
The standard doesn't just cover equipment — it covers the entire operation: staff competence, method validation, traceability of results and quality assurance. Accreditation is granted by an accreditation body, which in Finland is FINAS (Finnish Accreditation Service).
What does the standard require in practice?
Method validation
The analysis methods used — such as XRF spectrometry or acid testing — must be documented and demonstrably accurate for their intended purpose.
Equipment calibration
Measuring instruments must be calibrated regularly against international reference materials so that results are traceable and comparable.
Staff competence
The person performing the analysis must have documented training and competence in the method used.
External audit
The accreditation body audits the laboratory regularly and confirms that its operations meet the standard's requirements.
Why is this relevant when selling gold?
Analyzing a gold batch is a measurement event. The measurement result directly affects the amount you're paid. If the measurement is inaccurate or the equipment uncalibrated, the result may work against the seller.
ISO 17025 accreditation doesn't guarantee an honest price — but it does guarantee that the measurement is correct.
Most Finnish gold buyers — jewellers, pawnbrokers and online services — are not ISO 17025-accredited laboratories. This doesn't mean their measurements are wrong, but there is no external audit.
What should you ask a gold-buying service?
Even without ISO 17025 accreditation, you can assess how reliable the analysis is by asking:
Gold Lab's approach
We are not an ISO 17025-accredited laboratory. We're upfront about that. We use XRF spectrometry and, when needed, acid testing for analysis, and we provide the results in writing before you need to make a decision.
Our entire process is built on transparency: you see the pricing in advance, you receive the analysis before deciding, and you can decline the offer at no cost. Instead of certification, we believe the best guarantee of reliability is an open process you can verify for yourself.