Auracle PRO electronic gold tester, detailed information, pros and cons, hints and tips

PRO (professional) by Auracle
Specification
DETAIL
COMPARISONS CHART

PRO (professional) by Auracle

This is the top model of the Auracle brand: the PRO (professional) gold tester. For the professional dealing with several thousand pounds-worth of gold per day this is not expensive - and this model has the most features. This is definitely the model to go for if you are professional jeweller or scrap dealer.

Two modes, standard and enhanced. 

• Standard mode shows carat purity ('K' for Karat rather than "c" for carat, because it's American).
  
• Enhanced mode shows percentage purity.

Specification

• Size 145 X 105 X 30mm (5.75 X 4 X 1.25 inches)
• No acids involved, the probe contains a harmless salt solution.
• Tests yellow gold from 8ct to 24ct plus platinum
  
• Pen-probe provides up to 6000 tests.
  
• Speed: touch pen probe to the item, result is shown in 2 or 3 seconds, very fast
  
• Calibration: easy one-touch calibration with a sample of 18ct - not included 
  
• Works on battery or mains, mains power supply included (adaptor plug) included
  
• Guarantee: 1 year

It has two modes, Standard and Enhanced 

• Standard Mode displays the results to the nearest commonly-used carat (though marked "K" for Karat because it's American) from 8ct to 24ct. A reading of 8K or 10K  means it's 9ct (in America they use 10ct rather than 9ct), then 14K, 18K, 22K or 24K.  Also displays a bar graph showing how close it is to the standard carat.
  
• Enhanced mode shows the proportion of gold in percentage (displayed to the nearest 0.1%).  NOTE: it is not accurate to within 0.1%, there will a variation in readings of a few percent.
  
  The PRO his is for the professional: you will understand  carat and and parts per thousand of gold in the alloy so that you can calculate actual gold value from the official 'spot' price.  If this confuses you, please go for the more basic Analyser model instead, it's much simpler. 

DETAIL

• Instructions and results on one large LCD display
• One-touch calibration, no need to turn a knob (unlike the KEE tester)
• Super-fast results and no waiting between tests, you can even place several items on the test-plate at once and test them one after the other. 
• The manufacturers say this is 20% more accurate
• Only requires one calibration sample, not two, as with the KEE tester.
• Battery indicator shows percentage (and it's easy to change the battery)
• The pen-probe has a finer tip than the older (e.g. Kee) pen-probes, easier to test  small items, and the pen-probe lasts longer and costs less.
  

COMPARISONS CHART

	Testing range	Display	power	LowBatt indicator	Cal*	Probe life (max)	CE Approved
Auracle ANALYZER	8ct – 24ct	LED (carat) LCD (prompts)	Battery Mains	Yes (“low batt”)	18ct	6000 tests	Yes
Auracle PRO	8ct – 24ct	LCD (various modes)	Battery Mains	Yes (percentage)	18ct	6000 tests	Yes
KEE**	8ct – 24ct	Analogue meter	Battery	No	18ct 22ct	3000 tests	No

* To keep these testers working accurately you need to calibrate them against a known sample.   ** Now discontinued.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The other model is he Auracle ANALYZER.  Still not sure? See our comparisons page (includes the KEE tester). 

Other information articles:

• Not sure what type of tester to get? See our fascinating article, Twelve methods of testing gold, silver and platinum.
• You’ve been looking at other brands and models? See Reviews of 9 electronic gold testers (and pen-probes).
• For small very fragile/valuable items such as rare coins (and also loose gemstones) see the specific gravity tester. 
• Finally, do remember that acids are the most versatile and accurate for testing precious metals, see What he various testing kits do and Testing white metals.
• You have read about the limitations of electronic and need acids to test the precious metals that electronic gold testers can't cope with - see our special Q3 for use with electronic gold testers. Please note, this is only available for sale with electronic gold testers.