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Saturday, Jun 25, 2011
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Fears over purity of gold ornaments

Ignatius Pereira

Detection of iridium and ruthenium is not easy even with the right machines.

— Photo: C. Suresh Kumar

Not so dear:In spite of all the glitter, the gold ornaments sold may not be of 916 purity.

KOLLAM: A High Court observation on Thursday about the presence of iridium and ruthenium in gold ornaments raises the question whether all that glitters in jewellery showrooms is really 916 gold. The fear is that even hallmarked gold ornaments could be adulterated with iridium and ruthenium.

This is owing to the fact that these two metals, from the platinum family, easily resemble gold when mixed with the latter and the testing machines at many of the hall marking centres are still not calibrated to detect them. Comprehensive purity tests will be required to detect the presence of the two metals, which add brilliance to gold ornaments.

The High Court called for government vigil on the issue on grounds that both the metals are carcinogenic and hence a health hazard. Sources connected with the trade said adulteration had been taking place since many years and in Kerala it was detected six years ago.

But the operation was by and large kept a secret. Cut throat competition in the trade is seen as the villain behind the adulteration. There is again the fear that the soaring gold prices had further triggered the adulteration. Recently 5 kg of iridium was seized by the Kochi Customs.

But it is the major gold ornament manufacturers based outside the State who are engaged in the adulteration. Most retail showrooms in the State purchase ornaments from them. The High Court observation has been taken seriously by the gold trading fraternity of the State. But there are reservations on the “carcinogenic” observation because it has not been proved.

Secretary of the Calicut Bullion Association Ram Mohan Kamath told The Hindu that his association was seriously considering to implead in the case because the observation can affect the trade. Honest traders will have to be protected. Mr. Kamath feels the issue has been blown out of proportion. James Jose, secretary of the All India Hallmarking Centres Association, said even at hallmarking centres with the right testing machines, detection of iridium and ruthenium is not easy. But his hallmarking centres had many a time detected the presence of these two metals, recorded it and passed on the information to the Bureau of Indian Standards. Former State vice-president of the All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants Association, S. Abdul Nazar said the adulteration was linked to the unhealthy competition prevailing in the retail gold trading sector. Heavy offers on gold ornament purchases gives reason to suspect adulteration because it appears that even a reasonable profit is difficult compared to the offers promised, he alleged.

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