IDENTIFYING THE GOLD PURITY VERIFICATION TECHNIQUES UTILIZED BY SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED JEWELLERY INDUSTRIES IN MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/mzhf6y04Keywords:
Gold Purity, Gold Quality, Jewellery IndustryAbstract
Due to its inherent value, gold is regarded as one of the planet's most valuable and precious substances. It is also regarded as one of the most secure assets in the world. Globally, gold is extensively utilized in several different kinds of industries, which includes investment, jewellery, and the manufacturing of gold coins and bars. Malaysians frequently utilized gold for foreign trade, investment, gifts, and wedding dowries. As the demand for real and high-purity gold grows, the trustworthiness of gold-testing tools is called into question. It has always been challenging to determine the constituents of the gold and platinum groups, commonly referred to as precious metals (Barefoot and Van Loon, 1999). The analysis of gold's purity in Malaysia's SMEs jewellery industry is the main goal of this study. It investigates the most prevalent testing methods used by SMEs, such as acid testing (touchstone), fire assay, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The study also examines the issues that SMEs confront in ensuring that gold purity meets industry requirements and attempts to uncover the core causes of gold identification mistakes. Integrating a mixed-methods research approach, this study combines quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews to acquire a full understanding of industry practices. The study's findings are predicted to considerably improve the precision of gold testing methodologies, develop quality control practices, and increase assurance and regulatory compliance frameworks in Malaysia's small and medium scale jewellery industry.
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