A highly competitive market with daily price fluctuations, the main challenge in the precious metals trade is accurately determining the precious metal content of jewelry and gold coins. XRF spectrometry is a solution in this field due to its precise, fast, and non-destructive analysis method.
A family business since 1933, the French company Godot & Fils specializes in trading precious metals and numismatics. Based in Paris, Godot & Fils is one of the oldest establishments on Rue Vivienne. It trades in gold products, coins, ingots, and small ingots, as well as silver and other precious metals. To identify the precious metals contained in scrap, the company uses the Niton DXL XRF spectrometer. In this article, read the testimony of Alexis Monceaux, director of Godot & Fils.
We now have more than 10 Niton DXL spectrometers in the various Godot & Fils branches. We are very satisfied with the results and analyses. These are robust devices that stand the test of time.
Hello, Mr. Monceaux, can you tell us about Godot & Fils?
Godot & Fils has been a family business since 1933, specializing in the trading of precious metals. The company has 40 branches in France, including a dozen in the Paris region, to meet the needs of our customers. The precious metals dealer buys metals in the form of ingots, gold coins, or scrap from private and professional customers, and then resells them. Once appraised, these items are melted down and then refined. This means that 18-karat gold becomes 24-karat gold and is then resold by us.
When a customer comes to us wanting to sell precious metals, these metals are first analyzed. The analysis results provided by the spectrometer allow us to verify, on the one hand, whether the item is indeed gold and, on the other hand, to determine whether it is 14-karat or 18-karat gold. The metals are then weighed and purchased according to the current gold price.
Despite our expertise, some items can be more difficult to analyze visually. In such cases, we use the Niton DXL spectrometer to analyze the gold content. This tool is extremely helpful, particularly for items such as jewelry.
What are the major challenges you face in your job?
In the case of items that are not hallmarked, for example, there may be some doubt. With prices on the rise, we are also seeing many people attempting to pass off gold-plated items as 18-karat gold. The price difference between gold-plated and 18-karat gold is such that we need to be sure we are not mistaken! This is where the spectrometer comes in and helps us to confirm or refute any doubts.
After 10 years of experience, we may be able to detect counterfeits by sight or weight. But it’s still best to have a tool to help us. I think it’s useful to have a spectrometer like the Niton DXL to help us and confirm our analyses.
At Godot & Fils, we systematically carry out checks with the spectrometer because it is a tool used by many companies (smelters, refiners, and industry professionals). Whether we’re buying jewelry from private customers or bullion bars from professionals, it’s important to analyze each item. It’s tedious work, but ultimately faster than using a touchstone. XRF spectrometry is science, so you can’t cheat if you use it properly.
Can you tell us about your experience with the Niton DXL spectrometer and Fondis Electronic’s after-sales service?
We first discovered the Niton DXL spectrometer at a colleague’s workplace, where it was being used to analyze molten ingots. We quickly realized that this tool was indispensable, so we researched the various solutions available on the market. Fondis Electronic stood out with a good offer and excellent sales and after-sales service.
We started working with Fondis Electronic about ten years ago. We began with the rental option, which allowed us to keep our rental costs more manageable. Once the company had a more comfortable cash flow, we were able to invest in these tools. Now we have more than 10 Niton DXLs in our various Godot & Fils branches. We are very satisfied with the results and analyses. These are robust devices that stand the test of time.
At Godot & Fils, we take numerous measurements on a daily basis. For servicing, for example, Fondis Electronic’s after-sales service is very responsive and efficient, with the operation taking only 48 hours. To teach us how to use the device, Fondis Electronic came directly to our branches to train our users.
The Niton DXL spectrometer is an instrument that I can recommend. Our franchisees are equipped with it, so of course I recommend it. It has enabled us to save a lot of money over time. We realized that we could make mistakes, and mistakes in the precious metals trading market can be very costly! A gram of gold is worth €35 per carat, so you can quickly lose a lot of money. Ultimately, it saves time, so I highly recommend it. It is suited to our analyses and meets all our expectations. We have never needed another tool, so we are satisfied.
