Services

Six ways we tell you what something is really made of.

Every service below ends the same way: a countersigned, letterheaded report with a verification code your client can check themselves.

Steel and cast-iron scrap fragments awaiting analysis on a lab bench

Metallurgical composition analysis

Elemental breakdown of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys — cast iron, steel, brass, firebrick and more — reported as percentage composition per element.

Gold flakes and a silver coin being scanned with an XRF analyzer

Precious & rare metal assay

Gold, silver, palladium, osmium, ruthenium, iridium and molybdenum content and purity, with a plain-language read on what it means for value.

A precision sample scraping being taken from an antique cast-iron stove panel

Antique & heritage object testing

Composition testing for period stoves, tools and industrial artifacts, distinguishing original material from later repairs, plating or fakes.

Purity & quality grading

Every element is called Poor, Fair, Good or Excellent with a written note explaining what that grade means for the finished piece.

Certified PDF reporting

Every finding is issued on our letterhead as a downloadable PDF, signed by the analyst and countersigned by the Head of Laboratory Service.

Authenticity verification

A free public lookup — quote the Lab Ref. No and verification code from any report and confirm in seconds that it's genuine.

Recent work

Samples we've assessed

A few of the pieces that have come through the lab — some verified, some still open. Reference numbers marked with a check can be looked up on our public verification page.

A weathered antique cast-iron box iron
MD/CM01 · Slalom Consultants
A period cast-iron box iron — full elemental breakdown across iron, steel, brass and trace precious metals. Verified Genuine.
An ornate antique cast-iron parlor stove
MD/GD01 · Heritage Stove Restorations
An ornate cast-iron parlor stove assessed on cast iron and steel purity ahead of a restoration.
A heap of mixed metal scrap and alloy fragments
MD/NG01 · Northgate Foundries
A mixed scrap alloy batch logged for composition verification before resale.
A dark, glassy chunk of furnace slag
MD/RA01 · Rhino Alloys Ltd
Furnace slag flagged for insufficient sample mass — awaiting resubmission.
Antique tarnished brass door hinges and fittings
Brass hardware & fittings
A common Cu/Zn assay for door hardware and trim — settling long-standing questions about age and originality.
A small pile of old silver and gold-toned coins
Precious metal coin lot
A loose coin lot tested for gold and silver content ahead of a sale or inheritance valuation.
Our process

From intake to a certificate you can check

The same six steps run behind every service above, whichever element or alloy is in question.

1

Sample intake & logging

Your sample is logged against a Lab Ref. No, with reception date, origin and sample type recorded before anything is tested.

2

Assay & composition analysis

Our analysts run the appropriate test for the material — alloy breakdown, precious metal assay, or authenticity comparison.

3

Purity & quality grading

Each element found is graded Poor through Excellent, with a written note on what that result actually means for the piece.

4

Overall finding

Results are rolled up into one Positive or Negative finding, so you get a bottom line, not just a table of numbers.

5

Countersignature

The Head of Laboratory Service reviews the findings and countersigns the report, or flags it back for re-testing.

6

Verified delivery

You receive a letterheaded PDF with a unique verification code — checkable any time on our public verification page.

Who we work with

Industries we serve

Foundries & metal recyclers

Batch verification of scrap and alloy stock before it's melted, graded or resold.

Heritage & restoration

Composition testing for period stoves, tools and fittings ahead of a restoration or valuation.

Jewellers & precious metal dealers

Independent purity checks on gold, silver and platinum-group metals before a sale or purchase.

Manufacturers & industrial buyers

Incoming-material checks confirming a supplied batch matches its specification before it's used.

Insurance & legal

Independent material findings to support a valuation, claim or dispute where composition is in question.

Private collectors

A second opinion on a purchase or inherited piece, backed by a certificate you can verify anywhere, any time.

Ready to submit a sample?

Reach out with the details below and we'll confirm turnaround and next steps.

Contact us Verify an existing report