6 Easy Ways to Spot Real Gold vs. Fake Gold Jewelry
Check out this guide to tell if your gold jewelry is real or fake. Conduct visual checks, magnet, density, and nitric acid tests to see if gold is real.
What distinguishes real gold from fake gold? Most international standards classify anything less than 41.7% or ten karats of gold as fake. Having your item assessed by a professional and certified jeweler is the most reliable way to determine whether it is absolute gold. However, before you take your gold item in for a professional inspection, there are some simple methods for determining if it is accurate or false.
1. Visual Checks
Look for specific markings. Is there an official number stamped on the gold item? In most situations, the gold item will have a stamp (also known as a hallmark) indicating the percentage of gold it contains.
If you don't see the stamp, look closely at the clasp or the inner band of a ring, where the hallmark is most usually stamped. It is commonly found on the surface of gold coins and bullion. You may need a magnifying glass to detect an older trademark that has been rubbed clear. However, marking was not prevalent in the United States until the 1950s and was far less common in other countries.
Thoroughly look for this marking to help assure you that what you have is the real deal. A little warning, though, although of true gold quality, some older pieces may lose their markings due to wear. Fake gold jewelry also has some imitation markings that can even fool you; don't rely entirely on this test alone.
Shop Women's Gold Box Chain Jewelry >>
2. Magnet test
This is one of the most straightforward tests you can do for your gold jewelry. However, you cannot always be sure of this method's results because this can also yield different results. Please don't use the typical fridge magnet when conducting the magnet test because it will not work. Instead, look for more vital interests in hardware stores or ladies' purses. It would help if you had a stronger appeal to get the best result from this method.
In this test, you must first know that gold is not a magnetic metal and will not stick to the magnet no matter what. So if you hold the interest close to the jewelry and the jewelry sticks to it, you probably have fake gold. However, take caution because some imitation jewelry also uses non-magnetic metals. Opt to use other methods, too, for a more definitive answer.
Shop Women's Gold Earrings Jewelry >>
3. Density Test
One quality of the gold metal is that it is one of the densest metals out there. Only very few metals can beat gold at this. Gold tends to sink in a glass of water because of its density. Measuring the thickness of your yellow gold jewelry will also help you distinguish real gold vs. fake gold—24k jewelry weighs 19 grams/ml. If your jewelry comes in a higher density than this, you have a much purer gold metal. When conducting this test, ensure that there are no gems and other embellishments not to affect the results.
Shop Women's Gold Rope Chain Jewelry >>
4. Wear and Tear test
Another sign that a gold item is not what it appears to be is visible wear on the object, and it is not pure gold if the gold is worn, tarnished, or spotted. Examine areas against the skin and around the edges of coins or jewelry. If another type or color of metal can be seen peeking out from beneath the gold, the item may be gold-plated with silver, copper, or brass underneath.
Shop Women's Gold Bracelets with Station Jewelry >>
5. Nitric Acid Test
Although this is one of the surest ways to tell if you have the real thing inside your jewelry box, this comes with a couple of limits: first, nitric acid is quite a complex chemical to find, and second, a lot of risks come with this so better let a trusted jeweler do this for you, so you don't put your health and your jewelry in jeopardy.
In the nitric acid test, the authenticity of gold is based on the color it produces. Place your gold jewelry on a stainless steel plate. Don't forget to wear protective glasses as this test can produce fumes. Next, leave a few drops of nitric acid on the jewelry. If the metal turns green, it is base metal. However, if it turns to gold, it is gold-plated brass. If it yields a milky reaction, that's gold-plated sterling silver. No response at all means you have the real gold.
