How To Check Real Gold

The Smell Test: Ideal For Small Gold Pieces

While this test is far from being the most reliable way to tell real gold from fake gold, it’s one of the easiest and quickest to do, and will not damage your jewelry.

You know that awful smell your hands get after you hold some coins in it for some time? We’re looking for that smell in this test.

This test can be done in three easy steps:

You see, one cheap metal used in the making of coinage is brass, a mixture of copper and zinc along with other materials. Brass can look like gold, especially if made into an alloy with other metal, to try to approximate gold’s weight and color. However, brass is much more reactive than gold when in contact with salty water and air, it produces the characteristic acidic smell most coins have due to an electrolytic reaction.

As such, if your “gold” jewelry exhibits the same smell, it very likely is not real gold, or at least not pure gold. But even if your gold jewelry passes this test, it can still be fake gold.

Schedule A Jewelry Appraisal In Florida With Gold Galore

Have you inherited a piece or two of jewelry from a family member or a friend? Are you curious to know what you have in your possession? Interested in buying? You can contact Gold Galore for expert advice and information concerning your diamonds and precious metals.

Gold Galore has been one of Floridas most trusted local jewelers since 1980, and wed love to help you make the best choices you can about your jewelry.

Aside from jewelry appraisal, we also sell, buy, repair, and create custom jewelry of all types.

Stop by our store, call us at 777-6994, or make an appointment today.

How To Tell If Gold Is Real With A Makeup Test

If you’d like to take the skin test one step further, you can also learn how to test gold at home with makeup. Let’s explore how to tell if gold is real with makeup. You’ll need liquid foundation makeup and powder.

First, coat the back of your hand, or your forehead, with a thin layer of foundation and then your powder. Wait until the foundation thoroughly dries. Once the foundation dries, press the gold into your skin. Then, lightly rub the gold against the foundation. If your gold leaves a line or black streak, it is very likely to be authentic gold. If you do not see a line or black streak, the object is likely to be another metal or gold-plated.

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Gold Testing: Ways To Know If Your Jewelry Is The Real Deal

You cannot tell the difference between real and fake gold just by at first glance. That is why it is easy for dishonest sellers to dupe people into buying fake items. Fortunately, there are ways to know if your jewelry is the real deal or merely fools gold:

Look for marks

Manufacturers put stamps in the clasps of bracelets, necklaces and rings to let you know its purity. If you do not find one in your jewelry, chances are it may not be genuine. Older jewelries are the exception, however, as it was only recently that the method was applied. Suspicious marks, dents, shapes and discolorations around the edges are also some of the telltale signs of fake gold.

Check the statistics

People have standards on the size and weight of real gold depending on the karat. Research the standard dimensions of pure gold thoroughly. Using calipers, measure the diameter, thickness, size and weight of your jewelry. If it does not match the usual dimensions of its kind, then it is most probably gold clad or one that is mixed with other metals. Drop your jewelry in the water real gold usually sinks.

Drop nitric acid

Real gold does not react to nitric acid. Try the acid test if physical examination does not work. Scratch lightly on the jewelrys surface and apply a small amount of nitric acid on it using a dropper. If the surface turns green, your jewelry might be gold clad. A milky substance appears if your gold contains sterling.

Apply cosmetics

Use a magnet

How To Tell If Gold Is Real: The Floating Test

Take a vial or jug and fill up at least half of it with water. The temperature of the water does not have any effect on this test, so you can use room temperature or lukewarm water.

Drop your gold item gently into the water and see what it does. A genuine piece of gold is dense and heavy, so it will quickly sink to the bottom of the container. Counterfeits are likely to float or sink slowly.

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Test The Items Density

The density of gold is approximately 19.3 grams per milliliter . The closer your gold items density is to this figure, the more real gold it contains. To find the density of your gold item, you will need a scale that measures in grams and a container with markings in milliliters that is big enough to hold the item with room to spare.

Weigh your item and note its weight in grams. Next, place your container on a flat surface and half-fill it with water. Record how full the container is in milliliters. Carefully lower your item into the container so the water doesnt splash over the sides. Write down the new water level. Then subtract the first measurement from the second to find out how many milliliters of water your item displaced. This gives you the items volume.

To find the density of your gold item, divide its volume by its weight. For example, if your item weighs 40 grams and has a volume of 2.2 milliliters, its density will be 40 / 2.2, which is 18.18 g/mL. Since the density of gold is 19.3 g/mL, the chances are your item is mostly real gold. Of course, other metals have a weight similar to gold, so this test is a good guide but not completely foolproof.

How To Tell If Gold Is Real: The Secret Weapon: Acid Tests

How to tell if gold is real? When it does not react with any acidic element. So, you can use vinegar or nitric acid to find out its authenticity.

a) Testing with Vinegar

Gold is almost inert, so vinegar’s acidic element cannot change its color or properties. Use white vinegar since it’s the most acidic of all types.

Just add a couple of drops of vinegar to the jewelry piece and see if the color changes. It’s fake if it does otherwise, you have a real piece. Give it at least 15 minutes to ensure enough time for the vinegar to set in and cause a reaction.

b) Testing Gold with Nitric Acid

Nitric acid does not react with gold, but it can melt the common metals in fake items. Careless application may ruin the ornament.

Use a touchstone or a jewelry engraver to create a tiny but slightly deep scratch in a part that is not easily visible. Pour a few drops of acid on the scratch mark and if it turns green or milk-white, the piece is not real.

You can do the same test with aqua regia too, which can melt gold. Pour a drop on the scratch mark to see if it disappears. If it does, your jewelry piece is genuine.

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Nitric Acid Gold Test

This method is only recommended for scrap jewelry, not gold jewelry you intend on wearing. Essentially, you make a tiny indent or scratch with a nail file. Then youll drop nitric acid into the scratch. If theres a visible reaction, the gold is fake. If nothing happens, the gold is most likely real. Take care when working with acid as this method is best left to a trained professional in a safe environment.

% Guaranteed Testfree Appraisal From A Reliable Provider

Yes, the most reliable and easiest way to determine if you have real or fake gold is by taking your piece to a certified precious metal consultant, like Bullion Exchanges.

Ideally, this is the best method to authenticate your gold item because you will get your piece examined and analyzed by qualified appraisers. We use top-notch digital gold testers like the ones described above.

At Bullion Exchanges, you will receive a free appraisal. You can either ship your goods to us or visit our store. We use both the Sigma Metalytics Precious Metal Verifier and the XRF Thermo Scientific Gold Analyzer. You will find our contact information here if you would like to ship or come visit us in person in the heart of NYCs Diamond District.

We appraise precious coins, rounds, and bars made of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and rhodium. The store authentication is fully transparent when you come in person. We perform the tests right in front of you, so you can be sure you get the most accurate results. On top of that, our certified experts have vast experience and knowledge in identifying fake bullion items.

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Kinds Of Gold Materials

In identifying fake gold, an important starting point is to gain knowledge about the different types of gold jewelries. To the untrained eye, all gold products are the same and differ only in the color due to finishing applied. There are however more subtle differences in various gold products which we shall discuss shortly.

The first classification is based on time in which we can divide gold into new, old and fake gold.

How To Spot Fake Gold Chains

by gemfind.developer | Mar 5, 2021 | Jewelry |

Gold chains are a jewelry staple, either as a stand-alone piece or as beautiful support for a pendant. The popularity and versatility of gold chains lends itself to the popularity of fakes as well. How can you tell if your gold chain or prospective gold chain is real?

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Test : The Magnet Test

This is another relatively easy test to carry out. However, it will be more difficult to do say at a jewelry shop or place where you are considering buying a new piece of jewelry. Gold is not magnetic!

True solid, 24k gold will not be attracted to a magnet at all. If you hold a magnet up to a piece of gold and it is strongly attracted to it, more than likely the gold is fake.

However, keep in mind that nearly all jewelry will not be solid 24k gold. Because it is alloyed with other metals, you need to be careful with this test.

We recommend getting a very strong magnet to use for your test. Also, keep in mind when dealing with necklaces or bracelets that the clasp on the gold may not be real gold, and that is okay. If that is the only part attracted to the magnet, you know that the rest of the gold is real.

If the jewelry you test is attracted to the magnet, there are clearly other metals present. In these cases, there is probably a small amount of real gold and more of other metals.

If the gold is supposed to be a higher karat solid gold, you are probably dealing with a fake.

Shop Gold: Our Top Picks

Have we inspired you to go shopping? Great! Here are some awesome gold jewelry finds that we are absolutely loving right now. Happy shopping!

Rest assured, the jewelry here is definitely real gold, not fake. However, now that you know the differences between solid gold, gold-filled, and gold plated, be sure to pay attention so that you can make the right decision based on what you are looking for!

Are you unsure of how to decide? Ask yourself this set of questions to make the right decision:

What is your budget?

If you have a very limited budget and want jewelry that you can wear once or twice, go with gold plated. If you want something that is durable, but that wont break the bank, go with gold filled. Looking for a true investment piece? Go for solid gold.

Do you have sensitive skin?

If the answer is yes, gold plated jewelry should pretty much be out right away unless you know you will only wear the jewelry for one occasion.

Are you okay with maintenance?

If you know you dont typically clean your jewelry, we recommend investing in either solid gold or gold filled jewelry that has 14k gold or higher.

The lower karat you go, the higher the likelihood you will have to clean your gold as it may tarnish. If you are fine with always replacing your jewelry instead of maintaining it, you could go with gold plated.

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The Bullion Dna Reader For Maple Leaf Coins

Only gold dealers who take part in the Royal Canadian Mints Bullion DNA programme for the identification of Canadian-made gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins receive a special reader linked to a database. Using a technology similar to an iris scan, it scans the surface of a Maple Leaf coin and compares it in real time with a surface print from a database in Canada. The database contains the scans of every coin produced since the introduction of the reader. According to the manufacturer, this process is one hundred percent safe, and other coin suppliers might well follow this example.

Use Makeup To Test Gold At Home

Another way to test your gold at home is to use a liquid foundation. It may not be as reliable as other sources when it comes to testing your gold but it is good enough to know if the gold is real or fake. Pour some of the liquid foundations on your hand, blend it in your skin and let it dry. Take your gold and rub it on the area where you have applied the foundation. If that area turns black or rubbing the gold leaves a black mark behind then it is evident that the gold is pure. But if rubbing the gold does not affect the foundation applied area, we are sorry to tell you that the gold is not real.

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Advanced Fake Gold Detection Techniques

Compare The Advantages And Disadvantages Of These 7 Professional Methods

Considering price, accuracy and speedy testing, XRF gold analyzer will be the best choice to analyze gold content for gold dealers and jewelry business between them

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A Final Word Of Caution

This article only lists five of the easiest methods to test your gold. As said before, a skilled craftsman may be able to replicate most qualities of real gold using other elements, so even if your piece passes a few of these tests, it’s always good to conduct others, just to make sure. The more tests it passes, the more likely it is to be genuine gold.

There are other ways to test your gold, but these usually require special materials or special tools.

And finally, remember, however, that it is always better to have a professional test your gold piece.

Good luck!

• 5 Easy Ways to Test Your Silver Jewellery at HomeEasy tricks known by pawn shop owners to tell real silver jewellery from fake pieces made of other metals.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.