How to Tell if Gold Jewelry is Real?

Do you know if your gold jewelry is real? Gold is considered to be one of the most precious and luxurious materials in the world. It would be great if you could check if your gold is authentic as it will prevent you from buying and owning fake jewelry. Also, to truly enjoy the value of gold, it is crucial that you have the gold of the highest purity. The points mentioned below will help you understand some of the most popular and easy ways to test your gold jewelry:

Stamp Test

The hallmark symbol is present in almost all items of gold jewelry. It is this hallmark that will help you identify the manufacturer of the gold. The stamp test is regarded as the first test you must do at home. The hallmark has the purity numbers under the Karat System. You will find numbers like this- 8k, 9k, 10k, 14k and it goes up to 24k.

On the other hand, Millesimal Fineness System has purity numbers like 333, 375, 417, 585 up to 999. If you find anything that does not come under these systems, then maybe your gold is not pure. You can also get to know the name of the manufacturer using the initials on the hallmark symbol.

The stamp test is the easiest way to find out the gold item's level of purity. Also, if the gold is measured in anything other than karats or millesimal fineness, it may signify that it is fake. You do not need to visit any shop to do this test, and you can quickly do this at home.

Letter Markings

You need to be familiar with markings like GP, GF, GEP, HGP, etc. GP stands for Gold Plated, GF means Gold Filled, GEP refers to Gold ElectroPlated, HGP is Heavy Gold Plated, and so on. All these markings have a specific meaning. It will be great if you are familiar with these markings during the process of finding out the purity and authenticity of your gold.

The easiest way to test purity is to learn about the purity numbers. 24k gold refers to the purity of 99.9%, and this is usually the highest level of purity of gold that is readily available in stores. However, it will help if you note that 18k gold has a purity level of 75%. It is difficult for you to find 100% pure gold because gold, a very soft metal, will not make a durable piece of jewelry.

Skin Test

It is a very simple test, and you can easily perform this at your home. You just need to hold the piece of jewelry in your hands for a few minutes. The sweat from your hand will react with the gold metal, and there may be a change in the color of your skin. If there is no change in color, your gold is real; pure gold does not lead to discoloration of your skin. However, if your skin turns greenish or bluish, your gold is not real.

There is an exception to this procedure. If you are wearing a liquid foundation in your hands at the time of testing, the chances are that the results may not be accurate. When the gold comes in contact with the foundation on your skin, it will turn the contact points in black if the gold is real.

It is very interesting to note that even makeup can be used to test the authenticity of your gold. You need to use a liquid foundation and loose powder for this test. Apply some foundation and dust powder over it. Please wait for a few minutes till the makeup dries, and then place the piece of jewelry on that part of the skin and slowly run it over for a few minutes. If the color of your skin changes to black, chances are that you have real gold.

Gold is one of the most non-reactive metals. So, if the gold is real, it will never affect your skin or change the color of your skin. However, the makeup test mentioned above is one of the most exciting ways to test the gold's purity.

Size and Weight

This test is considered the most reliable when checking the authenticity of a gold coin or a gold bar. Comparing the size and weight of your piece of gold to the standard specifications of the coin or bar is one of the best ways to find out the authenticity of your gold. It is best to use a jeweler's scale or a Fisch Tester during the size and weight test.

Gold is denser than most other metals, and therefore, it is not easy to replicate the weight using fake materials. So, if you have a bar of gold that is large and the measured weight is lighter than what it should be, chances are that you have fake gold. Gold coins and bars are usually considered robust investments, and you can conduct this test to find their purity. The coins and bars also serve as a hedge against inflation.

Magnet Test

If your gold is real, a magnet will not have any effect on your gold. To conduct the magnet test, you just need to place a magnet near your gold, and if your gold does not move, it is real gold. Gold is always non-reactive to magnets, and if the magnet pulls your gold, chances are you have fake gold. It is important to note that if any non-magnetic base metal is mixed with your gold, the test may give a false read. In such cases, the test becomes unreliable, so it is better to perform another authenticated method of gold testing.

Floating Test

You can even test the purity of your gold using water. For this, you need to take a bucket of water and put your piece of gold in it. Gold is a highly dense metal, so it will never float. Therefore, if the piece of gold floats, you may have fake gold, and if it sinks to the bottom of the bucket, your gold is real.

Density Test

The density of pure gold is 19.3 grams per millilitre. So, if you find out the density of your gold and compare it to the density of real gold, you may get an idea of the purity of your gold. To conduct this experiment, you need to use a weighing scale to note the weight of your gold. It will help if you also have a container of water. Now, you need to take note of the water level when the gold item is not put into water and also note the change in water level when the gold item is put into water. Here, you have to divide the change in water level with the weight of your gold, and the result of this calculation is the actual density of your gold. If the figure matches the density of real gold or is very close to it, your gold is real. However, if the result is nowhere near the 19.3 gm/ml mark, your gold is not real.

Local Jeweler

However, if you find any kind of difficulty in performing the tests mentioned above, you can take help from your local jeweler. You must take your gold to any trusted local jeweler and have it checked there. These jewelers are familiar with a wide range of testing methods and will help you find the correct results. They usually make use of electronic testers, spectrometers, and other such machines, and the chances of any miscalculation are very low. So, to clear any doubts in your mind, and to know the purity levels of your gold, visit an experienced local jeweler.

Other than the tests stated above, there are more ways to estimate the purity of your gold. It is better to use more than one method to be very accurate in the findings. Tests using nitric acid are common, but you would need the help of a professional to conduct them. Thus, it is best to consult a local jeweler who can clear all your doubts.

Visit Bayam Jewelry for Your Next Purchase

If you are looking for stunning pieces, Bayam Jewelry can help you with their collections of the most authentic and well-designed jewelry. We offer you some unique designs of jewelry and maintain the best quality at the same time. You never have to worry about the purity levels when buying gold from Bayam Jewelry. If still in doubt, you can use any of the methods mentioned above to test the purity of our gold post-purchasing. Also, we offer a 30-day return policy and a 30-day money-back guarantee to our valuable customers. So, do not stress too much, and visit our store to get beautiful gold jewelry for yourself and your loved ones.