How Can You Tell If Gold Jewelry Is Real?
In the United States, anything that is not at least 10 karats (42 percent gold) cannot be legally sold as gold.
Jeremy Lupke
Last Update 10 maanden geleden
To determine if gold jewelry is real, you can consider the following methods:
Hallmark or Stamp: Check for markings such as "14K," "18K," "24K," or similar on the jewelry. These stamps indicate the purity of the gold. For example, 24K gold is pure gold, while 14K gold is 14 parts gold mixed with 10 parts other metals.
Magnet Test: Gold is not magnetic, so if a magnet attracts your jewelry, it's likely not real gold. However, this test alone isn't definitive, as some other metals used in fake gold alloys may also not be magnetic.
Acid Test: This involves using nitric acid on a scratch mark made on a stone or ceramic surface. Genuine gold will not react or dissolve, while fake gold will either react by changing color or even dissolving.
Density Test: Gold is a dense metal, so comparing the weight of the jewelry to its size can give you an indication of its authenticity. However, this requires precise measurements and might not be feasible without specialized tools.
Professional Appraisal: If in doubt, seek the expertise of a professional jeweler or appraiser who can use more sophisticated tests and tools to determine the authenticity of your gold jewelry.
Using a combination of these methods can help you determine whether your gold jewelry is real or not.