How to Tell if Gold is Real: 11 Easy Ways to Ensure You Have the Real Thing

Gold symbolizes status, power, immortality, and wealth, historically associated with royalty. Discover the significance of gold across cultures and history.

The history of gold mining is a topic with varying accounts. Some trace it back to around 3,100 BCE with the ancient Egyptians. Notable archaeological sites like the over-6,000-year-old mines in the Asosa region of Ethiopia and the 5,500-year-old Sakdrisi mine in Georgia reveal a long-standing practice of gold mining. South Africa is also known for its ancient mines.

Ancient Egyptians associated gold with the sun god Ra, considering it a luxurious and precious metal due to its beauty and malleability. Known for its resistance to tarnishing and rusting, gold is also valued for its rarity and conductivity. With only about 50 grams extracted from a ton of ore, gold serves as an excellent electrical conductor, making it indispensable in various technological applications such as computers.

Ways to Test Gold Authenticity

This article explores various simple tests that can be conducted at home to assist you in determining the authenticity of gold.

The Stamp Test: Look for Hallmarks

Gold jewelry pieces commonly feature hallmarks, stamped identifiers revealing content or manufacturer details. These hallmarks are usually discreetly placed, like inside a ring, ensuring authenticity and quality.

Gold purity is often measured in karats and millesimal fineness. To verify the authenticity of your gold, consider starting with the hallmark test, also referred to as the magnifying glass test.

Hallmarks include:

• Valid purity numbers under the Karat system (like 8k, 9k, 10k, 14k, 15k, 18k, 20k, 21k, 22k, 23k, and 24k)
• Valid purity numbers under the Millesimal Fineness system (333, 375, 417, 583 or 585, 625, 750, 833, 875, 916, 958 and 999)
• False purity numbers (anything other than the above)
• Manufacturer (like ESPO for Esposito, etc.)

Hallmarks indicate the purity of gold and its manufacturer, enhancing the credibility and authenticity of a piece while aiding in identification and verification. However, as anyone can engrave any hallmark, this testing method is not entirely foolproof.

If the numbers differ from those specified earlier, it indicates counterfeit gold. For instance, 800, 925, and 950 are not associated with gold but with silver. Why would "925" be stamped on gold? This is often because the jewelry is gold plated on a sterling silver base.

When checking the authenticity of gold, ensure to verify if marks show karats or millesimal fineness. Any numbers different from these suggest counterfeit gold.

Some genuine gold jewelry may lack hallmarks; for instance, older pieces could have lost their original markings due to wear.

Look for Letter Markings

Gold marked below 10k (41.7% purity) is typically classified as counterfeit.

Understanding various quality levels enables easy identification of the markings below:

• GP
• GF
• GE
• GEP
• HGP
• HEG

If you're seeking authentic gold, steer clear of the mentioned designations as they signify gold plating. To clarify, they all refer to gold plating in successive order:

• Gold Plated
• Gold Filled
• Gold Electroplated
• Gold Electro Plated
• Heavy Gold Plated
• Heavy Gold Electroplated

Learn about gold plating: These markings suggest that a piece is covered with a small amount of gold to mimic its appearance, commonly used on non-gold metals.

Comparing gold purity levels: 24k gold is 99.9% pure, while 18k gold is 75% pure. Pure 100% gold is rare due to its softness, not ideal for durable jewelry pieces.

The Skin Test

Authentic gold won't cause skin discoloration upon contact. Learn how to perform this simple yet effective test to check your gold jewelry's authenticity.

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Look for Bluish or Greenish Tint on Your Skin

This examination is simple: Hold a piece of gold jewelry between your hands for a few minutes. The sweat from your hands will react with the metal, affecting the color of your skin or leaving it unchanged. Genuine gold won't cause any discoloration when in direct contact with your skin. However, if the gold is counterfeit, it will cause your skin to darken at the points of contact, turning black, blue, or green.

An exception to this procedure arises when testing gold on skin covered with liquid foundation. Gold contact with makeup causes blackening of the skin at those spots. Ensuring complete makeup removal prior to testing enhances the reliability of this procedure.

Makeup can serve as a method to verify the authenticity of gold. Apply a liquid foundation followed by powder. After the makeup sets, press the jewelry against your skin and glide it gently over the makeup area. If the jewelry leaves a black mark on the makeup, it's likely real gold.

Gold is highly nonreactive, ensuring that genuine gold jewelry won't tarnish your skin. Another interesting method to verify its authenticity is by conducting the makeup test.

Gold jewelry discolorations indicate the presence of alloyed metals.

The Size and Weight Test

This test is effective for both coins and bars.

• Compare the gold piece you wish to test with one that is already confirmed authentic
• Utilize calipers and a jeweler’s scale, or opt for a Fisch Tester.

Gold is denser than the majority of other metals. If you come across a piece that seems excessively large for its weight or feels unusually light for its size, chances are you're dealing with counterfeit gold.

Bullion coins are physical coins crafted from precious metals like gold, silver, palladium, or platinum. They are valued as collectibles, investment assets, or a safeguard against inflation.

The Magnet Test

Place a powerful magnet near a piece of gold and observe the response. Given that gold is non-magnetic, there should be no attraction between them. Should there be any attraction, it is probable that the material is not authentic gold.

Nonetheless, certain base metals that can be alloyed with gold are non-magnetic, potentially leading to an inaccurate result. Therefore, it is advisable to complement this test with a more precise testing method to ensure reliability.

The Float Test

Simply place the item in a container of water. Gold is heavy. If it sinks directly to the bottom without floating or hovering, you may indeed have real gold.

The Ceramic Scratch Test

Take an unglazed ceramic plate or piece of tile, then gently scrape a piece of gold across its surface. Genuine gold will leave behind a distinctive golden mark or trail, while other metals will produce a black residue.

This is accomplished through calculation. Required:

• A scale (to weigh the jewelry)
• A container filled with water and

• A method to measure the water level in millimeters (to gauge water levels before and after immersing the jewelry).

Calculate by subtracting the initial measurement from the final measurement. Next, divide the jewelry weight by the water level difference.

This provides you with the density.

Pure gold has a standard density of 19.3 grams per milliliter (19.3g/mL). Few other metals match this density. If your measurement aligns closely with this value, chances are you are dealing with authentic gold.

When verifying the authenticity of gold based on density, it's important to note that density can vary among different types of gold.

For instance, the higher the purity of gold, the greater its weight – with white gold being denser than yellow gold. Hence, the gold density ranges from approximately 12.9 to 17.7 g/mL for 14k to 22k yellow gold and from around 14 to 17.8 g/mL for white gold.

The Acid Tests

Vinegar and nitric acid tests can reveal the authenticity of gold based on chemical reactions.

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Vinegar Test

This test involves applying a few drops of vinegar to the metal, preferably in a hidden spot.

When the metal is authentic gold, there will be no alteration. However, if the metal is counterfeit gold, it will undergo a change in color.

THE NITRIC ACID TEST

Gold, being a noble metal, possesses resistance to corrosion, oxidation, and acidity. To conduct a test, rub the gold on a black stone to create a visible mark. Subsequently, apply nitric acid to the mark for further analysis.

The acid will dissolve any base metals that are not genuine gold.

To verify the authenticity of gold, use nitrohydrochloric acid, known as aqua regia (a blend of 75% nitric acid and 25% hydrochloric acid). If the mark vanishes upon application of this solution, the gold is genuine as this mixture specifically dissolves gold.

THE MACHINE TESTS

ELECTRONIC TESTER (I.E SIGMA METALYTICS MACHINE)

The Sigma Metalytics Precious Metal Verifier is finely calibrated for precise metal differentiation in under a second. Ideal for assessing bullion and coins, Sigma Metalytics suggests using the Kee Gold Tester for jewelry evaluation.

This device emits electromagnetic waves into an object, penetrating surface materials such as wrapping or plating to measure the resistance of the metal beneath. The meter display is configured to indicate a defined range of resistance, either matching or deviating from the expected resistance of the specific metals calibrated within the machine.

XRF SPECTROMETER

The machine operates by transmitting X-rays through the gold, causing its atoms to transition to a higher energy state.

Excited atoms emit radiation when returning to normal. By monitoring and analyzing this radiation, the machine can accurately identify materials. This efficient method surpasses others, ensuring precision without causing harm to the tested items.

None of these methods result in chemical or mechanical damage, thus safeguarding the value and integrity of your piece.

THE FAIL-SAFE TEST

To accurately determine the gold content in your gold, the best approach is to visit a trusted jeweler for professional testing.

Jewelers offer various methods to authenticate gold content to the public. While experience is invaluable, individuals attempting to pass off inferior metals as genuine gold have grown more sophisticated. As a result, jewelers may need to turn to machine verification to ensure authenticity.

Many home tests can help determine the authenticity of your gold. Although they provide a good indication, none are entirely definitive, as they rely on probability rather than certainty.

To confirm the authenticity of your gold, it's advisable to seek assessment from a skilled and trustworthy jeweler.

Feel free to pass along this article to anyone you think could gain from its insights and warnings.

Conclusion

In conclusion, discerning the authenticity of gold is crucial, whether you're an avid collector or an occasional buyer. With these simple yet effective tests, you can confidently verify the legitimacy of your gold items. From examining hallmarks to conducting at-home tests like the skin test and float test, each method offers valuable insights into the genuineness of gold.

At TB Jewelers in Miami, Florida, we understand the importance of authenticity when it comes to gold and jewelry. Our team is dedicated to providing customers with genuine and high-quality pieces, ensuring your peace of mind with every purchase. Visit our website today to explore our exquisite collection and discover the true beauty of authentic gold jewelry.