2006-12-08 06:52:26 · 7 answers · asked by macspeedie 1 in Beauty & Style ➔ Fashion & Accessories
The lack of a hallmark (10k, 14k, 18k etc.) is not indicative of whether your piece is gold or not. In the United States it is against the FTC's regulations for the jeweler to hallmark a piece of jewelry unless it is accompanied by a maker's mark. So, when I first began making jewelry and did not have a trademark of my own, I did not hallmark my jewelry. Now that I have a maker's mark, I hallmark my jewelry with the appropriate metal hallmark and my maker's mark.
A jeweler cannot just look at a piece and tell you for certain whether it is gold or not; the jeweler will do a test to determine it.
To be scientfically accurate a sample of the metal in question must be assayed in a testing laboratory, but the following two tests have been used for many years and often are sufficiently accurate for a craftsperson or the owner of the metal in question.
To answer "Is It Gold?":
With a small file, make a scratch in an inconspicuous spot. While wearing rubber gloves, use a wooden, glass or plastic stick to apply a drop of nitric acid to the filed spot. Observe the reaction. When done, rinse everything well in running water.
If there is no reaction, it's gold.
If there's a bright green reaction, it's base metal.
If there's green in the scratch, it's a gold layer over base metal (goldplate).
If there's a milky reaction in the scratch, it's a gold layer over silver.
To answer "What Karat Is It?"
Determining karat requires a testing kit containing nitric acid, aqua regia, samples of known karat, and a touchstone of slate or ceramic.
The gold object to be tested is rubbed on the stone ("touched") to leave a streak. A parallel line is made with one of the test pieces of known karat. Both marks are flooded with acid and the reaction are observed. When the sample colors at the same rate as the test streak, a match has been made. Nitric acid is used for low karat golds; aqua regia is needed for higher karats.
Please note: these tests are for your information only. They are not accurate enough to rely upon when representing a piece for sale. Most jewelers have testing kits to use when determining if something is gold or not and its approximate karat. It is probably easiest to take the item to a jeweler than to set up the testing kits yourself.
2006-12-08 12:56:21 · answer #1 · answered by shabocon 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i stumbled in this on yet another submit on yahoo solutions With a small record, make a scratch in an not substantive spot. on the same time as donning rubber gloves, use a wood, glass or plastic shop on with prepare a drop of nitric acid to the filed spot. word the reaction. while executed, rinse each thing properly in working water. If there is not any reaction, that is gold. If there's a bright green reaction, that is base steel. If there is green interior the scratch, that's a gold layer over base steel (goldplate). If there's a milky reaction interior the scratch, that's a gold layer over silver. to respond to "What Karat Is It?" determining karat demands a finding out equipment containing nitric acid, aqua regia, samples of oftentimes used karat, and a touchstone of slate or ceramic. The gold merchandise to be examined is rubbed on the stone ("touched") to pass away a streak. A parallel line is made with between the attempt products of oftentimes used karat. the two marks are flooded with acid and the reaction are mentioned. while the pattern colorations on the same fee because of the fact the attempt streak, a experience has been made. Nitric acid is used for low karat golds; aqua regia is mandatory for bigger karats. Please word: those tests are on your suggestions basically. they at the instant are not precise sufficient to rely upon while representing slightly on the marketplace. maximum jewelers have finding out kits to apply while determining if some thing is gold or not and its approximate karat. that's in all likelihood simplest to take the article to a jeweler than to establish the finding out kits your self.
2016-10-17 23:58:00 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's real gold and you have low iron if will leave a black mark on your skin in you run it against it. The black mark will fade within a couple of minutes or even seconds.
2006-12-08 07:01:25 · answer #3 · answered by thatgirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to a jewelery store
2006-12-08 07:00:05 · answer #4 · answered by aerter12302 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it is real it will usually say like 10k on it some were but it not just go to a local pound shop and they can help you for free
2006-12-08 06:55:41 · answer #5 · answered by L.E.17 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ur finger will have a green mark on it where the ring usually is if its fake
2006-12-08 07:02:24 · answer #6 · answered by clutzmuch276 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
drop it in some bleach
2006-12-08 06:59:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋