How can I tell if my watch is gold or gold plated.?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

First and foremost, the weight of the watch would be completely different. A real gold watch will be substantially heavier. Secondly, there will always be a gold stamp if it is genuine. Each country stamps differently (in the US they'll do something like 24K for 24 karats, but in Europe it'll say 750 for 75% gold). If you don't see a stamp, it probably is just plated. Lastly, you should check who you bought it from. If you got it at a store, it'll come with a box and papers. If you bought it from a store new without box and papers, you'd better go back and get them or your watch won't be worth anything. If you got your watch used at a pawn shop or store, you can ask for the sales history. If the salespeople are decent, they'll also be able to tell you if it is real or not.

Answer 3

I would say it's easier to determine if it's not gold, than to confirm that it is.
If you make a scratch, in a place that doesn't matter, if it shows white, it's plated. If it still looks gold, it could be brass plated with gold. An experienced person could tell, by how hard it is to scratch, if it's brass or gold. If it feels hard when you scratch it, it's probably brass.
A tiny drop of nitric acid on the scratch will turn green, if it's brass.

Answer 4

If you have to ask, it is gold plated.
A gold watch is expensive and it looks incredible, the gold I mean. Gold plating does not have the same look at all.
Most people know it when they have a gold watch. They are experienced enough with real gold to know it when they see it.

Answer 5

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RE:
How can I tell if my watch is gold or gold plated.?

Answer 6

It is quite simple. If it is Pure gold it will be Hallmarked. It will be stamped with either 9,18,or 24 crt. With the goldsmiths initials.also on it. If it is gold plated have a close look at it and see if there is any sign of silver or steel apparent. Showing.

Answer 7

Take a hacksaw and cut into the metal - if it is silver underneath it is plated.