how do I tell if my white gold ring is real or fake?

Question

my alleged white gold ring (bought in India) has begun to look slightly yellowed on the bottom. I am now worried that the diamonds and sapphire are dodgy too!

Answer 1

Your best bet is to bring it to the local jeweler.

Answer 2

Rings and jewelry made of solid gold will have the karat stamp with the makers mark. The karat stamp will be either a “K” or KT mark with the number of the karat, such as 10k, 14k, etc. Sometimes numbers are used instead of the karat mark, for instance 14k is 585 and 18k is 750. Just like the karat mark, the numbers show how much gold in the metal mix used to make the jewelry. The metal mix of a karat gold ring is the same metal through and through and wear on the surface will not wear through the gold.

Plated items will wear and before long the metal underneath with begin to show. Then, the only real hope is to get a new piece of costume jewelry! This is not generally a suitable repair job. Also, plated items cannot or should not be resized. Resizing will break the plate and expose the base metal. Polishing will remove plating and is not recommended beyond a gentle polishing cloth once in a while.

Answer 3

It doesn't mean its necessarily fake. Gold is naturally yellow, so white gold has to be treated to stay white. Rhodium is what jewellers use to turn it white again. Take it to a local jeweler so they can appraise it. If its real, then have it rhodium coated. You will have to do this every 6-12 months (depends on your particular body chemistry, local climate, etc... ) I have several pieces of jewelery that I have to do this for. Platinum on the other hand will always stay the same white color (just for future reference in case you don't want to bother with this in the future.)

Answer 4

The law requires metal to be marked by the maker and the metal quality. For sterling, the mark will be either the numbers 925 (meaning 92.5 % silver, which is sterling) or a "sterling" stamp with the words. Near the clasp should have the mark, it would be at the end of the chain if anything. Sometimes the mark is on a little flat looking ring at the end of the chain, so check around.

Sterling silver will tarnish and on some people it tarnishes quickly due to body chemistry, but on others it may never tarnish. To keep tarnish from happening, sterling is very often plated with another metal to protect the sterling and keep the tarnish from happening. The plating will be a metal called "rhodium" which is very bright or another metal recently used on silver that looks more the color of silver. However, the chain can be sterling and still have the plate on the outside to prevent tarnish.

Other than that, the only real way to tell if something is sterling silver is to test it. For example, like an acid test done by a jeweler. Generally a test will cost some money, not a lot, but maybe not worth it, depending on what you paid for the chain. On a large heavy chain, the test might be worth it, but that's all up to you.

I suggest thinking about where you got the chain from and whether or not you got it from an established business. An established business would serve little purpose in selling anything fake for sterling silver. Always look for both a sterling marks and a stamp or symbol for the manufacture as I said before. Both of those marks should be there.

Here's some information on how to tell if the gold on your bracelet is really gold. The chlorine in bleach is dangerous to gold jewelry, so it's best not to test gold in bleach, or else you'll ruin your jewelry. Stress points like where the metal has been hammered, bent over stones in prongs, formed by chain making machines and the like are the most affected by chlorine. Soldered areas are sometimes affected by chlorine. White gold is most easily damaged but apparently this happens with yellow gold also at stress points in the metal.

Chlorine will cause a darkening on gold, but on yellow gold it looks almost like a very pale gray color. White gold reacts the same way but sometimes goes darker. This is the chlorine reacting to the metals in karat gold. All jewelry metal of 18k, 14k and 10k has other metals in the recipe when the metal is made. Pure gold is mixed with mostly silver and copper (with nickel or palladium with white gold) to make metal strong enough for jewelry.

The karat mark shows how much pure gold is in the mix. For instance, pure gold is called 24k. Now, 10k will have 10 parts pure gold and 14 parts of the other metals, all adding up to 24 part. 18k gold will be 18 parts pure gold and 6 parts other metals, all adding up to 24 parts. That is how it goes with karats.

Yellow gold is not as dangerously affected by chlorine in bleach and a good buffing should make it ok, that is, if it is really gold. The best way to see if it is real karat gold is to have it tested. That means an acid test or a test using one of the newer electronic gold testers some jewelers use. That is what I would recommend.

Answer 5

look on the inside of the band somewhere there will be a number like 10 K meaning that the content is ten parts out of 24 parts gold, if thats not there, you have something shiny, but not gold. any reputable jeweler who makes the stuff will use real jems. thats not to say that some of the paste is not of good quality too. if you have any doubts, take it to another jeweler, they can quickly answer your doubts as to quality, if its worth any thing they will tell you. dont be afraid to reimburse the man for his efforts and professional info, at least you will know the truth.

Answer 6

Take it to a jeweller to check and they can see if it has the correct hallmarks on it to be real and also check the stones. Also, white gold does start to go yellowish after a while because of what its made of and you can get it re rhodiumed at a jeweller which doesnt cost too much. That will make it lovely and white again.you will probably have to get it re rhodiumed every 6-8 months.
Its worth it, i love white gold

Answer 7

Most white gold is coated with Rhodium, this gives it the Very white appearnace, take it to a local jewellers and they can have it re-coated for you - just had mine done for £15 - my rings are both white gold ( not bought in India) and the same thing happens - i spoke to the jeweler and he assured me this is common.

Answer 8

I can't tell with out looking at them. Just do the water test. Put one on and wear it for a week put your hands in as much water as possible. If your finger doesn't turn green it's real (it won't be green permanently.) Do it for all the rings.

Answer 9

what are the marking's inside the band?

key it up in google.com and it'll tell you right away what the metals are that has been fused in this piece of jewelry.

if you can read the markings.. if there's none.. it's base metal.. if it's a series of numbers with no letters then it's silver of some type... if there's a k.. then it's gold..

if it's got a g in it.. then it's plated... so on.

just read what is inside the band... and type it up in google.com and see what information you get.

if what you get isn't satisfying.. visit the local jeweler... they'll tell you immediately.

Answer 10

Bite it!! ...like they did in the old Western movies to check if it's real gold. Or you could just take it to your average jewelry shop and ask them to look at it... although that may be a little embarrassing if they say it's fake.

Answer 11

no, white gold does yellow, try scratching glass with the diamond if big enough, or just take to jewellers