How do I tell if my gold jewelry is real?

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.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Real gold would be stamped, incised, either 14K 10k 18k or whatever perecent of gold it contains. 18k is 100% gold conten, 14k has some other metals in it, and 10k has a lot more other metals, usualy nickle added. The higher the gold content, the more gold it contains and the more expensive, also the softer and less durable the piece will be as gold is very mallable (soft). 10K would be the most durable, hardest and would be best for jewelry that takes a lot of abuse, like say a mans wedding band. Whatever it is though, real gold is stamped with it's K weight.

Answer 3

Normally gold jewelry has a marking on the clasp of necklaces and bracelets, and rings carry it in the inside.

Gold jewelry is marked with numbers that indicate their percentage of gold, such as: 10K, 14K, 18K or 24K gold.

Look at the workmanship. If the edges are frayed, or it just looks cheap, it probably is under-karated.

Answer 4

Weight, and a stamp. Appraisal.

Gold is dense and heavy.

It should have a stamp somewhere reading 10k, 12k, 14k, 18k, up to 24 k.

24k means 100% gold. But soft, you could dent it with your teeth. Rare, very expensive.
12k means 50% gold, plus 50% copper or silver or a mix of something. Less valuable.
14K, a little more gold than 12k
10k, a little less gold than 12k.

By weight, gold is worth about $350 an ounce, give or take $100 depending on the market.

Take it to a jeweler for appraisal. If he says its worthless, don't trust him.

Answer 5

Get your spectacles out or magnifying glass and get under a good light.
It should be stamped 18k,14k, 12k, 10k, etc.
It may be extremely hard to find; sometimes it's stamped on links and hard to see. You may find it's G.F.(Gold Filled).
If not sure, take it to a reputable jeweler. I've had appraisers tell me something wasn't sterling when it was clearly marked .925.
Know your jewelry.

Answer 6

unlike other metals, gold does not corrode or rust. If its real gold than regardless of how long it stays in the water it will stay the same. if its fake there would be changes in colour of the jewelery

Answer 7

There is an electronic machine which is called carat meter which can give you the purity of gold by sending x rays or similar waves and study the metallic structure.

Answer 8

take it to a gold smith or put it in a carat checking machine .otherwise rub a little on a metal then take the powder and test it

Answer 9

put some foundation on your hand. rub the gold across your hand after the foundation is dry. If the streak is green. Its fake.

Something a friend taught me in highschool.

Answer 10

you have to suck on it ..if the gold comes off then call me