Is there a way, without going to a jeweler, that I can determine whether a piece of jewelry I was given is gold plated or solid gold?
2007-08-12 17:05:14 · 2 answers · asked by Martin P 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Yes. Scratch it in an inconspicuous place with a steel pin. Place it in vinegar. Solid gold will not react. This method will damage the piece and is not recommended. Some people use a few crystals of salt ans a couple of drops of vinegar on the scratch.
I do not understand why you do not want to take it to a jeweler, but how about a reputable pawn shop? At least you could find out the value of the jewelry, even if it was plated.
There are attempts to mark jewelry which is not solid gold in attempts to fool buyer (14K, 18K, etc). This is especially true in reproductions make overseas.
There are some home testing methods which are very reliable. Look at the device at the second site below:
2007-08-12 18:23:20 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 7 · 10⤊ 0⤋
Gold Vs Gold Plated
2016-12-29 09:56:55 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
RE:
Gold plated vs. solid gold - at home test?
Is there a way, without going to a jeweler, that I can determine whether a piece of jewelry I was given is gold plated or solid gold?
2015-08-04 06:16:53 · answer #3 · answered by Lothar 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How To Test Gold
2016-09-28 05:54:34 · answer #4 · answered by casimiro 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's real gold, there should be a tiny stamp on it somewhere, indicating the karat of it. Something like 10K, 14K, 18K, 24K, etc. You didn't say what type of jewelry, but common places are inside a ring, on the clasp of a necklace or bracelet, or near the post on an earring.
Gold plating shouldn't have that marking on it.
2007-08-12 17:11:20 · answer #5 · answered by Emily V 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gold is pretty heavy. Most other metal with just s gold plating should be lighter. Can you determine the volume of the peace? And meaure it's weight precisely?
2007-08-12 17:09:08 · answer #6 · answered by Fast Eddie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Weigh the piece and then find its volume (displacement of water in a small measured container). The weight/volume (in g/cc) should be about 18 for gold. HOWEVER, jewelry may be as low as 10K (5/12th gold), so this may not work for even a real piece.
2007-08-12 17:45:13 · answer #7 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The easy way is to look for a marking; it should say something like "gold plated", "gold filled", or "14k gold". If you can find no such markings, do what Archimedes did 2500 years ago: measure the dry weight, the weight when submerged in water, and do some arithmetic.
2007-08-12 17:09:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Measure very carefully its volume and weight, calculate the density, and compare with the density of gold.
Touch it to a red hot electric stove burner (gold will not melt many base metals will.).
Take it to a pawn shop and try to pawn it (they will test it).
Leave it in HCl (muriatic acid) for a while.
Bite it to determine its hardness.
2007-08-12 17:12:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋