Investing in a new piece of jewelry is thrilling; it’s part indulgence, part adventure, and all about your unique sense of style.
There’s nothing more exciting than knowing you made a smart purchase that will retain its value. On the other hand, realizing your piece is more costume than jewelry can be a real disappointment.
The best way to avoid this awkward moment is to procure your jewelry from a reputable source.
Ensuring that the company works with certified mines and utilizes the resources of GIA-certified gemologists for grading is always wise. However, what are you supposed to do if you’re looking to appraise a gold piece you inherited? Or, what if you don’t have the extra budget to pay for a third-party certifier?
That is where we come in. At Mark Henry Jewelry, we believe that the best buy is an educated one. With the following best practices for gold inspection, you'll know the difference between real 18K pieces and fake ones in no time!
Gold Terminology 101
Before we jump into our tips, we should break down the words that we’ll be using throughout this article.
The most common term will be “karat.” A karat is a term used to represent how much pure, uncombined gold is present in any given piece of “gold” metal. It is necessary to make this distinction since anything lower than 24K gold is not 100% gold. Such pieces consist of gold mixed with other metals: an alloy.
Alloys are utilized for a few reasons. One of these is that gold is in limited supply and is quite challenging to get in pure quality. They are also helpful because pure gold is quite soft; mixing it with other metals means the piece will be more durable. In other words, there’s a lower chance that rings and other pieces will bend out of shape if they’re made from alloys.
While shopping, try not to get confused between “karat” and “carat.” The terms look very similar and even are pronounced exactly the same, but they mean entirely different things concerning jewelry. A carat is a weight measurement used to describe the size and heaviness of a gemstone. Gold does not have a carat weight.
What Is the Composition of Gold?
Gold is a piece of history. It was the original metal of choice for both industrial needs and decoration.
This precious metal has been used as a currency since 550 B.C in present-day Turkey. In the present, gold is also a means of investment. It has caused wars and collapsed entire societies. However, gold has also spurred economic growth and great luxury for those lucky enough to possess it.
So, what is this famed substance made of? Well, it is actually quite simple. Gold is more than just a transition metal; it is actually an element all by itself — its atomic number is 79.
Gold is a truly special metal, and its versatility and natural stabilization as an element are what make it so unique.
Karat Differences
Karats are used to state how much pure gold is included in any given piece, typically ranging from 24K to 10k. You can find 9K gold in some places, but this would generally be deemed to be fake.
24K gold has a very yellow hue due to its purity, which can be both desired and undesirable to different people. Color changes as the karats change because these golds are mixed with other metals.
This is how rose gold and white gold are created, by adding copper and nickel to the original metal. Both rose gold and white gold often come in 18K.
Gold Plating
When a piece of gold is labeled as “gold plated,” be wary.
This means that a base metal, typically copper or brass, has been covered with a small piece of true gold. This layer is so thin that it is only about 0.005% pure. It is best to stay away from gold-plated items unless you are on a very strict budget, as they have no real rarity or value.
Why Choose 18K Gold?
18K gold is the perfect choice for most jewelry consumers.
24K gold, while 100% pure, comes in limited colors and is far more malleable than 18K. On the other hand, 18K is durable, has a variety of hues to choose from, and won’t scratch up as easily as its pricier counterpart.
18K is still an investment, and it is not a “cheap” option. However, it can be way more affordable to most buyers. The price of 24K gold is figured by multiplying .999 by its pennyweight. 18K gold’s price is found by multiplying .750 by its pennyweight.
Gold and Weight: Is It Real?
When it comes to gold, its heaviness is the best sign that you have a real piece in your hands. All true gold has a decent weight to it. While we don’t use carats to define this number, it can be felt just by touch. If you’ve ever felt a gold wedding band, you know what we are talking about.
Real gold makes a loud noise when it falls. It can weigh down your finger if it is sized improperly. When you tap the piece, does it feel full or hollow?
You can also use your hands to see if gold gives your skin any reaction. This method of testing is entirely free and simple. Just take the piece of gold and place it somewhere on your skin where you naturally sweat more.
For some people, this might mean wearing a ring for a while in the sun. If there is any green marking when you take it off, it’s fake! In addition, if you are allergic to gold, as some people are, you’ll be able to tell how real a piece is earlier than others.
What Is a Hallmark in Gold Jewelry?
This is probably your most straightforward option for checking whether your gold piece is real. Hallmarks are imprinted numbers on most authentic jewelry items to showcase their karat percentage.
You can expect to see a marking of 24K-10K written somewhere inside of a ring or on the side of a bracelet. These markings may also be written as “750” for 18K gold.
When you’re dealing with antique jewelry, it isn’t unheard of for hallmarks to fade. That is when you should rely on other testing methods. If you do see GP, GF, GE, or GEP that guarantees your piece is fake — it is either gold-filled or gold-plated. 925, 800, or “sterling” indicate you have a piece of silver.
Is It Costume Jewelry?
Costume jewelry likely has more sentimental value than economic value. Costume jewelry comprises non-fine metals like pewter and doesn’t contain over 10K gold. This category of jewelry can be a fun addition to your wardrobe, but it should never be misrepresented as fine jewelry.
If it looks heavier than it feels, fades with time to reveal pieces of silver, or has no hallmarks, it might be costume jewelry.
In 2021, 734 fake jewelry pieces were seized by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in Ohio. These imposter items are masqueraded as real, and their dishonest price reflects that. Such items take advantage of consumers.
Can You Test Gold at Home?
You can use most of these simple tricks anywhere, but a few require outside resources. The good news is that they are fairly common household items!
Since gold does not have any magnetic properties, it will not catch on a magnet, but fake jewelry often will. Take one of those vacation magnets off of your refrigerator and get testing.
Fill up the sink with water and block the stopper. Place your gold piece in the sink and see if it floats. Since gold is so dense, it is not able to keep itself above water. If you have a floater, then your jewelry is more shine than substance.
Should You Test Gold With Chemicals?
While most of these ideas are easily found online in detailed steps, we advise you to avoid bleach tests. They are accurate when done correctly, but it is never a good idea to use such a potent chemical for anything but cleaning or intended use.
Fake gold can also be seriously tarnished if you soak it in bleach. If you are not ready to give it up, this is a bad idea.
The nitric acid test is a baking soda method that people also swear by, but we would advise you not to follow it. Nitric acid can be toxic when inhaled in a closed space, consumed, or splashed into your eyes. Testing for gold is not worth your health or safety.
Ask For Help
At Mark Henry Jewelry, we are big advocates of requesting information from jewelers and gemologists.
We have GIA certification and grade reports on all of our collections, and we are happy to share them with customers. None of the at-home gold testing methods can replace the authentication that comes from a lab. When in doubt, ask around!
Sources:
18k Gold vs 24k Gold - Difference and Comparison | Diffen
An Easy Way to Tell if Your Gold Jewelry Is Fake | NBC News
karat | gold measurement | Britannica
11 comments
I bought 2 18k Gold chains in 2022, I found 2 pieces of probably 1 rope type chain years before, they have no Hallmark stamp. I found a run over bent up ring in the parking lot of Dollar general store in Bovina Tx. I found in a dumpster a female purse long time ago it had a large silver G.
on it.I noticed 1 day there was a visible yellow on the G. I scratched it with a piece of rough sand paper. It’s yellow under the silver. I googled information on it and the rest
It can be Vermeil. And I tested all of it with 2 different magnets and baking soda and Vinegar. It didn’t eat it up, While I know for damn sure baking soda and Vinegar will eat a gold plated chain up in record time. I tried it once when I was about 13 years old. Those two solutions ate the gold plated chain up. I took what I have now to a place called Lone Star Gold and Silver buyers south of Amarillo Tx, Called him first. He made 1 test with a magnet ( similar to a magnet I first seen used at Clovis Recycling center in Clovis NM. I had a stroke and had to recycle for 7 to 9 years out of 12 years recovering from the stroke. Riding my Huffy 125 mountain bike. Cause I couldn’t drive a car/89 Ford F-150 van. Stroke is a real mother for ya I got lost, the first time I tried to drive it. And fell out of the driver’s seat still buckle up the 2nd time I tried to drive it. The van was headed into the office of a D.O.T. Dr. By the time I got up off the floor of the vehicle. I said to My God: Lord if you let me make it home, I won’t drive it again. I was coming from a Lowe’s Grocery store in Clovis NM. I had $159.00 worth of groceries in the vehicle. I already had the bike, but my dad gave me the van to drive.
God pre told me, my dad was giving me a vehicle of his to drive & putting gas in it would be a waste of time. Cause I had to put gas in it out of a 5 gallon bucket. What did that mean?. My dad gave me a vehicle to drive but no money to put gas in it. I was already recycling on my bike and the only 5 gallon bucket I could see was a Gypsum bucket of sheet rock mud. Then 1 day some youngsters were smoking cigarettes behind a 8 storage unit wooden shed. And 1 of them tried to put his cigarette out in some loose fiber siding panel. That set the storage building on fire . 6 of the storage rooms didn’t have a lock on them 2 of them did. After the fire, the landlord wanted to have the whole thing moved. Everything in them had to be moved out. She had the keys to the 2 that had locks on them. She unlocked those and I went inside of those. There was 4 empty 5 gallon buckets in 1 and a Teybors Cyclopedia Medical Dictionary. And a Jim Crow soft back book. And a bunch of gooseneck faucets. And the other had a few long joints of copper pipe and Galvanized 1" pipe. I got 4 buckets of gooseneck faucets and gave the piping to another old junk man to take me to the Clovis recycling center in Clovis NM. Cause he was going anyway. I got the Teybors Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. I didn’t want to mess with the Jim Crow soft back cause I’m not familiar with it. In the recycling there is a such thing as clean and dirty. Each Gooseneck faucet had a metal screw in it. The faucets are Brass. Back then Brass was $1.00 a pound. I had 96 pounds of clean brass after I removed the 1 metal screw. I don’t know what old guy got for the piping. I had $96.00 and put $10.00 Worth of gas in the Rear gas tank of the 89 Ford F-150 Econoline Van . Some Crack whores put water in both tanks trying to take the van from me. I had really had a stroke, I read in the Teybors Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. Condition of a stroke is loss of teeth. By 2022 I lost 23 of the 28 teeth I had when I had the stroke. I had 4 pulled by 3 dentist. Cavities.
Holy Ghost told me before the first one came loose. Don’t take any dental injections. I haven’t so far. I have 5 teeth and 2 of them are loose. When you don’t have teeth you can’t eat a Snickers bar, Mars bar, Baby Ruth, Mr Good bar, Hershey with almonds. No Peanuts except peanut butter. Can’t chew onions. Lots of things I can’t chew any more. And I’m Hiddious.I suffered Toxic exposure in 1986. Good while back. God showed me, my hair scalp and my teeth roots are like unto each other . I lost the little bit of hair that I had. Beginning in 1986. Holy Ghost told me of a time I would have hair again. Holy Ghost sent me on a mission to Write a story to be repeated to look like a Movie. Told me when that day comes I would have a Afro. I would be in the Mountains when it happened. I would see it in Black and White. And it’s 7 dreams to the story. I went to the Mountains in September 99 and stayed until September 02. And the story God showed me before September 97. I wrote it to the United States of America Special assistant Attorney General in Las Vegas NM. Somebody is going to bomb AME in 2 places using Commercial Jet liners. At that time I didn’t know what the Attorney General office was about. I didn’t learn it until the evening of the day now known as 9 11 01. GWB announced the office of Eric Holder as The FBI. The reason the Attorney General wanted to talk to me when I met him in September 9th 1997 was the first dream of the 7 dreams. I sat down to write to him The story that began in 1967. 30 years before 1997. I was 6 years old. Now I’m waiting to meet a man God told me would help me make a movie ( Be Afraid to fly) He is a Actor and Director. Holy Ghost told me. (I don’t want to be a Actor. I want to make a movie)
I intend to commence buying gold from Ghana and selling in Benin or Togo to retailers. Please can I get more lessons on this item before ever starting. Thanks
I want to commence buying gold from Ghana and selling in Togo. I have been learn about ways to identify the fake gold. Please I really need more lecturing on this piece before I can start.
The ring that my grandfather have left me says 18K and weighs 21.8 g
My grandfather left me an 18 karat gold ring that he wore every day for as long as I known him and it says 18K on the inside was just wondering if it was real or not don’t know where to take it and don’t know who to trust to see if it’s real or not but I have wore it everyday since he passed away it leaves no marks keeps it shine I keep it clean but I have dropped it a few times and it has dented and nicked and has scratched easily