Gold is a precious metal that will never lose its relevance. It is from it that the largest number of jewelry is made, and gold products are the most popular among buyers. However, today you can find a large number of fakes, and products made from this precious metal are no exception. Increasingly, there are cases when the percentage of valuable gold in the declared sample is much smaller or absent altogether. Here are simple and accessible tips from jewelers that will help you distinguish gold from fake gold, gilding and costume jewelry at home.
How to determine gold at home
Many people are interested in how to distinguish gold from fake. Today there are many criteria and methods that help solve this problem.
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Gold items must be hallmarked. It is a print that includes 3 digits. It is located from the inside of the jewelry. The lowest standard is 375. Gold can also have other types of fineness - 585, 750, 958. The highest is 999. It contains no more than 1 g of impurities per 1 kg of metal.
You can use a magnifying glass to see the sample. Products without such a stamp are most often found in pawn shops. Sometimes such jewelry is made to order.
Characteristics of gold
How can you tell if it's gold or not? To do this, you should pay attention to a number of features and characteristics.
Sound
To determine the originality of gold, you should pay attention to the sound of touching the bottom of the glass. At first glance, it seems that all metal products have the same sounds. However, a real gold ring will produce a clear and ringing high-frequency sound. It is almost impossible to distinguish it from crystal.
Bite (strength test)
Gold is a soft metal. In this case, any mechanical force will lead to the appearance of marks on it. If you lightly try the jewelry on your tooth, you can see a trace of the impact. This method has long been used to assess the authenticity of gold coins.
Color
Gold jewelry can have different colors - white, pink, bright yellow, green and even chocolate. The specific shade is influenced by the color of the metals in the alloy. At the same time, the presence of other, sharper shades or a cloudy structure is a reason for a more detailed check.
Ceramics
When answering the question of how you can determine whether gold is gold or not, it is worth recommending using a ceramic plate. Tiles are also suitable for this. To do this, you need to run the decoration over the surface, applying medium force. If a gray or black stripe appears, you should doubt the authenticity of the product.
Vinegar
Regular table vinegar is not suitable for testing gold jewelry. To use this method, it is necessary to create a reaction between copper oxide and acetic acid. In this case, heating them will lead to a reaction. As a result, the solution will not become transparent, but blue. This method is used to check dental crowns.
However, you should not use this method at home. The 585 alloy contains approximately 30% copper. It will react with the liquid. As a result, the product will be damaged.
Iodine
This ancient method helps to recognize real metal. Before testing gold with iodine, the jewelry must be wiped with medical alcohol and left to dry. Then transfer it to a clean plate and dip a cotton swab in iodine. Then apply a little substance to the surface of the jewelry and evaluate the reaction.
If iodine leaves light traces, this indicates that the jewelry is made of brass or copper. If the stain is light, this indicates the authenticity of the product.
Magnet
The simplest test method is to use a magnet. Real metal is not magnetic. Only gold-plated jewelry that is made of nickel, steel, iron or other metals has this property.
Nitric acid
Nitric acid can be used to easily test the quality of gold. The biggest difficulty is purchasing this product. If you still managed to purchase it, you should drop a little of the composition on the jewelry. To do this, you can use a pipette. Real gold will not change its color.
Important! If the jewelry turns greenish, this indicates that it is made of metal. A milky tint indicates a large number of impurities in the product.
Black bread
Answering the question of how you can test gold at home, it is worth recommending using rye bread. This is a fairly simple method. However, it takes some time.
If you are in no hurry, you should take a broken piece of rye bread, place a ring, chain, watch or earrings in it and leave it for 2 days. The metal will darken after oxidation, while gold will retain its properties.
Pharmacy pencil
Lapis pencil can be bought at any pharmacy. Moreover, it costs no more than 150 rubles. This is the correct way to identify gold. The basis of this pencil is considered to be silver nitrate. This product may react with metals.
To distinguish such products, you need to wet the jewelry and then draw a small line along its surface. After which it needs to be washed off. If the pencil leaves a mark, this indicates that the gold is fake or of a very low standard. High-quality metal will not suffer from such a test.
Needle
How else can you distinguish gold? To do this, you need to take an ordinary needle and draw a line on an inconspicuous part of the product. If a scratch remains, it indicates the authenticity of the jewelry. In this case, the dent does not change shade and is noticeable only in the reflection of light.
Sun
Real metal has a distinct shine. The gold surface reflects light perfectly even in the shadows and can look very bright. To determine the intensity of the shine, you need to compare the product with a piece of jewelry that is beyond doubt. This is best done in the sun and shade.
Archimedes' method
This method is suitable for people who are not afraid of complex calculations. It is usually used for large products. The following steps will help you find out which decoration is in front of you:
- place one container in another;
- Fill the inner vessel to the top with water;
- carefully immerse the product in it and let the water drain;
- place the container with the leaked water on the scales;
- write down the indicator (x) and drain the water;
- weigh the empty container and record the result, marking it as (y);
- then calculate the difference using the formula (x – y) - this will help to obtain the mass of water, which can be denoted as (m1);
- weigh the product being tested and record the result, marking it as (m2).
After this, you need to find the density of the product in order to compare it with the norm. Pure gold has a density of 19.3 g/cm3. To do this, you need to substitute the resulting numbers into the formula p=m2/V. In this case, V is the volume of water, which is identical to its mass.
A few more ways
- Take a small bowl and pour vinegar into it. Now place the gold jewelry there. If the metal is real, then nothing will happen to it. The fake will darken within two minutes.
- Sound check. Throw gold jewelry on the table and listen: the precious metal sounds loudly, like crystal. This test can only be carried out with small items, such as earrings, rings, pendants.
- Iodine testing. This chemical element reacts with all metals except gold. To check, apply a drop of iodine to the product, preferably on the inside, and look at the reaction: if the metal has darkened, acquired a light gray or even black color, then the jewelry is fake. Real gold will remain consistently yellow.
How do they check gold for authenticity in a pawnshop?
Pawn shops use a number of methods to verify the authenticity of gold jewelry. First, the product must be weighed and examined using a magnifying glass, which magnifies 6-10 times. Thanks to this, it will be possible to find 2 stamps - a sample and a name tag.
All jewelry products that were made in Russia or imported are stamped. This is done by the Assay Office. This mark confirms that the jewelry has been verified by the state. This allows it to be sold legally.
The hallmark is made in the form of a spatula. It includes the following symbols:
- a woman’s head or star – this is relevant for jewelry that was made in 1953-1994;
- letter code - it is established by the assay office, which carries out the control;
- a number that indicates the purity of the metal - for example, an indicator of 585 indicates that the jewelry is 58.5% pure gold.
A name tag is another sign that is valued at a pawn shop. It includes 4 letters that are enclosed in a rectangular outline:
- the first one indicates the year of manufacture;
- the second is the assay code;
- the last 2 letters are the manufacturer's code.
When examining the 2 marks, the appraiser must take into account the clarity of the image. Real prints have crisp lines. They are difficult to copy in artisanal conditions.
Note! If the jewelry has removable parts, a specialist should examine each piece. This will help you find a simplified stamp that indicates the fineness of the metal.
Difference from fake
Various metals can be yellow, not just gold. It may be difficult for a person who has not had experience working with valuable substances to distinguish a fake from real jewelry . When buying an expensive item, it is recommended to ask what real gold looks like and how to determine its authenticity.
Stamp and hallmark
Each gold product has a hallmark. You need to carefully examine it with a magnifying glass. The sample location on jewelry is determined by uniform worldwide requirements:
- Bracelets and earrings have a stamp on the clasp.
- The test on the rings is placed on the inside.
- On stud earrings it is located on the stem or on the clasp.
- For watches, the hallmark is located on the inside of the lid.
- On products with an English lock, the mark is placed on the shackle of the lock.
The hallmark is applied to the product in the form of numbers, for example, 585. Ordinary gold jewelry has exactly this hallmark. However, a hallmark with the numbers 999 will indicate pure gold without impurities. Everything below is alloys. The higher the standard, the more precious metal the product contains.
Appearance Features
The pronounced yellow color is a characteristic sign of authenticity. But this fact is not enough to determine whether it is a fake. For example, Turkish gold also has a rich yellow color. To check the quality of a gold product, you need to throw it on the table and listen to the sound:
- Real gold has a very ringing sound, reminiscent of the ringing of crystal. This check is only suitable for small jewelry.
- Using an empty glass, you can tell by the sound of an object falling into it whether it is real gold.
Very often it is difficult to determine the authenticity of a gold item by appearance. Its color may vary depending on the subspecies. Alloys with the addition of less valuable metals give a golden color. Gold itself is not only yellow, but also red, pink, and white.
How to determine gold purity
How to identify gold yourself? To do this, you should definitely pay attention to the sample of the product. It consists of 3 numbers, which are indicated on the inside of the decoration. The lowest standard is considered to be 375. There are also other options - 500, 583, 585, 916. The highest is considered to be 999.
To find the sample on your jewelry, it is recommended to use a magnifying glass. Products without hallmarks are most often found in pawn shops. Sometimes such products are made to order. They are often passed down from generation to generation and are highly valued.
Determining gold purity yourself is quite difficult. To do this, you should use assay needles and nitrogen chlorine. Such devices are sold exclusively in specialized stores.
To carry out the procedure, the surface of the product must be treated with nitrogen. If no change occurs within 2 seconds, this means that the product is 585 or even higher. If after a few minutes the stain turns brown, the metal is below 585 grade. If the mark turns black, this indicates a fake.
Important! In order not to accidentally damage the product, it is better to first verify its authenticity. Only after this is it permissible to turn to experts.
How to avoid fraud when purchasing precious metals and gold products
To avoid buying fake jewelry or jewelry at the price of gold, it is recommended to do the following:
- Examine the appearance of the sample. All letters and numbers must have smooth and clear contours. In essence, the stamp is a passport of the product. Therefore, very high demands are placed on him. It is impossible to perform this procedure with the naked eye. Therefore, the sample should be photographed and examined with magnification. You can also take a magnifying glass with you to the store.
- Smell the decoration. Gold has no distinct odor. At the same time, alloys that oxidize in air can acquire an unpleasant aroma.
- Take a magnet to the store. With its help, you can check the accessory right on the store counter. If the seller is against such actions, you should doubt the quality of the products offered.
Important! On gold bracelets or chains, there is often a difference between the shade of the base material and its joints. This is due to the fact that the master uses solder of a higher standard.
Magnetic check
For this method you need to purchase a magnet. Those that are usually put on the refrigerator are too soft and will not suit us for this test. The magnet must be heavy, which interacts with metal, that is, real. Gold should not be attracted to it. Therefore, do not be afraid and feel free to bring the jewelry to the magnet. If it is magnetized, then you have a fake in your hands. But it happens that a magnetically passive component is added to the composition of the jewelry. In such cases, gold can be confused with counterfeit.
What is the difference between gold and gilding
Gilding is used to make jewelry more shiny. To do this, a thin layer of precious metal is applied to the product. The coating performs aesthetic functions and protects the jewelry from corrosion. It also prevents the metal from tarnishing.
To distinguish a gilded product from a gold one, you should pay attention to the presence of a hallmark. However, it always guarantees the authenticity of the jewelry. Thus, only a lock can be made of precious metal. In this case, the rest of the product is covered with gold.
How to distinguish gold from other metals
Sometimes gold jewelry is counterfeited using different alloys. In this case, gold is not used at all. Usually it is passed off as an alloy of copper and aluminum, zinc and copper, iron, chromium and nickel.
To distinguish gold from bronze or silver, you should pay attention to the sample. These metals have different numbers. Silver has a 875 or 925 standard, but bronze does not have it.
It is also not difficult to distinguish gold from brass. To do this, it is recommended to evaluate the shade of the product. Gold appears bright yellow, while brass has a brown tint.
To check the authenticity of gold, it is recommended to take into account a number of features. In this case, it is necessary to use additional materials and devices.
