How to know if a jewel is made of gold?
Do you own a piece of jewelry and want to know its value? When buying a gold piece of jewelry, it's best to do so in a climate of trust, to know what you're getting. However, in some cases, the question of the gold's authenticity may arise, such as when buying jewelry abroad.
Do we own 10 karat, 14 karat, 18 karat gold or gold plated? Or if we inherit family jewelry, how do we know if it's real gold? Knowing whether a piece of jewelry is gold or not is not always easy. The safest way to know if your jewelry is gold is to go to a jeweler for an appraisal.
However, there are different ways to know if you are dealing with gold or fake. If you own gold-colored jewelry, but are not sure of their composition, follow this guide to learn how to recognize a solid gold ring.
Check for a stamp on a piece of jewelry
The hallmark is an official mark made by jewelers, which allows the origin of a piece of jewelry to be identified. For gold rings, the hallmark is always placed on the outside of the ring. In France, there are two mandatory hallmarks for gold jewelry:
The master's or responsibility hallmark, taking the shape of a diamond or an oval, it allows to know who made the jewelry.
The State hallmark informs of the number of carats present. If the hallmark is designed in Europe, the fish appeared as symbols:
• The Seahorse signifies that the ring is made with 100% pure gold (24 carats), but it is too soft to be used in jewelry.
• The eagle's head refers to 18 carat gold, which is 75% pure gold.
• The Scallop Shell means that the ring is made with 58.5% pure gold (14 carats).
• The clover (three leaves) refers to a 9 carat gold (37.5% pure gold).
In other countries, like Canada, the stamp on gold jewelry is much more discreet and only indicates this rating: 10K, 14K, 18K, and 24K.
As for gold-plated jewelry, the stamped number is always followed by a p, or gf if the jewelry was designed in an English-speaking country.
For bracelets, ID bracelets, chains or necklaces, the stamps are located on the ends of the clasps. Pendants, on the other hand, have their stamp located on the bail.
However, some jewelry is too thin and does not have enough space to contain a stamp. In addition, rings are worn in contact with the skin and the stamps can fade over time and wear of the jewelry.
Recognize the different colors of gold
Each gold color is made by mixing several metals, here are their compositions:
• Yellow gold is 75% pure gold, 12.5% silver and 12.5% copper. White gold is an alloy of gold with silver and palladium which is then covered with a layer of sodium.
• Rose gold is made up of 75% pure gold, 10% silver and 15% copper.
The Magnet Test
The magnet test is one of the most well-known and easiest tests to perform at home. This involves placing a magnet near the gold ring to find out if it is authentic. Gold is not a magnetic metal. Therefore, if the jewelry is placed near a relatively powerful magnet, it should not be attracted. Conversely, if it moves and approaches, it means that your jewelry is fake or it is gold plated.
The Gold Test with a Touchstone
This method is the most well-known because elle allows you not to damage the ring. To perform this test you need: a touchstone, softened royal water (a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid).
You simply need to rub your ring against a special stone called a "touchstone". There's no need to rub the ring for a long time, you will quickly see traces appear. Once your ring leaves a mark on the stone, an acid solution must be used to determine the carat content of the ring. If the trace disappears, you can immediately conclude that your gold ring is not really one. But if the trace remains after the acid is applied, then the jewel is made of gold.
The Gold Test with Nitric Acid
This test is not very complicated and it is an effective method. To carry it out, you will need to place your gold jewelry in a stainless steel container and then add a few drops of a nitric acid solution. This acid allows to authenticate the gold thanks to its oxidizing properties on certain metals such as silver and copper. After pouring the acid, you must therefore wait for the chemical reactions, if a greenish or whitish reaction occurs, then your jewelry is not made of pure gold. If your jewelry is genuine, it will not react to the acid. Be careful, this test is normally carried out in jewelry stores by professionals, as it is risky. Nitric acid is a very powerful acid that can irritate the respiratory tract and cause serious skin lesions. If you use it, you must therefore be careful to respect the precautions for use and handle it carefully.
Bleach Test
This technique is very simple to apply, and very short. The goal is to provoke the oxidation of the jewelry to verify its authenticity. You must put your jewelry in a bleach solution for more than 24 hours. If, after the 24 hours have passed, you do not notice any oxidation on the jewelry, then it is pure gold. Otherwise, the jewelry is not authentic, it is plated metal.
Test with a jewelry cleaning cloth
Very simple to perform, this test only requires your jewelry and a jewelry cleaning cloth. You simply need to rub your jewelry with the cloth and then examine it. If the gold of your jewelry has been removed, tarnished or if elle reveals another color, then the jewelry is not real gold, but gold plated.
Other tips to know if a jewelry is made of gold
There are also other tricks that can help you determine if your jewelry is made of gold.
Solid gold is a metal that weighs heavier than silver, if you find that your engagement ring is light when weighing it with your hand, it's probably not gold but silver.
In addition, pure gold is a metal with an extraordinary luster. If your ring is gold, it should be shiny after cleaning.
If the ring is old or worn and shows a different color or a different metal, it's not pure gold. Please note that the ring may be gold or silver plated, in which case it is normal for there to be color differences.
Of course, if you still have doubts, the best solution is to go to your jeweler who will be better able to appraise your ring.
