How to tell if gold is real (Jewelry)

How to Tell if Gold Is Real

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A 2004 investigation revealed that more than half of 22 jewelry stores around the US were selling “fool’s gold” and passing it off as real.[1] By American standards, fake gold is anything less than 10 karats. If you’re wondering whether your gold is real, the most reliable way to know is to take it to a jeweler, who will charge a fee for the answer. If you’re just curious, however, these tricks will expose some–not all–gold impostors.

Steps

  1. Inspect high-friction areas for discoloration. If the item is plated, that’s where the plating will begin to rub off. Discoloration proves that the gold is fake, but the absence of discoloration doesn’t prove that the gold is real.
  2. Hold a magnet up to the item. Gold is not magnetic, so if it sticks to or pulls toward the magnet, it’s fake. If it doesn’t react to the magnet, however, it could still be fake–just made from a non-magnetic material.
  3. Test the density. The density of gold is about 19.3 grams/mL, which is much higher than most other metals. Platinum, iridium, osmium, and neptunium are the only metals with density higher than 20 grams/mL.
  4. Use the classic “plate.” Use a piece of unglazed ceramic material. Rub the gold against it. Fool’s gold will leave a black streak, and real gold will leave a golden streak.
    • A very rough way to check the density is to compare the item to one that’s similar in size and that you know is real gold. They should feel equally heavy. If the item in question is noticeably lighter, it may very well be fake.
    • A more accurate way to test density is to use a scale and a graduated cylinder. First find the mass of the gold in grams, and then put some water in the graduated cylinder. It doesn’t matter how much, but note of the amount in milliliters. Then put the gold inside the water (this won’t damage it) and note the new water level. Get the difference between the two numbers in mL. Based on these two measurements (mass and volume), calculate using the formula: Density = mass/volume. If the answer is close to 19 grams/mL, then it is probably real gold.
    • While it may be hard to measure the volume of a liquid displaced by a small piece of gold, here is an example calculation: Say a solid gold piece weighs in at 38 grams and then displaces 2ml of a liquid in a graduated cylinder of liquid. If you do the math, Density = Mass / Displacement – then 38g/2ml=19g/ml which is close to the density of gold.

Tips

  • The presence or absence of a hallmark indicating the number of karats is meaningless. A fake gold piece can have a fake hallmark, and a real gold piece can have no hallmark.
  • You can also apply nitric acid to the item to see if it’s real gold[2] but nitric acid is hard to come by, and it’s easier (and safer) to just have a jeweler do it.
  • When shopping for jewelry, reputation can be key. Most of the larger “chain” stores (for example, Jared’s) have nothing to gain by selling fake gold jewelry. They depend on their reputation to attract more customers.
  • Avoid the jewelry kiosks in markets and malls as the likelihood of low quality or fake jewelry can be higher.

Warnings

  • The density test will not work if the gold has gems or other materials.
  • Many chunky looking pieces of jewelry are in fact hollow, to save weight and therefore cost, which can also invalidate the density test due to trapped air.
  • Nitric acid is highly corrosive. Precautions should be taken if it will be used for testing.

Things You’ll Need

  • An unglazed ceramic material.
  • A magnet

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=336457&page=1
  2. ↑ http://www.jewelry-design-gemstone.com/real-gold.html

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