How to Tell if Gold Is Real

The mining of gold to create beautiful pieces of jewelry has been happening for thousands of years. That’s because gold is highly malleable but durable. It won’t tarnish or rust, and your precious jewelry will last for decades, especially if properly cared for and maintained.

When it comes to buying gold pieces or assessing a family heirloom, how can you be sure the gold is real? Luckily, you can test gold at home to find out.

Tests for How to Tell if Gold Is Real

Examine the Markings on Your Gold

You might have noticed your jewelry has markings on it. These engravings, known as hallmarks, help to identify the content of the metal and the manufacturer. Understanding the numbers on those engravings can help you understand the quality of the gold piece you have or whether it’s real gold at all.

Apart from the karat system, where you’ll see numbers such as 14k, 15k, etc., you might also see numbers using the millesimal fineness purity system such as 375, 750, 958, etc.

However, examining the engravings is not a totally reliable method. It’s easy for people to make engravings on fake gold, and markings can become worn from very old pieces.

You’ll often find letters engraved on jewelry too. For example, GP stands for Gold Plated and GEP stands for Gold Electroplated. If you see any of these letter markings, you’ll know that this is a gold plated piece rather than true gold.

Perform a Skin Test for Discoloration

Real gold should never leave marks or discoloration on your skin. If you hold the jewelry between your hands for a few minutes and the perspiration interacts with the metal so the skin turns green or blue, the gold may be fake.

However, there is one exception to this rule. Real gold interacts with makeup in a specific way that can leave a black mark on your skin. Apply some liquid foundation to your wrist. Once it dries, press the jewelry item to your skin and run it over the area where you applied the foundation. Authentic gold will leave a black mark over the makeup on your skin.

Drop Your Gold Jewelry into Water

Gold is a very dense metal. It should never float in water, either at the top or near the bottom of a body of water. To perform a float test, you can fill a container with water and drop the gold jewelry into it. If it sinks directly to the bottom, this is one indication that your gold is real.

Hold the Gold Near a Magnet

While gold is metal, it is not magnetic. However, many of the alloys that masquerade as real gold are magnetic. If you hold your piece of gold jewelry to a strong magnet and it reacts, you may have fake gold on your hands. 

Apply Vinegar to the Jewelry

Choose an area of your jewelry that is not visible for this test. If the gold is fake, it will leave a permanent, visible mark. Take a couple drops of vinegar and drop them onto the jewelry. Real gold will not react to vinegar, but if the gold is fake, you’ll notice some color change.

Use a Gold Testing Machine

There are specialized machines that can tell you definitively whether gold is real or fake. Some use electromagnetic waves to distinguish between different types of metal almost instantly, although it’s mostly used for items like coins rather than jewelry. Other machines use x-ray fluorescence, analyzing the radiation given off by the metal to determine whether or not it is gold.

The benefit of using a machine to test your gold items is that it won’t cause any damage to the jewelry whether they are gold or not.

Tips for Choosing the Right Jewelry

Consider the Purpose of Your Jewelry Purchase

While it may seem like the higher the karat the better, this is not always the case. The more pure your gold is, the more easily it can become damaged. So, for everyday wear, you might want to opt for a karate ranging between 10-14 karats. At this level, the gold is more heavily mixed with other metals to make it stronger.

If you’re buying a special item that will only be worn occasionally, you can opt for high karat pieces that range from 18-24 karats.

Do You Have a Nickel Allergy?

Lots of gold jewelry also contains other metals to make the piece stronger and more resistant to damage. Nickel is commonly used for this purpose, but it’s also a metal that causes allergic reactions for many people. If you’re allergic to nickel, it’s a good idea to opt for higher karat purity to avoid an allergic reaction on your skin.

Gold and Diamond Jewelry from The Diamond Vault

The best tip you’ll ever hear about buying genuine gold and high-quality jewelry is to buy from a highly respectable jeweler. At The Diamond Vault, we pride ourselves on providing beautiful custom designs crafted by professionals. 

Whether you’re looking for an engagement ring or a special gift, the designs and the fabrication of your piece take place on the premises so we can guarantee the highest quality of diamonds and gold. Browse our collections today or call us at +1 (480) 948-8444 to learn more about our custom jewelry services.