It can be quite a challenge to the untrained eye when it comes to trying to work out whether the gold item you are looking at is the real deal or a fake that will mean you lose money if you pay the wrong price.Here is a look at the various proven methods that are used to determine whether your gold is up to standard or just a convincing fake.
Understanding your karats
When you are faced with the task of determining gold purity it is a fundamental requirement that understands what the description applied to the measurement actually means.The good news is that interpreting karats is reasonably simple and if you see an item that is 18K or 24K, that is a confirmation of the measurement of the purity of the gold. Pure gold is 24 karats (sometimes spelt carats), so you would expect to pay more for an item with a higher karat rating.You might find that an item like a gold chain could have its purity expressed in parts per thousand, so you will see a three-digit number rather than karats .You can convert the parts per thousand to karats with an easy formula. All you have to do is divide the given number by 1000 and then multiply it by 24. For example, if the number is 583, this is the equivalent of 14 karats.
What to do if there no marks
If there are visible marks on the chain to show you how many karats it is the best way to find out is to test it for purity.There are various home gold testing kits available and a standard kit will normally contain some nitric acid and a testing stone. You scratch the testing stone with the gold so that it leaves a mark and then drop some of the acids on the mark to see if it changes in colour. If it doesn’t change the colour you will then continue to repeat the process with higher-karat acid bottles until the gold mark responds and starts to dissolve.If you only see a slight change in colour after the testing process with the corresponding karat acid this is an indication that the jewellery is below the grade. This means that you can run a 14K test and if the gold mark starts to dissolve it is more likely that the gold is 10K or below. Test it with a 10K bottle and you will get to discover if the gold is not as pure as you had hoped or been promised.
Another quick way to find out of you have got a fake
In addition to the nitric acid test kit, there is also the option of doing a liquid foundation test.It has to be said that this method of testing is not always as reliable as some of its rivals but at least it is simple to do and you won’t have to wait too long to discover the truth.All you have to do is apply some liquid foundation and powder to your forehead and then proceed to rub your gold jewellery across the covered area.If you see a black streak afterwards that is an indication that your gold item might just be the real deal. This is probably not a suggested test to carry out if you want a definitive answer about the purity of your gold, but at least it might give you a clue.
Does your gold sink?
Another quick test to try involves dropping your gold into a jug of water.If your gold is real it should sink to the bottom straight away. If it floats you know you definitely have a dud, but the flaw in this system is that it doesn’t really help you determine the level of purity.
How magnetic is your gold?
Another test to determine if your gold is real or definitely doesn’t have any karats is to carry out a quick magnetization test.Doing this will instantly tell you what you have in your hands, so be prepared to be disappointed if your gold item seems keen to attach itself to your magnet. This test will tell you that you the item is certainly not pure gold but it is possible that it could contain a certain amount of the precious metal, but it is a pointer that it might be less than 10K.
Get your gold checked by a professional
Buying a gold item can often be a big purchasing decision and you don’t want to make an expensive mistake by parting with your cash in return for a piece that is not as pure as you have been promised.It has to be said that many reputable jewellery dealers will most likely use a professional testing kit similar to the nitric acid method mentioned already, but the distinct advantage of going down this route is you are putting your gold item in the hands of a trained eye.Not only will they be able to use a professional testing kit to determine the purity but they will also know how to look at other clues like the hallmark and just the look and feel of the gold, to give them a clear idea of how good the quality is.You can always carry out your own tests as a starting point to see if there is any genuine cause for concern about the purity of your gold item, but it is not just about telling whether the piece is genuine or fake, you need to know how many karats it is too.If someone unscrupulous is trying to pass off a 14K piece of gold as 24K, you want to know straight away and before you hand over your money.Anything that comes in at less than 10K is not considered to be gold and you want to be able to weed out those fakes.