Gold is an attractive element that was used as currency, made into jewelry, and shaped into various art mediums for hundreds of centuries. Today, gold is still used for these things as well as in medical purposes and various electronics. When shopping for gold, it’s important to be able to tell real gold apart from fool’s gold. You don’t want to end up spending thousands of dollars on yellow plated metal.
First, it’s important to know that any gold that is less than 10 karats, or 42% gold, should not be legally sold in the United States. When purchasing gold jewelry, look for a karat value stamped on the inside of rings and earrings, and on clamps of bracelets and necklaces. There should be 10 karat, 14 karat, 18 karat, or 22 karat stamped. If not, the gold is probably fake. The jewelry should also specify if the gold is plated or solid. You will rarely see 24 karat gold stamped on jewelry since it is the most pure and the metal is too soft and will damage easily.
Even markings can sometimes be fake, so numerous tests were devised to test the authenticity of gold. One popular method of testing for real gold is acid tests. Acid tests, such as a Nitric Acid Test, will not affect real gold, only fool’s gold, which will dissolve in the acid. Nitric Acid kits will cost you around $30.00 and can be very dangerous to work with. If you’re not comfortable conducting an acid test, have a trusted jeweler do it for you. People often mistaken that gold glitters, but it shines. The shine is either bright or dull. Fool’s gold glitters because it is comprised of a crystalline structure. Probably the easiest way to test if gold is real is to test its softness. Since gold is so soft, it will bend easier than fool’s gold. In earlier times, people would bite gold to test its authenticity. You don’t have to bite it; a simple prick with a knife will do unless there is a large amount of gold you’re looking to test.
Whether it’s your first time buying something gold or you’re an experienced jeweler, it’s often difficult to decipher the authenticity of gold. Real gold is usually stamped with a karat value, it won’t glitter since it’s not a crystal, it won’t dissolve in acid, and it will easily dent when pressure is applied. Keep these factors in mind to avoid making a fool’s gold purchase.
Brian 08.17.09 at 12:07 am
Lack of a stamp on gold jewelry does not mean that it is fake. In the United States it is against the FTC’s regulations for the jeweler to hallmark a piece of jewelry unless it is accompanied by a maker’s mark.
Under those guidelines, it is also only necessary to list the karat of the gold on the price tag or descriptive papers that might accompany the jewelry.