How to identify gold without testing

How to determine whether it is gold or not?

Professional jewelers and self-taught craftsmen can easily determine the authenticity of a product made of precious metals with the naked eye. For the average consumer, characterizing a gold product is a complex task that requires attention, certain skills and available materials. To avoid being deceived by scammers and to protect yourself from purchasing a fake, you need to know how to test gold for authenticity at home.

The oldest methods of testing gold

Before the invention of modern precious metal analyzers, training videos and reagents, experts tested gold jewelry using simple but effective methods.

Visualization

Determination “by eye” allows you to determine the presence of gold markings (up to 999 fineness) or the mass of an object in carats.

Checking with a magnifying glass will simplify the task, since the markings on the metal are applied very finely. The mark must be clear, even, with distinguishable markings and proportional edges. Rare exhibits and objects made of old gold cannot be checked visually: the sample may be deformed.

A visual test allows you to identify a gold-plated object in places of bends and fastenings: if there is a different alloy under the precious metal, the product will become discolored over time. Genuine gold becomes brighter in places of folds and fastenings, but does not lose its yellowish tint.

Testing gold “to the point”

The favorite method of film directors to distinguish gold from gilding is still effective today. Gold is soft, so when you bite into it, it will leave a slight mark on the alloy. Its depth depends on the sample: the higher it is, the more prone the product is to deformation.

It is not necessary to bite the product: a small clamp or puncture is no less practical. It is prohibited to check goods in stores this way. Before leaving a mark on the product, you must ensure the owner’s consent.

The time-tested method is not 100% reliable: if the lead is gold-plated, there will be a mark after biting.

Determining the authenticity of metal by smell

Smell testing is a simple method on how to test gold at home. Precious metal has no odor. If, when you bring the product to your nose, a pronounced metallic smell appears, then this indicates a counterfeit item. To make it easier to recognize a fake, you should rub the product.

Solar method

In clear weather, it is easy to distinguish between gold and fake. When the precious metal is brought to an illuminated surface and back, it does not lose its visual advantages: the gold both glittered and will continue to glitter with the same brightness. The gold plating will lose its reflectivity and fade.

Rule of musical ear

The ability of precious items to ring like rock crystal when heavy objects fall onto the surface distinguishes them from gold-plated trinkets. Jewelers note the effectiveness of the sound method in determining the quality of a product, but the appraiser must have an ear for music. You can check a gold ring, earrings and other items that do not consist of several links in this way.

Gold vs. Gold – check with another gold jewelry

It is effective to distinguish a noble metal from a fake at home if you have a gold product of the same standard and parameters.

You should hold two objects with equal pressure on a hard, flat surface. The pressure marks must be identical. If the density, width, and depth of the grooves are different, the product being tested is counterfeit.

How to identify real gold using reagents and special items

Reaction or chemical inertness upon contact with other elements and substances are effective methods for distinguishing real gold from a fake.

Reaction with iodine

Testing gold with iodine gives a 100% result, but after it you should clean the product from traces (by placing it in a glass of Coca-Cola for 5 minutes). Iodine is applied to the inside after scratching the application area with an abrasive or sandpaper; 1 drop is enough.

The noble metal reacts and the color of the object changes. The counterfeit product does not darken after iodine.

Gold and vinegar

After immersing the product in a container with vinegar for 5 minutes, you should wait for the absence/presence of traces on the surface of the product. Testing gold with vinegar is similar to the method using iodine: there will be no reaction on the noble metal. The forged metal will turn black.

Nitric acid and gold

How to determine the quality of a product using nitric acid? The same as with other reagents. A real noble metal does not darken and does not react to acid.

How to spot a fake using ammonia

Ammonia removes traces of darkening on jewelry, so by wiping the item with a dampened cloth, experts determine the quality of gold at home. Black marks, surface abrasion and tarnishing indicate that the alloy has been gilded. Real gold does not change its appearance when exposed to ammonia, except for the disappearance of dark traces during use or contamination of the noble metal.

Magnetic method

An easy way to determine whether it is gold or not is to use a magnet. Jewelry made of precious metal is not attractive, unlike fakes. To determine the authenticity of gold, special magnets purchased in a store are suitable, and not souvenirs from the sea. Copper, bronze or aluminum will also not interact with a magnet.

Ceramic surface as a way to protect yourself from counterfeiting

The unfired ceramic tile method accurately determines whether a product is a fake. Rubbing a ring or other precious metal object against ceramics leaves a yellowish mark. After the test, a fake will reveal itself by the presence of a dark stripe on the ceramic.

A piece of ceramic tile purchased at a home improvement store or an ordinary plate can be used as a tester.

lapis pencil

The method is effective if you wet the product with water before use. After running a pencil over the surface, there should be no traces left - they mean a fake.

Folk way

Craftsmen learned to counterfeit jewelry back in the old days, so buyers have long learned how to distinguish gold from a fake at home. Bread crumb is a faithful assistant for determining the quality of the metal. By leaving the product inside the crumb for 48 hours, past experts looked for green or dark marks on the surface. They indicate a product made from cheap alloys.

Archimedes' method

The great scientist and thinker studied metal using mathematical calculations and formulas. He placed the piece of jewelry in a flask of water and measured the amount of substance displaced. The data corresponded to the parameters of a noble metal. The method is not suitable for hollow jewelry (“blown” rings, chains).

Touchstone

The use of touchstone has been known for a long time. It determines the gold standard and allows you to identify a fake. After rubbing the stone with almond oil, you should draw a line on its surface. An assay needle is used to mark product samples. By dripping nitric acid onto the strokes, reaction experts determine the conformity of the declared sample and the nobility of the metal.

Modern precious metal analyzers

Mobile analyzers use X-rays to determine metal markings, identify counterfeits and measure the proportion of ligature. Scope of application: pawnshops, jewelry stores and centers for receiving/delivering products made from precious metals.

How to distinguish gold from copper

Copper resembles gold in appearance and is often used as an alloy metal. To avoid counterfeiting, you should pay attention to the sample of the product (corresponds to the marking of jewelry made of precious metal) and appearance. The shade of copper is reddish, gold is yellowish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plFDk8mPr3w

Copper tends to darken over time, and gold jewelry never changes color and brightness, but is subject to deformation, since the metal is very soft.

How to distinguish gold from pyrite

Pyrite is called “false gold” because of its external similarity to the noble metal. It refers to iron sulfide, a mineral.

Element differences:

pyrite has a sulfur smell; when exposed to a sharp object, a dent will remain on the gold, and the pyrite will split;

Pyrite does not shine in the shadows, unlike gold, which has a constant calm shine outside the light source.

Source: https://ZolotoMan.ru/sovety/kak-opredelit-zoloto.html

How to check gold for authenticity (and is it worth doing it yourself)

Which color is correct
How to test gold at home
What is a hallmark
How to determine the hallmark of gold

Gold has been known to people since ancient times. For example, the ancient Incas called this metal “sweat of the sun” and mined it in huge quantities. True, they didn’t know its value. For which they paid. The conquistadors destroyed the army of Emperor Atahualpa for the sake of precious ingots.

According to various estimates, from 30 BC to 2019, about 195 thousand tons of precious metal were mined. Possessing it has always been considered a sign of prosperity and wealth. At the same time, “unscrupulous market participants” have also long learned to counterfeit this precious metal using various methods.

What color is right

On the shelves of jewelry stores and boutiques you can find jewelry made of white, yellow and pink metal. It has a characteristic yellow color, its Latin name aurum translates as “yellow”.

Remember that it is very soft, so the products are not made of pure metal, but of a jewelry alloy. Additional components are added to it, which give color and affect properties (the hardness of the material increases, the melting point decreases, and elasticity increases).

It is difficult to determine authenticity by appearance. Remember that there are also gold coatings that are applied to jewelry, giving them the desired shine and beauty. Unscrupulous manufacturers may pass them off as original.

How to test gold at home

At home, without special knowledge and tools, it will be difficult to check whether jewelry is gold or not. You can find a lot of recommendations on the Internet on how to identify gold. But some methods can damage the product.

Expert advice: you shouldn’t check it yourself and waste time reading materials that give universal advice on “how to identify gold at home.” You can easily ruin your favorite decoration.

With iodine 

One of the most common instructions is how to test gold using iodine. This “chemical” method can lead to the fact that stains may remain on the item, which will then be difficult to remove. Many jewelry contains stones that also require careful handling.  

For the same reason, the testing methods using vinegar offered on the Internet are extremely undesirable.
Techniques for testing gold on a tooth may prompt a visit to the dentist.

The most reliable way is to go to the laboratory and let the experts speak. Some gemological centers also offer such services (depending on the complexity, the metal can be determined in 30 minutes).   

Another way out is to go to the nearest pawnshop, where employees will be able to give an answer on the metal and tell what standard it is.

What is a sample

In Russia, the circulation of precious metals is strictly controlled. Jewelry is marked with an hallmark. It is possible to determine the content of noble metal in the alloy. In accordance with Russian legislation, the following jewelry alloys exist (metric standards):

Let's take the most common one in jewelry - 585. This means that 1000 grams of the alloy contains at least 585 grams of pure gold (corresponding to 415 grams of ligature). The more gold it contains, the more expensive the final material.

Useful information is encrypted in a small imprint of the stamp. You can identify the State Assay Supervision Inspectorate, the mark of the assay certificate (depicted as the head of a girl in a kokoshnik) and the digital designation itself.

The jewelry manufacturer puts his mark, which is called the name tag, which also contains information about the year of manufacture, state inspection code, and manufacturer.

If you decipher it correctly, you can get the necessary information about the product. But a fraudster can fake them. However, the quality of such falsification may vary. It is difficult to verify the authenticity; the result may be unreliable.

Organoleptic method

The senses are involved. The product is examined with the naked eye, as well as with a magnifying glass, the color is assessed, and the smell is checked (fake products made of base metals often have their own characteristic smell). They also determine whether the jewelry is heavy, since the metal has a high density and therefore will be weighty.

Research using assay reagents

The so-called Drip method. Its essence is that a drop of reagent is applied to the cleaned surface of the product. After 15-20 seconds it is removed with special paper. The reaction of the alloy determines the sample.

Determination on the touchstone

This is a black block of fine-grained flint slate. On it, the sample is determined by the lines applied by the metal.

1. First, the surface of the stone is prepared, then strips are applied to it with the product, which are called “rubs.”
2. Next to them, similar strips with standard samples are made with standard needles.
3. Reagents are applied to the resulting “drawings”, after 15-20 seconds they are removed.
4. After the reaction, they are compared, which makes it possible to determine compliance.

Instrumental method

Special detectors are used and this also requires special knowledge. The advantage of such diagnostics (as well as other professional methods) is that it cannot damage jewelry.

Expert

Gemstone expert, @yulia.irtyuga

Source: https://lisa.ru/yekspertiza/602662-kak-proverit-zoloto-na-podlinnost-i-stoit-li-eto-delat-samostoyatelno/

Methods for determining gold purity yourself

Gold is a metal whose jewelry leaves few people indifferent. Many people know that in no jewelry store you can find a product that is 100% pure gold, because this metal is easily deformed and even breaks.

Because of these properties of gold, it became necessary to add other metals (ligature) to it, all in order to make the alloy suitable for making jewelry. The presence of impurities of other metals in the gold alloy was the reason for the development of the assay system. Gold hallmark is a measure that shows how many grams of pure gold a kilogram of alloy contains.

For example, a hallmark of 375 means that 375 grams of the alloy consists of gold, while the remaining 625 grams are alloyed with copper, silver, zinc and other metals.

The cost of a gold product depends on the sample. But how can you be sure that the number indicated on the hallmark represents the actual gold content in the bar? In addition, there are thousands of cases where people spent enormous amounts of money on high-grade gold items, which, as it turned out, turned out to be gilded silver or low-grade gold.

There are often cases when gold jewelry, as a fraudulent seller assures, actually turns out to be cheap jewelry, the appearance of which cannot be distinguished from jewelry. It is for this reason that many are interested in the question of how to determine the gold standard and what is needed for this.

Home tests do not allow you to accurately determine the gold standard, but performing them correctly will help determine whether the jewelry is low-grade or high-grade.

Checking a gold ring with a magnet

First of all, when buying gold, you should pay attention to the hallmark. Ideally, it should have clear contours, and the mark itself should be located symmetrically with respect to the edge of the product. The numbers indicated on the stamp will be the same size. If the hallmark does not have all these characteristics, then you should refrain from purchasing the product.

How to test gold at home?

The following methods will help you find out the gold standard yourself:

1. Using a magnet: if you bring a piece of magnet to a product and it is attracted, then this is a reliable sign of low-grade gold or the complete absence of this metal in the product. The thing is that gold, unlike many other metals, does not have magnetic properties.
2. Test with iodine: if you drop a little iodine onto the item being tested and it instantly darkens, then you can be sure that the jewelry contains practically no gold.
3. Testing with vinegar: if a gold product with a purity of at least 585 is placed in a container with vinegar, then such manipulation will not harm it. Fake or low-quality metal will immediately darken.
4. Bread crumb test: this test of gold authenticity will take 2-4 days. To carry out the test, take a crumb of fresh bread and roll a gold product into it. After a few days, the bread needs to be cut and its condition assessed after contact with metal. If the inside of the crumb turns green, this indicates that the gold is fake.
5. Ceramic test: take an unfired ceramic tile and rub a gold piece on it. Dark streaks on the tile caused by friction are a sign of fake gold.
6. Testing with lapis: a lapis pencil designed to stop bleeding will help determine gold. To check, you need to wet the jewelry and run a pencil over it. Genuine metal will not show any reaction, while the fake metal will turn black.

Testing gold with vinegar

other methods

The most reliable home test is to determine the density of gold (this figure for pure metal is 19.32 grams per cubic centimeter). How to check the product:

1. Take high-precision scales, a flask and distilled water. Density can be determined by dividing the mass of a product by its volume.
2. The product is weighed on high-precision scales.
3. Then the product is immersed in a flask with water, the water that has been squeezed out is collected and weighed.
4. The mass of water is divided by 0.998 grams per cubic centimeter (the density of water), thus determining the volume of the submerged body.
5. The mass of the product is divided by its volume and the density of the metal is obtained. The resulting number is compared with 19.32 and a conclusion is drawn about the authenticity of the gold.

You can find out the gold sample at home if you have special ingredients, for example, gold chloride. If you take this substance and apply it to the surface of the jewelry, the test result will not take long to arrive. The entry of the jewelry metal into a reaction with gold chloride indicates that the product is of low standard or is a fake. For example, gold with a purity of 375 will become covered with dark spots, and a copper-brass alloy will completely turn black.

Testing a gold ring with iodine

Reliable acid and scratch testing requires the purchase of the necessary equipment - an acid testing kit. To carry out the test, a series of gold needles of increasing fineness is required. The acid used for testing can be nitric or sulfuric. First of all, the product should be scratched with a needle (very thinly), and then acid should be applied to the scratch. You need to evaluate what the scratch looks like and compare its color with the needle of the corresponding sample.

Despite the popularity of home methods for assessing the authenticity of gold, none of them can guarantee 100% accuracy of the result. Only an expert appraiser who uses special equipment and reagents for this purpose can accurately evaluate a product.

In order not to doubt the authenticity of gold, all jewelry made from it should be purchased only at specialized retail outlets. It is unacceptable to purchase jewelry from private individuals, on the market, etc.

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Source: https://DedPodaril.com/zoloto/imform/kak-opredelit-probu-zolota-doma.html

What to do if the product is made of gold without hallmark and hallmark?

To reduce the price and make gold products more durable, metals are added to it - nickel, copper, brass. The criterion for the authenticity of a ring, chain, or bracelet will be the presence of a sign on them, which is responsible for the quality of the alloy and indicates the percentage of precious metal in its pure form. Sometimes unassembled gold is found.

Precious metals, including gold, are an excellent investment as their value is constantly rising. In its pure form it is found only in coins or bars. Jewelry is practically not made from it, since the weight will be large, the cost will be high, and due to the softness of the precious metal, the shape of the jewelry will be subject to deformation.

Why try?

One of the most common is the well-known 585th standard, indicating that the product contains 58.5% pure gold. When buying a precious trinket, the first attention is paid to its presence. But there is a situation when gold is still found without assay.

Few people know that the testing system did not always exist. It began to be used only after the issuance of a decree of Peter I, which obliged jewelers to apply a sample to products to confirm authenticity and to protect against fraud.

The spool system existed until 1927, and then it was replaced by a metric one.

Why is it missing?

Markings on gold jewelry are not always present. The absence is due to various reasons.

• In cases where a chain, bracelet or ring without hallmarking is a family heirloom, has been inherited and belongs to a time when hallmarking of jewelry did not exist.
• If the jewelry is made privately to order.
• After restoration, a fragment remains, a small piece, since the master tries to leave a sample on the product itself, and also if the earring lock, chain was repaired, or the ring size was changed.
• Another reason why there is no hallmark on a gold ring is re-melting.
• The purchase of jewelry was carried out abroad. But in such cases there must be a mark on it.
• When gold is used for medical purposes (dental crowns), it is not assayed. It is of high quality and durable, it is difficult to deform.

In all cases where the precious item was without hallmark, it will be valued as scrap gold, but if the appearance is quite good, the merchandiser can evaluate it at his discretion.

How to determine?

The expert checks carefully before setting the price for the jewelry with or without markings. The presence of a quality mark does not mean anything, because it can be seen not only on real gold, but also on fake gold. Work to verify the authenticity of precious metal is carried out only if the owner has given permission to carry out it.

The main ways to determine the sample of a precious metal in a pawnshop are:

• File.
• Special acid reagents.
• Assay needles or touchstones are the oldest method of testing yellow metal.

Several ways to determine the authenticity of jewelry at home.

1. Application of a magnet. If the precious metal content is negligible or absent, the product will stick to the magnet.
2. Check with vinegar and iodine. They have no effect on gold and the color of the jewelry does not change.
3. Draw a lapis pencil over the wet decoration. If it is not fake, there will be no traces of it after the pencil dries.
4. You can also place the product in black bread (fresh) for two days. When it becomes stale, break it and look at the precious metal. If the metal is genuine, there should be no oxidation processes or mold on it.
5. Another way to determine authenticity is smell. Metals have a smell, gold does not.

Even after checking in these ways, it would be best to contact an experienced jeweler. After such testing, the ring or other jewelry will have a guarantee of authenticity.

Where to put it?

Owners of precious trinkets, without testing, are wondering where to put it. Testing is done if the product is made to order by a private craftsman. An unassayed gold ring, chain, earrings and other trinkets can be assayed at the Assay Office after melting down. Mostly legal entities send products there, but individuals can also contact this authority.

Some conditions for carrying out this process.

• The services of the State Assay Office for individuals are only possible to re-mark a piece of jewelry.
• The provision of foreign-made jewelry is possible only in quantities of no more than three items (or one set).
• An application to the Assay Office is submitted only on one designated day per month and only at the specified time.
• The sample installation process lasts a month.
• The cost of the service is not cheap.

The final decision on testing is made by the owner of the product. The presence of markings does not always increase the price of jewelry.

About product samples

Everyone loves jewelry made from precious metals. Due to their affordable price and brilliance, gold products are in demand and popular. Apart from acids, this precious metal is not affected by any other substances existing in nature. It also has a high density. Due to this, many women prefer wedding rings made of this precious metal, since they can be left on the finger while doing household chores.

Jewelry factories do not make jewelry from pure gold, since this metal is soft and difficult to give the required shape.

To achieve the result and obtain jewelry of the required quality, gold alloys are used, which are called “gold hallmarks”. They are used in jewelry, industry, dentistry, and banking.

Is it possible to sell?

The price of the yellow metal is constantly increasing, so buying it for resale or recycling has become a popular phenomenon. But some products are without quality marks. Jewelry without markings can be sold. To do this, you need to go to a pawnshop. It will set the price of the product, but it will be significantly lower, because such institutions purchase gold as scrap precious metal.

If there are gold items with unclearly visible numbers (if the item is old, they may have been partially erased), melted down or made by private jewelers, if necessary, they can be pledged or purchased as a product or precious metal. There is no need to worry about whether the pawnshop will accept gold without hallmarks. The answer is clear - he will accept it, but at a reduced cost.

The pawnshop has no right to continue selling jewelry without the markings. For assaying before sale, all goods must be submitted to the Assay Office for installation of quality marks on them.

Source: https://VseoMetallah.ru/zoloto/proba/zoloto_bez_proby

How to test gold with vinegar

How to test gold for authenticity with vinegar. Which of the available tools will help identify a fake? We will talk about this in the article. Understanding how to test gold at home, you can once and for all remove doubts or fake jewelry - it depends on your luck.

Test gold for authenticity with vinegar

How to test gold for authenticity at home

Modern fakes are so skillful that it is impossible to distinguish decorations from decent alloys with the naked eye. So how can you test gold at home, and is it quite possible to do this without going to a jeweler?

Using vinegar

To test gold at home with vinegar, pour table vinegar into a glass and dip the jewelry in it for 30 seconds.

Gold is unusually inert: if you drop a precious piece of jewelry into table vinegar, nothing will happen; a fake item will react with the liquid - the color will change, it is quite possible that gas will begin to be released with the release of bubbles. Find out how to clean gold with vinegar at home.

You should not check gold items of 585 standard and below in this way - they contain many impurities of other metals that will react with the reagent.

After cleaning with vinegar, the jewelry is washed with cold water, wiped dry and polished with suede. This can help remove vinegar from the jewelry and remove the hostile effect of the reagent.

Acetic acid

Testing gold with acetic acid is as follows:

1. Pour three tablespoons of vinegar essence.
2. Dip the metal into a highly concentrated solution for 4-6 minutes and wait for the result.
3. If the jewelry becomes dark or another reaction makes itself felt (for example, gas formation), the product is fake.
4.  In cases where a small part of gold is added to the fake, the reaction will be uneven. That is, the decoration darkens in several places.

Vinegar has a negative effect on pearls and silver inserts, so composite items cannot be tested using this method.

Not only gold items are cleaned with preservatives. See how to remove blackness from silver with vinegar in one go at home.

Methods for checking gold for authenticity

What else to check

A list of the simplest methods that will help you check whether a particular piece of jewelry is a fake.

Way	How to check	What to watch	Flaws
Sample, stamp, color	carefully inspect the product using a magnifying glass	There is a clear mark on the surface, Samples: 375, 500, 583, 585, 750, 916, 958, 999. The color of the decoration is even and uniform	Blotches and play of color are present in the creative solution of the jewelry designer.
Water	Water is poured into a glass, after which the jewelry is lowered into it.	It will sink instantly - the composition contains more than 50% of unsullied, respectable metal.	There is no 100% guarantee that what you are holding is not a fake.
Iodine	Using a cotton swab dipped in iodine solution, run along the inside of the ring in the cleared area, watch the reaction of the drop after 3 minutes.	On a gold product, iodine will not change its initial color. The volume of the drop will not change. A black speck remains on the gold. Other alloys will react with iodine. The drop begins to discolor and decrease in volume until it dries completely. The fake has a milky speck, including some whitening of the area where iodine is applied.	After completing the procedure, clean the prints: with a soap-ammonia solution; Dip Coca Cola into the drink for 5 minutes. Gilding with iodine gives the same reaction as gold.
lapis pencil	Wet the decoration with water and draw a stripe with a lapis pencil.	A mark remains on the fake.	It is impossible to distinguish gold from gilding.
Black bread	Take the crumb, mix with water and stick around the decoration. When the crumb becomes a crust, break it.	If there are dark prints inside the crumb, it means the fake has oxidized. If not, then it's either gold or gold plated.	Wait more than a day until the bread dries out. It is impossible to distinguish gold from gilding.
Magnet	Place the decoration near the magnet.	No reaction - golden jewelry. The fake is immediately attracted.	The magnet does not attract bronze, copper, or aluminum.
Pin, teeth	Scratch or bite	The imprint is preserved, there is no hesitation: the product is made of gold.	You can ruin the jewelry. Aluminum fake behaves exactly the same.

How to quickly test gold at home. How to check gold jewelry:



Safety rules when determining whether a product contains gold or not

At home, only acetic acid is used. And then, in a diluted form. Complex chemical studies are carried out in specialized laboratories using special equipment.

Experimenting with acid at home is unsafe for both health and jewelry.

1. Before starting the procedure, you should thoroughly wash your hands to remove dirt and grease. As a rule, it is much better to wear gloves.

1. The time the gold is in the solution must be observed correctly.

1. Upon completion of work, wash the product with running water to remove any remaining vinegar.

Checking the authenticity of gold with a lapis pencil

How long to keep jewelry in vinegar

Fake gold instantly darkens in vinegar - pour into a glass and hold in the solution for 5 minutes. Also, household appliances are cleaned with the help of a preservative. It is very easy to clean the inside of a steam iron from scale using available means.

What happens if you keep a product in vinegar for several hours?

Gold does not dissolve in acid, the gilding will partially dissolve, and the fake will disappear.

Have you ever tested gold with vinegar?

Is it possible to check products with stones?

It is not recommended to test gold decorations with stones and the addition of other valuable metals using vinegar. The action of acid will affect the condition of silver and pearls.

Which vinegar to use to determine authenticity

In home practice, apple, balsamic, table vinegar, and vinegar essence are used.

We do not recommend testing jewelry of 585 standard or lower with vinegar and iodine. You will have to remove traces with ammonia and polish the product.

Which verification method is the most reliable?

Nothing compares to the technical equipment of assay offices, where jewelers, without damaging the product, will give out a detailed range of composition components in percentage terms.

Counterfeits on the gold market, how to distinguish gold from fakes at home:



On a note

Choose gold jewelry from salons that have been tested by quality and time-tested manufacturers. If you purchase gold secondhand or in an unverified shopping center, to verify the authenticity of the product.

Take a close look at the item. Gold shines equally under the sun and in the shade.

The inside of the product is made with care. The label indicates the weight and sample. According to the order of the government of the Russian Federation on May 6, 2016 No. 394, alloys in which more than 30% of the weight is precious metal are stamped with hallmark.

Use a composition of 2-3 methods, for example, a magnet and a lapis pencil. The main thing is not to try too hard, so as not to spoil the soft metal.

Checking gold jewelry for authenticity is a simple task, but if you doubt the results, it is better to contact a jeweler for an assessment of the metal.

After purchase, an expert opinion will be required to return the counterfeit to the store.

*We hope that the content of the article was useful. Share your opinion below in the comments. Your feedback will help make the service better.

Reviews from those who tested gold with vinegar

I would write one point - do not buy if in doubt... although I always have iodine, a magnet, an antiseptic pencil and 70% vinegar in my pocket. The first method is definitely not the way. In Turkey, right at the counter they ask what standard to give you :)rn Very often I check my gold products that I buy.

It's a pity that this is not possible when purchasing. But if I follow these methods, I only came across real options, which makes me happy. We had an engagement ring lying around, which we got by chance - with samples, etc. I wanted to adjust it to my size, we got to the jewelry store, and the truth suddenly emerged, and they didn’t take any money for it.

Although there were doubts before this - the ring had a strange shade.rn Thanks for the advice. But my girlfriend works at a pawnshop, so I know a lot about gold)) There is only one reliable method, this is a reagent. A notch is made on the product and a reagent is applied to it. If it boils, it is not gold; if it does not boil, it is gold.

You need to be careful with iodine and vinegar at home; you can ruin the decoration.

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Source: https://uksus-hous.ru/v-bytu/kak-proverit-zoloto-uksusom

How to test gold for authenticity at home

Testing gold for authenticity is a very pressing issue, since gold jewelry is the most popular and always relevant gift. Very often, various gold objects become family heirlooms, passed down from generation to generation.

However, now there are more and more manufacturers and resellers of gold jewelry, and when buying jewelry, there is a chance of stumbling upon a fake.

To avoid such a fate, we recommend that you objectively evaluate several of the most popular options for determining the authenticity of gold items.

Testing gold by sound

This is a rather ancient way of testing gold jewelry, according to which it is necessary to throw a gold product onto a stone or similar surface, which should result in a clear, ringing sound that is pleasant to the ear.

The advantages of this method are: simplicity, instant results, relative safety for your jewelry.

However, it has a number of significant disadvantages: firstly, to conduct this experiment you must have a good ear for music, and secondly, only ring-type products are suitable for testing, that is, checking a chain or bracelet is unlikely to be successful.

Testing gold using the Archimedes method

Surely everyone knows the legend about Archimedes and the weighing of gold by immersion in water and calculation using the displaced volume of water. Yes, it’s quite funny to remember the school knowledge of physics, it finally came in handy.

The advantages of this method: simplicity, high accuracy of the result. Significant disadvantages are the complexity of weighing and calculations; this method is only suitable for massive products if you want to obtain accurate data.

Watch the video on how to determine the authenticity of gold using the Archimedes method:

Checking gold embossing

This method has various variations. Some argue that it is necessary to apply a scratch to gold; real metal, due to its softness, will acquire a scratch that will not differ in color or shine. Others insist on the need to hold a gold piece against ceramic, a golden mark should appear, and there should be no visible differences in color and shine on the jewelry itself.

Another option can be seen in old films or heard about in stories. It consists of checking the tooth - on the gold product, again, due to its softness, a bite mark remains. But you shouldn’t overdo it; if you have a fake in your hands, there is a danger of breaking a tooth.

Both options are similar and are based on determining the authenticity of a precious material by physical impact. The advantages of the method: simplicity, visible results, but the disadvantages are more than significant - there is a possibility of serious damage to the product if the actions are not performed carefully.

We advise you to carry out scratches either on the outside or on the least noticeable side. And be extremely careful!

Testing gold by reaction to chemicals

The essence of this method is to identify the natural reaction of both gold and other metals that are used to make counterfeits to such chemicals as: iodine, vinegar, acids (each sample of gold or silver has its own) and others.

Vinegar and iodine

In the case of vinegar, everything is quite simple - put your jewelry in a container with vinegar and watch its reaction. If it is a fake, then the metals contained in it will oxidize, which has characteristic signs, but gold will not react to vinegar.

In the case of iodine, everything is exactly the opposite. It will leave stains that cannot be washed off with water on a real gold item, which will not happen if the jewelry is made of copper and brass.

You can remove the formed stain with toothpaste, but this will erase part of the finish, with vinegar essence, but working with it is dangerous due to burns or hyposulfite. If you are unable to clean your jewelry, your only option is to take it to a professional for cleaning.

But this method is not suitable for high-grade gold - it is unlikely to change color.

Special reagents

Testing gold with reagents in the video:

Checking gold with a magnet

Everyone knows from school that gold is not attracted to a magnet. However, iron that may contain a fake may well be drawn to magnetized objects. But brass and copper are also not magnetic, so this method cannot be the only basis for confirming the authenticity of this noble metal. The advantages of the method are ease of execution, the disadvantages are unreliability, unreliability.

External inspection - visual qualities of gold

A fairly simple and effective way to check gold for authenticity at home is to examine it externally. To know how gold of different grades should look correctly, you need to know some of its characteristics. And it will be easier to check gold with a simple glance.

Let's try to understand the generally accepted classifications of this precious metal. Let's start with the definition of the concept of “sample”. Fineness is the name given to the grade of gold, which is determined by the ratio of gold itself and other mixed metals - meth, particles of silver, platinum, nickel, brass.

At the international level, there are 7 sample numbers (999;958;750;585;583;500;375), but in Germany the 333rd sample is also considered accepted. The highest is 999 – it contains 999 g of pure gold per 1 kg. It is advisable to use and store such alloys in financial structures, because it is too soft for making jewelry.

The most common is 585 or 583.

The ratio of alloy metals in percentage terms makes it possible to classify the noble metal according to color into the following categories: White is characterized by the presence of a high percentage of platinum, which makes it very durable and therefore indispensable in jewelry. Yellow is the gold we are used to, its quality and color depend on the amount of copper. Red is “economical gold”, it has the highest percentage of copper, it was used back in Kievan Rus, but has long given way to yellow gold. Pink is gold with equal proportions of copper and silver, even with a slightly higher percentage of silver, which gives it a pinkish tint and makes it very popular among jewelry makers. To confirm the relevance of a more in-depth study of methods for testing gold for authenticity at home, we recommend watching the video How modern fraudsters counterfeit gold. Then you will think about a deeper study of the question of how to reliably test gold for authenticity.

Source: https://blogokop.com/kak-proverit-zoloto-na-podlinnost-v-domashnix-usloviyax.html

How to determine the authenticity of gold? How to correctly identify gold at home? How to test gold with iodine?

Gold is an eternal metal that does not corrode and is easy to process. In mythology, it is considered the concentration of fire and earth. At all times and among many peoples, gold has been the personification of magic and religious worship. The gold rush cost many people their lives because this precious metal has always been the embodiment of wealth and power.

Gold jewelry is considered the best gift and reliable investment. Its price will never fall, but will only rise, because the gold metal is not mined in such large quantities to make it available to everyone.

No person will refuse a gift in the form of a gold ring or chain. Such jewelry can be given for any significant date: birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day, New Year, March 8, or simply to please a loved one for no reason. It is with gold rings that lovers seal their relationship at the official registration of marriage.

How to determine the authenticity of gold jewelry

But whether it’s a gift in the form of gold jewelry or just something purchased from a precious metal in a jewelry store, every person wonders: “has he become a victim of scammers and owns a fake?” How can you determine the authenticity of gold without resorting to a jeweler’s appraisal?

First, you need to make sure that the jewelry contains a sample, the presence of which confirms the value of this precious product. Gold in its pure form is not wear-resistant and does not hold its shape well. It is quite soft and ductile, and in order to give it the necessary reliable characteristics, various impurities were added to this metal, which form a high-quality composition suitable for creating a jewelry masterpiece.

This piece of jewelry is marked with a hallmark so that the buyer knows how much gold metal is present in this product. Such standards were established by special government bodies that control the standards of manufactured products on the gold market.

Understanding such a sign is not difficult: three numbers indicate the percentage of the gold metal relative to impurities. For example, 585 standard stands for 58.5% gold contained in jewelry.

At the moment, the following gold samples exist: 375, 500, 583, 585, 750, 900. 916, 999. This precious metal is used not only to create jewelry, but has other extensive uses: for medical purposes, in dentistry for making crowns, in industry, aviation and many other sectors.

Application of physical and chemical methods

How to correctly identify gold at home? To do this, you need to stock up on simple reagents and try chemical experiments at home. These experiments are available at home:

• How to test gold with iodine? To do this, you need to rub the product being tested with a dry cloth, and then drop a few drops of iodine on it. A high quality piece of jewelry will never darken from this. If within a few minutes after treating the product with iodine it darkens, then this can only mean one thing - the gold jewelry is not real. Also, the stamp stamped on it may not correspond to reality and its quality is much worse and does not agree with the price that the jewelry store claims.
• Using vinegar. You need to pour a small amount of regular balsamic vinegar into a small container. After this, you need to lower the experimental object there for a few minutes and take it out to check for a change in golden color to dark. If such a transformation has occurred, this indicates a fake.
• Applications of gold chloride. This method is not accessible to a wide range of people, but if it is still possible to test the metal with this reagent, then such a simple procedure can be carried out. Having smeared the jewelry being tested with a similar chemical substance, if a dark shade appears on it, which is accompanied by a characteristic hissing sound, this may indicate the purchase of a low-quality precious item.
• Use a lapis pencil, which can be purchased at a pharmacy. This remedy is used to stop bleeding and contains silver nitrate. We moisten the examined ring or chain in water and pass this type of medical device over this object. If the product is of poor quality, it will begin to oxidize.
• Using a magnet. If the fake jewelry has an iron base coated with gold, then a regular magnet will help you find out. He will always attract iron to himself.
• Application of physical laws that can be used on a large gold product. This law is based on placing a given object in water and calculating its density through mathematical calculations due to the amount of water displaced.
• The last method consists of dragging the jewelry across the surface of the ceramic tile. A high-quality precious metal will leave a golden mark, a low-quality precious metal will leave a black mark.

Of course, if one of the experiments carried out can confirm the worst suspicions, an expert opinion is still needed.

Old folk means of verification

You can try a few more simple manipulations to check such metal. For example, to determine the quality of a ring, you can test it using your own hearing. To do this, you need to drop such a decoration onto a flat floor surface from a small height. A person who has fine hearing will hear a melodic ringing when the product comes into contact with the floor slabs.

You can also use the old proven method for testing the strength of gold metal. To do this, you don’t need to damage your teeth and bite it, but simply scratch the jewelry with a sharp object. If there is a base made of cheap material, which is under the coating, you can see the scratches in the depths - a dark color.

Using detection by the sun's rays, the test object will shine equally both in the open sun and in the shade. For another test, you will need black bread, which needs to be softened with water. Then apply it to the product being tested. If it has oxidized due to contact with wet bread, then this decoration is not of good quality.

All of these tools will help answer the question: how to determine whether it is gold or not? But carrying out all these manipulations, you cannot be 100% sure of their correct result. An expert assessment at the end will dispel all doubts.

How to check the authenticity of white gold?

White gold is a compound in one composition: gold and argentine, with the addition of one of the elements palladium, platinum or nickel. This type of precious metal has a steely and slightly golden hue that does not fade over a long period of time. Visually, white gold resembles silver, but in terms of jewelry characteristics, it is a fairly durable and expensive metal.

You can check the quality of this jewelry in several ways at home:

• High resistance to deformation. If you squeeze strongly, the silver jewelry will immediately lose its shape, as it is a more elastic metal. And white gold is very difficult to bend or deform.
• The presence of a mark, which is placed only on gold products.
• For the next experiment, you can use a chlorine-containing product (for example, Whiteness). If such liquid gets on high quality jewelry, its appearance will not change.
• When applying iodine, there will also be no change in shade on a quality product.
• Balsamic vinegar can be used to identify real white gold. When this reagent gets on the surface of an experimental object, changes will immediately occur in the shade of the metal.

The most important thing is that in order not to purchase a fake, you need to buy it in reliable specialized stores that have the appropriate certificates and good reviews from other buyers.

Source: https://hozhelp.ru/poleznye-sovety/kak-opredelit-zoloto-na-podlinnost-kak-pravilno-opredelit-zoloto-v-domashnikh-usloviyakh-kak-proverit-zoloto-jjodom.html

Alloys of gold products

Gold, due to its chemical properties, is a precious and soft metal, and if you do not add other components to it, it will not hold its shape.

In certain proportions they can add:

• platinum,
• silver,
• bronze,
• brass,
• steel.

A sample is placed on gold jewelry, which shows the proportion of gold in the product in relation to other metals. The standard is considered to be 999 gold purity, that is, pure gold.

In the finished jewelry, the maximum proportion of gold is 75 percent, and 25 percent is admixtures of other metals, that is, 750 standard.

For mass sale of gold jewelry, 585 and 375 samples are made. Gold products with 375 samples are made with a lower gold content, usually watches, antiques, and the price of products from such an alloy is lower than those made from 585 gold.

Where to check authenticity?

To check the authenticity of gold, you need to contact an Assay Office for this service, or an expert in a jewelry workshop to get a quality solution.

Most often, gold jewelry is counterfeited by adding metal to the alloy:

• tungsten,
• aluminum,
• copper,
• brass,

Because they are similar in density to gold. They counterfeit it like this: a product is made from tungsten, called a blank, and the top is coated with gold. To understand that it is a fake, you need to drill a hole in the product, after which you will see what is inside.

Authentication at home

Let's look at what methods there are to check the authenticity of gold jewelry at home.

How to test gold with iodine and vinegar

How to perform a check in one minute?

To test gold jewelry at home using iodine, you need to apply one drop of iodine to the inside of the item and leave it for 1 minute.

Using a cotton pad, gently wipe off the iodine. We analyze the color of the metal; if it has not changed, then most likely it is real gold, since it does not react with iodine.

However, if iodine is kept on a gold item for more than two minutes, a reaction may occur; then traces of iodine can be removed using a soap solution.

Everyone also has vinegar at home; it can also help us in checking the authenticity of gold. It is important that it is better not to check jewelry with stones using vinegar, as the acid can ruin them. To do this, you need to put the decoration in vinegar for a short time and watch the reaction.

If the metal has become blacker, then it is most likely not pure gold, but a counterfeit made from base or semi-precious metals.

Ordinary water can also help us check jewelry. Take a glass of water and place gold jewelry in it. If a gold item immediately goes to the bottom of the glass, this means that most of the composition is gold. But this is not a 100% guarantee.

How to check the authenticity of gold at home using a magnet

When using this method, a magnet is used.

As we know, precious metals are not magnetic, so real gold jewelry should not react to a magnet.

But you also need to take into account that metals such as aluminum and copper are also not magnetic and can also be used to counterfeit gold jewelry.

If one of these metals is involved in the deception, then you need to look at the weight of the jewelry, since copper is lighter in weight than gold, and the product as a whole will be lighter.

How to check the quality of gold using a lapis pencil

Easy to use method. The main function of a lapis pencil is to stop bleeding from scratches, warts, and cracks. You can buy it at the pharmacy.

With this pencil you need to draw a stripe on a damp piece of jewelry. Then you erase the strip, and see if there is a trace left, then most likely it is not real gold, but a fake.

How to check the authenticity of gold jewelry using gold

Surely you have a piece of gold jewelry whose authenticity you have no doubt about.

Golden touch

Take real gold jewelry and use it to draw a line on something hard. Do the same steps with the gold jewelry that you doubt. Compare the result, if it is different, then perhaps the gold is fake.

Magnifier

Your gold jewelry can also be checked using a magnifying glass, namely the hallmark. The sample should be clear, with smooth edges.

Reagents

Now stores sell special reagents and substances with acid. There is a separate reagent for testing different metals.

The acid will not react with the precious metal and will not leave any traces on it.

If it's fake, it will be covered in stains.

You also need to keep in mind that all actions must be performed with protective gloves and a mask for safety.

You can test gold jewelry at home using these methods. But if it is a high-quality fake, then professional jewelers can help you find out.

Source: https://kakchistim.ru/uhod-za-veshchami/dragocennosti/kak-proverit-zoloto.html

How to test gold for authenticity at home. 6 ways!

I think that sooner or later a treasure hunter will need to check gold for authenticity at home, where there are no special reagents and instruments. Naturally, jewelers can not only determine the authenticity, but also find out the sample of the precious metal.

Gold is rarely given to us, but if a treasure hunter finds it, it will be a very significant find! And if the item looks like gold or you have doubts when buying jewelry or jewelry secondhand, or even coins, then this article will be useful!

Method 1, “Magnetic”

The simplest fakes are made from the cheapest metals, such as steel. Or the alloy contains a high percentage of ferromagnetic metal impurities. We take a magnet, preferably a more powerful one, and apply it to the product being tested. If it sticks, bad luck. For example, a gold ring may just be iron, simply coated with a thin layer of gold. This method will allow you to distinguish crude fakes from originals or more cunning fakes.

Method 2, “Iodine”

To check the authenticity of a gold item using the following method, you can take iodine. To do this, rub part of the product on a cloth and apply a drop of iodine to it and wait a while. Now you can wash off or wipe off the iodine solution. If there is a dark spot where the drop used to be, then this is a fake! If there is absolutely nothing - the original noble metal.

Method 3, “Vinegar”

Also a chemical method of determining a metal using a reaction. But this time it is not iodine that will react with our gold product, but vinegar. You should take a small jar, pour a solution of acetic acid into it and place gold in it. If it has darkened over time, then it is not gold, and if it has not changed color, it also shines with a noble yellow color - the original!

Method 4, “Lapis”

To test gold using this method, you need to go to the pharmacy and buy a lapis pencil there. Usually, it is used for wounds, sort of to stop bleeding. But we will test the gold for them! We wet our gold (or not) decoration, after which we draw a line, a daw, a dot on the wetted surface with a lapis pencil - it all depends on your imagination  

Source: http://urklad.ru/yuvelirny-e-dela/kak-proverit-zoloto-na-podlinnost-v-domashnih-usloviyah-6-sposobov/

How to determine whether it is gold or not if there is no sample

Before buying a precious metal, and often after it, people think about how to determine gold or not. The market is increasingly making us think about this, because gold mining has decreased significantly, and store shelves are being filled with new goods at the same pace.

Checking the product before purchasing

New stores selling gold appear every day, but not all sellers strive for honest earnings. Cases of purchasing products containing only a small part of gold are becoming more frequent. Fraudsters are finding new ways to bypass inspection services. But how is the sample determined in such cases?

Often only a small part of the product is provided for inspection - it may be a link or lock of a chain made at a high level of quality, but the rest of the product may leave much to be desired.

During the inspection, only the top layer of the product will be assessed, and the rest of the composition remains known only to the manufacturer.

Gold is a fairly soft metal that is prone to rapid abrasion, so high-quality jewelry is usually represented by an alloy based on a noble chemical element. A high-quality alloy, made in accordance with technology, will have high strength and durability without losing its pleasant golden shine.

Before buying gold, you need to check its authenticity

In order not to fall for the tricks of scammers, you need to be more careful before transferring money to the seller. It is enough to know two simple rules:

1. In an effort to save money, you should not purchase gold products from unknown stores. High-quality jewelry is sold only by specialized salons that specialize in the sale of gold and have a good reputation. Of course, prices in such stores will be higher, but the client will always have the opportunity to see a certificate confirming quality.
2. Before you buy, you need to thoroughly study the product you are purchasing. It’s good if the sample together with the manufacturer’s imprint are visible to the naked eye - this is a sign of a quality product. The internal parts of the jewelry must be neat, without major defects, which will indicate the skill of the manufacturer.

Determining the authenticity of gold

There are a number of fairly simple techniques that allow you to identify the authenticity of gold. You can carry out the check yourself, using only available tools. All tests are based on the chemical and physical properties of the noble metal and do not require special preparation to carry them out.

The tricks described below will help you distinguish a crude fake from a high-quality precious metal. But if the fake was made by an experienced fraudster and has some special impurities, then it is better to entrust the verification to an experienced jeweler. In such a situation, only a professional can give a correct assessment of the product.

Determining the quality of jewelry in an apartment can be carried out using one of the following methods:

• sound authentication;
• checking strength characteristics;
• reaction to contact with iodine or vinegar;
• exposure to lapis pencil;
• reaction to a magnet;
• interaction with a high-quality gold product;
• reaction to sunlight.

Each method is good in its own way and is used in certain cases.

Sound check

Many people use this method.

To perform the test, simply pick up a piece of gold jewelry and throw it onto a very hard, flat surface. High-quality gold will produce a clear, ringing sound, similar to crystal.

Experts trust this technique, but note that it is not suitable for everyone. To use this method you need to have a good ear for music. Another disadvantage is the inability to check products such as chains and bracelets with many links. Such jewelry will not produce the required sound.

An ancient way of testing gold for authenticity

Strength test

If there is no sample on the jewelry, and its material is in doubt, then you should use a reliable, so-called old-fashioned testing method.

In the old days, people checked the authenticity of a gold coin “by the tooth.” If, after checking, the coin had a bite mark or a scratch, then it was real.

This is explained by the softness of gold, known from the school curriculum. If a fake was in hand, the inspector could even lose a tooth due to the hardness of the fake.

Of course, you won’t be able to do this in a jewelry store, but you can check already purchased items in this way. Just don't bite them - this can cause damage to your teeth.

It is enough to use some sharp object to scratch the product on the back side. The fake gold will become dark or completely black under the scratch, while real gold will retain its hue.

Before conducting the experiment, you need to choose a place where the scratches will not be visible, so as not to spoil the appearance of the jewelry.

Iodine-vinegar experiments

Iodine is often used when testing gold at home, as it is one of the most reliable methods. In addition, iodine can be easily purchased at any pharmacy.

To carry out the test, one drop is enough, which is placed on the back of the jewelry for 3 minutes. After time, the iodine is carefully removed from the surface with a soft material. Real gold will not react, so the surface of the metal will remain unchanged.

With a low-quality product, iodine will react, leaving a stain ranging from light to very dark shades. If there is no iodine in the medicine cabinet, then a similar experiment can be carried out using vinegar. The decoration or part of it is placed in vinegar for a certain period of time. If the metal darkens, it means the jewelry is fake.

There is also a third test method using chemistry. You will need gold chloride. It is applied to the surface of the product being tested. Real gold will not react, but fake gold will begin to hiss or darken.

You can check the authenticity of gold using a lapis pencil

Exposure to a magnet

Nowadays, it is rare to come across scammers who apply thin gold plating on top of other metals. Previously, this method of deception was popular, so home collections may still contain similar jewelry. Before checking the product, you need to find a magnet in the house.

The fake is magnetic, but real gold will not react.

This method is not effective if the basis for the counterfeit is aluminum, copper or bronze. These metals do not react to magnets, so they do not allow you to reliably verify the authenticity of the jewelry.

Interaction with other gold

In every home you can find gold products that have a good reputation. Such a piece of jewelry could be passed down for generations or is of great value without raising doubts about its quality. A similar script will allow you to check any other gold product. The best effect can be achieved if both jewelry is made of metal with the same purity.

Using jewelry, you need to draw two stripes on a hard object using equal effort. But how do you recognize real gold? The trace from the same metals is practically no different, so by comparing the two features one can draw the appropriate conclusions.

In the sun and in the shade, true gold does not lose its shine

Reaction to sunlight

This is another simple method for determining gold. To check, you will need to select a sunny day. It is better to carry out the test outside so that the product gets good direct sunlight.

The controversial decoration must first be examined in the shade, and then taken out into the sun. The shine and color should not differ in both cases. Fake jewelry in the shade fades significantly and loses its presentable appearance, which appears in the sun.

To make the most accurate conclusions, it is better to use several verification methods at once. If after the tests you still have doubts, then you need to contact a jewelry workshop, where for a small fee a master will determine the authenticity of the product with 100% accuracy.

BEST LOANS OF THIS MONTH

Source: https://fintolk.ru/o-raznom/kak-opredelit-zoloto-ili-net-esli-net-proby.html

How to determine the authenticity of gold using iodine, vinegar, ammonia, water

With the advent of new technologies and cheaper materials, it has become much easier and cheaper to produce fake gold jewelry.

Naturally, it is better to buy gold jewelry new in a store. When purchasing, ask for a quality certificate and trade permit. Running into a fake is reduced to zero.

What to do if you find, give, or offer a beautiful ring or earrings from someone else? There are cases when gold is used to pay for services and is offered in exchange for something. And at the same time it is less valuable than in the store.

In these cases, it will not be superfluous to have instructions on how to check whether it is gold or not at home, using accessible means.

Visual inspection

Visual inspection boils down to checking the markings of the gold product. You need to find a sample and a distinctive sign of the manufacturer. The original product has all the details, the numbers are easy to read, and the stamping depth is the same. The size is barely readable.

At the top is a fake, at the bottom is a real gold ring.

Large numbers, the absence of a manufacturer's mark, and different depths of numbers should alert you. It is better to refuse such jewelry and not make a purchase.

How to test gold with iodine

Attention! Do not test on visible areas of the jewelry.

For the test you need a bottle of iodine and a cotton swab. Apply a little iodine to a small area, watch the reaction of the drop:

• On a real gold item, iodine will not change its original color. The droplet size will remain virtually unchanged.
• Other metals that are passed off as gold will react with iodine. The drop will begin to discolor and decrease in size until it dries completely.

Just applied a drop of iodine. On the fake, the drop became lighter, but the original (dark) shade of iodine remained on the gold.

After waiting about a minute, remove any remaining iodine.

• A real gold piece should have a dark stain.
• On the fake there is a white spot, even a sort of whitening of the area where iodine was applied.

A drop of iodine was wiped away. There was a light spot on the fake, a dark spot on the gold.

To remove iodine stains, use a 30 percent sodium hyposulfite solution. Polish with toothpaste.

Lapis pencil test

Silver nitrate, a lapis pencil, does not show any reaction on real gold.

To check, you need to moisten the tip of a clumsy pencil and run it over the sample being tested.

• Jewelry made from genuine gold will not change color where it comes into contact with a pencil.
• The fake will be revealed by darkening.

A blackened area on a fake from exposure to a lapis pencil (Stilus Lapidis).

Test with ammonia and vinegar

The method is similar to those carried out above - we check the reaction of the decoration to ammonia and vinegar.

For the test you need a cotton swab. We wet the stick in ammonia and rub it over the decoration being tested.

• No reaction is observed on the gold product; the color of the stick remains white.
• Ammonia will oxidize other metals. The fake will show itself by changing the color of the cotton swab. The stick takes on a distinct blue tint. Dark spots may appear on the fake.

Reaction of gold and counterfeit to ammonia.

To test with vinegar, you need to immerse the jewelry being tested in vinegar.

Stop! Don't waste time and vinegar on this test.

The method is not suitable for testing at home. The concentration of vinegar sold in stores is negligible to react with metals.

Water test, Archimedes method

For the test you need: high-precision scales, thread, measuring cup, water (distilled will give a more accurate result), a table of the density of materials.

Density of precious metals:

Density/p	9 — 10	11 — 12	12 — 14	14 — 17	19,3
Metal/sample	Silver	Gold/375, 500	Gold/583, 585	Gold/750	Gold/999

To make gold jewelry, an alloy of gold and other metals is used. To indicate the percentage of gold, jewelry is marked with a hallmark. The higher the standard, the more expensive the jewelry. Also, the higher the percentage of gold content, the higher the density of the entire product.

Archimedes' method is based on these features. How to take measurements:

1. Weigh the product (m).
2. Find the volume - put a glass of water on the scale, reset the weight (the scale should read 0). We lower the product being tested into the water on a rope (without touching the walls and bottom), and record the readings (v).
3. Carry out the calculation using the formula - p = m / v.
4. The resulting density (p) is compared with the table (density of precious metals).

For clarity, check out the video on density measurement:



How a pawn shop checks gold for authenticity

For each sample, a special acid is used, this is how a fake and sample of a gold product is detected.

The technique is as follows:

1. The product is passed over a silicon slate stone (something like an emery stone). Small particles of the sample being tested remain on the surface of the stone.
2. Depending on the gold purity, a drop of a certain acid is added.
3. They look at the result, which appears instantly: a good sample will not dissolve in acid, a bad one will dissolve partially, and the fake will disappear completely.

In more detail, the process of determining the sample and authenticity of gold products in the video:

Source: https://kachestvoved.ru/kak-proverit-zoloto-v-domashnix-usloviyax.html