How to understand whether a gold ring is gold or not

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:

Weigh the product (m).
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).
Carry out the calculation using the formula - p = m / v.
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:

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.
Depending on the gold purity, a drop of a certain acid is added.
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

12 ways to check gold for authenticity

iPhones are iPhones, but there are also more eternal values. How to check whether they are offering you real gold or a cheap fake? You can’t drown him in royal vodka!

We tell you how to avoid being deceived when buying gold and how to check its authenticity.

1. Look at the sample

Factory products always have a standard stamp with a hallmark. Fineness is the number of grams of pure metal in the alloy; the lower it is, the worse the quality.

According to Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 6, 2016 No. 394, all alloys in which more than 30% of the weight is precious metal must be stamped with hallmark. Standard samples for gold are 375 (lowest), 500, 583, 585, 750, 916, 958, 999 (highest - only 1 g of impurities per 1 kg of metal).

In the USA and Canada, carat hallmarks are used (9 carats correspond to the 375th hallmark, 24 carats correspond to the 999th). Moreover, the letter K next to the numbers means that the product itself is gold, and KGP means that it is plated with gold (karat gold plated).

In Belgium, gold samples are designated by numbers: 1 – 833, 2 – 750, 3 – 585. A similar system works in the Czech Republic and Slovakia: 0 – 999, 1 – 986, 2 – 900, 3 – 750, 4 – 585.

Examining a sample is often difficult. Use your smartphone in macro mode, then enlarge the photo and look at the sample in detail. The mark should not be crooked or blurry. This is, if you like, a passport of the product, so they are very careful when applying it.

2. Smell the product

Gold items should not have a smell. Even silver has a characteristic metallic smell, but gold does not.

3. Take a closer look at the joints

On bracelets or chains, you can often notice a difference in color between the metal of the link itself and its joints. This is because when soldering gold, they use solder of a higher standard - it melts more easily.

If you see a difference in color, everything is OK, the gold is real. If not, you should carefully check the product in other ways.

4. Attach a magnet

Plating steel or other alloys with a high iron content with gold or its imitation is a common practice. Only ferromagnets are strongly magnetic - iron, cobalt, nickel, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium.

Dimagnets (for example, water or table salt) and paramagnets (aluminum, etc.) are weakly magnetic. All non-ferrous metal is not magnetic.

If it happens on the beach or in places where tourists gather, buy the cheapest magnet in a souvenir shop and attach it to the product. If it sticks, it’s definitely a fake or the metal is of too low standard (too many iron impurities). If not, perform other checks.

5. Test with vinegar

Tell the seller that you will test the gold with vinegar. Are you nervous? There’s no need to run to the grocery store anymore. But a professional who is confident in his product will not sweat it.

Fake gold quickly darkens in vinegar - just pour a little into a glass and hold the metal in it for about five minutes. But real high-grade metal doesn’t care about anything.

6. Drop some iodine

Rub the product on jeans or other thick fabric, then drop iodine on this place on the metal. High standard gold does not darken. If the metal has darkened (this may appear within a minute), the product is not genuine or the standard is not too high.

But brass and copper do not change color from iodine either. So this testing method is good for high-grade gold, but it is not enough on its own.

We do not recommend testing products with iodine levels of 585 or lower. After iodine, you will definitely have to polish them or remove stains with ammonia; traces may remain.

7. Draw with lapis pencil

A lapis pencil is needed to stop the bleeding. This is an antiseptic based on silver nitrate, it can be bought at a pharmacy, it costs about 100-150 rubles.

To check the authenticity of gold, soak the item in water. Then, using a lapis pencil, draw a small line over the wet one and wipe it off.

Lapis does not react with gold, but does react with other metals. If a trace remains, then the gold is fake or of very low standard. Nothing will happen to genuine metal.

8. Look for gold in the sun and shade

Objects made of real gold shine equally strongly both in the shade and in direct sunlight. Admire the product in different lighting.

If in doubt, take an object that is definitely made of gold and compare the intensity of the shine.

9. Test with black bread

The method is safe (for real gold!), but slow. Take the crumb of black bread, remember, mix with water and stick the mixture onto the product. Leave it until the bread crumb turns into a dry crust, then break it apart.

If there are dark traces inside the crumb, it means the fake has oxidized. If not, then it is either gold or good gilding.

10. Run gold over tile or unglazed porcelain.

On unfired ceramic tiles or porcelain that is not glazed, gold will leave gold marks. After counterfeiting, the marks are gray or black.

Just draw with inconspicuous parts - fasteners, fasteners, so that it is not so noticeable. Gold may leave no traces at all on fired tiles.

11. Go to a pawn shop

In the pawn shop there are professionals who have an eye for gold. Invite the seller who wants to sell gold off his hands to go there with you - they say, let them evaluate the product.

The service costs 500 rubles, rarely more. But if you pretend to be a potential client, you can get an estimate for free (then you’ll pretend that you’ve changed your mind about selling).

12. Go to a jeweler

Jewelers not only determine the quality of gold items by eye, but also have special instruments for this. For example, a device with the otherworldly name “DeMon-U” will not only distinguish real gold from a fake, but will also indicate the sample.

The check will cost a maximum of 1000 rubles, often less.

Don't try it on your teeth!

Gold is a soft metal, so if you squeeze it hard with your teeth, marks will appear. Agree, the seller will not like it and will force you to buy.

Athletes test their medals for the sake of photos. Moreover, gold medals are actually just gold plated.

By the way, fake aluminum behaves exactly the same way, so if the seller insists on a “teeth test”, don’t be fooled.

On the other hand, only a new product does not have even small scratches on the surface. If a person claims to be selling his used gold, but it appears to have only come from a factory, something is wrong here.

conclusions

If you buy gold secondhand or from an unverified store, use as many methods as possible to ensure the authenticity of the product. The main thing is not to try too hard, so as not to spoil the soft metal.

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Source: https://www.iphones.ru/iNotes/12-sposobov-proverit-zoloto-na-podlinnost-07-08-2018

How to distinguish gold from fake at home?

If you want to know how to distinguish gold from a fake, then this material will be useful to you. How can you identify fake gold yourself without turning to jewelers?

Firstly, you need to know the characteristics of gold as a metal, and secondly, you don’t have to run to a specialized store; you can do several steps to determine the authenticity of the metal right at home.

How to distinguish gold from fake? 10 ways

Before choosing one of the methods, you need to know about the hallmarks that are placed on gold and the features of this noble metal.

Try

Each gold item has a hallmark or hallmark. Seeing a sample is not so difficult, but if you take a magnifying glass and look through it, you can clearly see the sample number, carat weight or other special designations that indicate the authenticity of the product (for example, markings of a jewelry factory or something else).

For each piece of jewelry there are certain standards for the location of samples. Where should they be:

Earrings - with a clasp;

Rings - on the inner rim;

Bracelet with clasp;

Stud earrings - the stem of the product or clasp;

Clock - inner side of the lid;

Products with an English lock - lock shackle.

What do the test numbers mean? For example, 999 is the highest standard of pure gold. But the 585 sample is very common in jewelry stores and pawnshops, and it means that in addition to gold, there are other metals in it. That is, it is gold with impurities; people say it is an alloy.

Characteristics of gold

In order to identify real gold, you need to know about its characteristics and what it looks like. Guided by this knowledge, it will be easier for you to choose jewelry, because iodine, magnet or vinegar is not always at hand on the market. How to check whether it is real or not?

Sound

If you throw a ring on a table, it will make a characteristic ringing sound, similar to the ringing of crystal. Using an empty glass or glass, you can achieve the same sound by throwing a ring into it and listening to how clear the ringing is. But alas, this is difficult to do with other products.

Bite (strength test)

Gold is an inherently soft metal, which means it will definitely leave dents from your teeth. The deeper the dents, the higher the gold purity. But there is a drawback here - lead is also soft, so this method also does not provide a 100% guarantee.

Color

But we do not recommend identifying gold by color. It not only comes in different shades of yellow, but also white, red or pink.

How to check whether it is real or not? There are 10 ways to identify real gold. We do not recommend choosing one method. To be sure, choose two or three, or preferably four.

Ceramics

For this test method, we need a ceramic plate without a glazed coating (tiles are also suitable). Is there one like this on the farm? Then this option will work!

Take a plate and decoration.

We pass the decoration along the plate, lightly pressing the product.

Let's look at the result. If there is a black mark left, the jewelry is fake; if it is golden, authenticity is guaranteed.

We handle gold carefully, as it can be severely scratched during testing. And don’t forget that sometimes products are plated with gold only on the outside, while inside you can find copper, brass, and other metals. So it’s better to check the products with several options.

Vinegar

If you put jewelry in a glass of vinegar, it will not have any effect on gold, but it can oxidize other metals. By omitting the gold, the vinegar will remain just as transparent, but other metals, when oxidized, can make the liquid cloudy and darken.

Iodine

A good old way to check the authenticity of gold. Apply a drop of iodine solution to the inner surface (if possible) and observe. If the product does not change color in this place, then it is gold. And if the color changes to gray or black, we consider the product to be fake.

Magnet

If you have a real magnet, then feel free to throw it in your pocket when going to a jewelry store. It is important to note that refrigerator magnets or thin magnetic tapes will not work. You need to purchase a thick, good magnet, which is used when working with metals.

As a result, you need to remember that gold is not attracted, and if the product is attracted, then its authenticity is doubtful, it is rather a low-quality alloy.

Be careful, tin and aluminum will not react to a magnet, but they weigh very little, so be sure to weigh the product. And, for example, copper will be slightly attracted to the magnetic surface.

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Nitric acid

This method is high quality, but a little complicated. It must be done at home.

For the test, you need to take a metal dish without visible stains.

Place the product on the bottom.

Take a pipette, collect nitric acid and drop 1 drop onto the product.

If it has a greenish tint, you have metal in front of you. The color of the milk is an alloy of gold with impurities. The product has not changed color - pure gold.

Black bread

A popular method that takes a couple of days of your time.

Take a crumb of black bread.

Roll the crumb in such a way that the product is inside the bread.

Leave it for a couple of days.

When you break it, the gold will not change color, but the metal will darken and oxidize.

Pharmacy pencil

But not just from a pharmacy, but lapis. It is used to stop bleeding and treat wounds. It is sold in every pharmacy.

Wet the gold.

Draw a pencil over the surface.

Pat dry with a towel.

You won’t find any traces on the gold; a pencil mark will remain on the fake.

Needle

The needle will help determine whether the product is gold or gold plated. You need to scratch the jewelry item and look for scratches. If they are present and the gilding is peeling off the item, then you are holding a fake, but if there are no scratches, then the item is real.

If you are not afraid of damaging the gold item, take a metal nail file and scratch the item. The result is the same as after the needle.

Sun

The authenticity of gold is also checked outside on a bright sunny day. But this method cannot be relied upon with 100% certainty.

Examine the decoration in the shade.

Take it out into the sun and look again. The original does not change its luster and color; other metals may change depending on the lighting.

Archimedes' method

This method is not easy and takes a certain amount of time and effort.

Take a deep bowl and measure its volume.

Pour enough water into the bowl so that when you lower the product, water begins to pour out.

According to Archimedes' law, a buoyant force acts on a thing that is lowered into water, which is equal to the weight of the water itself in the volume of the product in the water. The density of water is 900 kg per 1 m3 cubed. Using this formula we calculate the mass of gold.

The problem has an asterisk, but this method was often previously used in determining the authenticity of a product.

What is the difference between gold and gilding?

The decoration consists entirely of gold alloy - both inside and outside. Gilding is only the top layer of the product. The product is made from another metal, and only gold is sprayed on top, so some of the methods described above are not suitable for determining authenticity (for example, methods for determining authenticity in the sun or using iodine).

Gilding is most easily determined using the needle or nail file method, which were described above. The top layer is easy to wash off. And if there is yellow metal inside, run it across the ceramic, it will definitely leave a black mark.

It is also important to know that gold-plated products are not hallmarked, so they are easy to distinguish. But the sample is not a guarantee of quality; it is placed on individual parts of the product. Therefore, read on, how not to be deceived by scammers in the gold market?

about how to identify real gold.

How to avoid becoming a victim of scammers?

In the modern world, some scammers manage to send only part of the jewelry, such as a clasp, for examination and confirmation. The jeweler checks the product and, of course, tests it, since the metal on the clasp meets the standards. The clasp is returned to the seller and he embeds it into a low quality counterfeit piece of jewelry.

There are certain rules on how to avoid falling into the clutches of scammers. By following them, you guarantee yourself peace of mind and the purchase of truly gold products.

Choose your stores carefully. You should not buy gold in small shops or pawn shops. Check the quality certificates and don’t believe them if they convince you that samples and stamps are not stamped abroad. Not a single piece of jewelry can cross the border without samples and documents.

Sample 583. This sample was set in Soviet times, that is, there are practically no fakes. Do not be alarmed if you are offered the purchase of such a product. This is a quality item, buy without hesitation.

A copper product can be distinguished from gold using the “Strength Test” method. Copper leaves a coppery taste in the mouth. Gold has no aftertaste. Copper also oxidizes quickly and darkens over time.

Often on the shelves we see jewelry made from an alloy of titanium and gold. In fact, there is only one name, since such jewelry does not contain a single gram of gold.

Price. You should not think that the price of gold cannot be lower than your ideas about gold. The pricing policy varies based on the weight of the jewelry, the country of its manufacturer, the size and complexity of the product.

The most common samples are 585 and 750. They are easy to decipher. 585 means that the product contains 58.5% gold, respectively, in jewelry 750 samples - 75% of the noble metal. But when you are in Turkey, do not believe a single sample. They put whatever sample they want there.

Unevenness, roughness, scratches, chips, poorly printed sample, uneven color - all these are indicators of low-quality products.

It should be understood that you are unlikely to see gold in its pure form anywhere in a store or pawnshop. You shouldn’t chase 999 fineness, it’s not practical at least from the point of view that gold is a soft metal. If you wear a ring made of pure gold, you will bend it on the very first day you hold the handrail on public transport.

Source: https://originalpoddelka.ru/dragocennosti/zoloto/

Gold - we check for authenticity with water

Gold is one of the most coveted precious metals on Earth. It is used not only in the production of jewelry, but also in various fields of science, in the production of technology, and various equipment.

Gold in its pure form is rarely used, as it is a soft, ductile material. It is usually mixed with other metals to form alloys. In jewelry, quality is assessed by the gold content of the product. For this purpose, a sample in the form of a stamp is used.

Fineness 999 means almost pure gold, without impurities.

For the most part, gold jewelry contains hallmarks of 585 and 583. 585 standard means that the product contains 58.5% gold and 41.5% admixture of other metals. The deception in the production of gold jewelry is to indicate, for example, 585 standard, but in fact there will be much less gold. There are also complete fakes, when the product does not contain a single percentage of gold. How can you determine whether you have gold in front of you or not?

How to test gold at home

There are several methods:

With the help of iodine.
You will need iodine, a cotton swab and something sharp (knife, needle file, file, etc.). Lightly, in an inconspicuous place, preferably from the inside, scrape a little of the product being tested. If the product is clean, you can do without scraping the top layer. Next, dip a cotton swab in iodine and anoint the chip. Now observe the behavior of the iodine drop. If the drop immediately begins to turn white and evaporate, it’s a fake. On real gold, a drop of iodine remains dark in color and does not evaporate for a long time. Next, wipe off any remaining iodine, if any remains. If the place where the iodine was turned black, then this is real gold. On a fake decoration, the place turns white. The blackened area needs to be cleaned as soon as possible. At home, gold can be cleaned with toothpaste. In more detail and visually how to carry out this test, see the video below:

Check with ammonia. The principle of the method is the same as using iodine. The only thing is that you don’t need to drip ammonia, but rub it over the product being tested for 15 seconds. No reactions will occur with real gold. Other metals will reveal themselves by turning black, and the cotton swab will turn blue.
On the left - a stick soaked in ammonia, turned blue from interaction with fake gold. On the right - the cotton wool is clean, after contact with real gold.

Lapis pencil (antiseptic containing silver nitrate, sold in pharmacies). The pencil reacts chemically with almost all metals except gold. Anoint the jewelry. Gold will not change color, fakes will darken. The method is also not very relevant if you have low-grade gold in front of you.
On the left - the fake has turned black. On the right is real gold.

The above methods for determining gold at home are only suitable for distinguishing crude fakes. The best method is using iodine and ammonia. To determine impurities, laboratory tests are suitable or you can contact a pawnshop.

How to check gold in a pawnshop

Gold buyers test gold jewelry with acids. First, gold is passed over a touchstone (silicon slate), and depending on the sample on the product, a certain acid is used. A little bit of metal remains on the stone, and a drop of acid is dropped onto it. The fake will evaporate under the influence of acid, and traces of real gold will remain in place.

The first thing they do in a pawnshop is examine the sample. It must be clear in all corners and bear the manufacturer's mark. Then the specialist places the jewelry on the magnet. This is such a quick method to eliminate gross fakes. Gold is not magnetic, but if another metal is plated with gold, it will be attracted to the magnet. Well, then the specialist uses chemistry to determine the quality of the product.

How to find out the hallmark of a gold product at home: Archimedes' method

To carry out the test, we will need electronic scales, a calculator, and water. The method is based on Archimedes' law, according to which we determine the density of the product and compare it with the standard. To calculate, we need to know the weight of the product and the weight of the displaced liquid. Then perform a mathematical operation and compare it with the table of metal densities. More similar, it is described in the video - how to determine real gold and its purity by water:

Precious metal density table:

metal Silver Gold 375, 500 Gold 583, 585 Gold 750 Gold 999

density 9 — 10 11 — 12 12 — 14 14 — 17 19,3

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Source: https://prokachestvo.ru/kak-proverit-zoloto.html

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.

lapis pencil

A lapis pencil, which you can find in a pharmacy, is also suitable for this method. To check the authenticity of gold using this method, wet the jewelry and try to leave a dot on it. Nothing will happen to real gold.

The advantages of the method are: high accuracy of results (with certain conditions described above), reliability. Disadvantages - you can permanently ruin the appearance of the product, and this method is also more dangerous in certain cases.

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.

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

How to check whether a ring is gold or not: 7 methods for checking gold

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The demand for jewelry made from gold continues to grow steadily every year. Due to the impressive cost of products made from this metal, they are often counterfeited, and the likelihood of purchasing a product of poor quality is quite high. Many people often encounter situations throughout their lives when they need to know the quality of a gold accessory.

You can independently find out the quality of such a product by slightly filing it with a file . If a darker layer is visible under the shiny light layer, it is a fake.

People with sensitive ears can try to determine the authenticity of gold jewelry by sound. It is recommended to throw the accessory onto a hard glass surface and listen carefully to the sound. Real gold sounds clear and clear (the sound resembles crystal). The fakes make a clanging sound. It is advisable to compare the sound of a new product with an existing one, the quality of which cannot be doubted.

There are several simple and repeatedly proven methods by which you can determine the quality of gold jewelry. For this purpose, you can use one of the options below.

Using a magnet

To check jewelry in this way, you need to bring a strong magnet to it. If the jewelry contains a significant amount of iron impurities, it will be attracted to the magnet. But this method cannot be called reliable.

If the jewelry does not stick to the magnet, this does not mean that it is 100% gold. Fraudsters often use aluminum, bronze and copper, which are not magnetic, when making counterfeits.

For softness

One of the main properties of this metal is softness. You can scratch the accessory from the inside with pressure using a pin or other sharp object. A mark will remain on the noble metal. In some cases, it may be slightly bitten by the teeth. This way the softness of the product will be felt better and a dent from the bite will appear on it.

Reference! Pure gold is a very soft metal, not particularly resistant to wear and external influences, so jewelry is usually made from an equally beautiful, but much more durable alloy.

If you carefully examine the joints of the jewelry, the color of the metal in these areas will be slightly different (it will be brighter). This is explained by the fact that jewelry is soldered with gold solder, which has a higher standard, because it melts more easily. This sign indicates that the gold is real.

By smell

To determine the quality of a gold accessory, you can smell it. If the smell of metal is clearly felt, it is a fake. High-quality gold products have no odor, unlike, for example, silver, which has a characteristic metallic odor.

Hallmark

It is always necessary to carefully consider the mark. Gold jewelry must be affixed with a corresponding stamp indicating the manufacturer and gold purity in digital terms.

In accordance with generally accepted requirements, the sample is placed in the following places:

on rings - inside the jewelry (on rings with a stone or with figured additions, the sample is usually placed in the middle);

on stud earrings - on a clasp or directly on the stem;

on earrings with an English lock - on the outer or inner side of the bow;

on bracelets and chains - mainly with a clasp;

on a gold watch - directly from the inside of the dial itself (if both the dial and the strap are made of gold, the hallmark is placed inside the clasp).

Reference! The higher the purity, the more gold the product contains.

In all the variety of methods for determining the quality of gold products, the two options below are considered to be the best.

Vinegar and iodine

Testing a gold item with vinegar is one of the most common and fastest methods. To do this, the product must be immersed in a container with vinegar for a short time (5 minutes). If the gold item darkens as a result, this is a sign of a fake.

Iodine is considered to be the best marker for gold. When a drop of iodine is applied to real gold, a chemical reaction occurs between them and a stain is formed. Apart from gold, no metal reacts with iodine. Sometimes to check it is necessary to thoroughly wipe the surface of a product made of such metal.

Remove the stain resulting from such a check

Source: https://tkaner.com/aksessuary/koltso/kak-proverit-koltso-zolotoe-ili-net/

How to distinguish gold from gilding: 7 accurate ways to check, video

A sign of the times is the emergence of more and more jewelry stores, their number is steadily growing, and the quality of the jewelry products offered is increasingly being questioned. But they are made quite skillfully. Even experts cannot always guarantee the authenticity of precious items.

In addition, only a small specific segment of the jewelry is subject to inspection. Having superficially checked the product (no more is required from him), the expert confirms its authenticity and the fake, containing a minimum of pure metal, is sent for sale to the store.

Nobody wants to become a victim of deception and give money for fake jewelry. Then it makes sense to learn how to identify pure gold from counterfeit yourself. First of all, you need to know something about gold itself and its characteristics. Additionally, here you will receive some tips on how to distinguish gold from gilding.

Gold: what is it?

Rare earth precious metal yellow in color. Does not oxidize and does not lose its properties over time. Due to its plasticity and softness, it can be easily processed using both cold and melting methods. Its softness does not allow it to be used as jewelry in its pure form.

To make jewelry, harder metals are added to give it hardness, such as silver or copper. All so-called gold jewelry are alloys.

Any jeweler is well aware of the ratio of gold in the alloy. Some of them, especially unburdened by conscience, use this knowledge for their own selfish purposes. But there are some rules that can help determine whether the gold you are being offered is real or a cheap fake.

Buy gold only in reputable jewelry stores operated by jewelry factories, but not in boutiques and small stalls. The cost will, of course, be more expensive, but there will be less risk of buying a fake.

You may be interested in: All about gold in Dubai: where and how can you buy it?

A real ingot must be marked with data about the sample. A careful study of the tag will tell you about the manufacturer, the price per gram and for the entire jewelry as a whole, weight, sample. There must be an OTK stamp. The sample indicates the content of pure gold in the jewelry.

The most popular are 585 and 750. This means that they contain 58.5% and 75% pure gold, respectively. When the sample is found, you should carefully examine the clasp of the bracelet or earring. If there are scratches on them, then you should not take this product.

The reason here is the following. In bracelets, chains and earrings, the sample is placed on the clasps. And suppliers only send locks for inspection and, after inspection, calmly place them on gold-plated fakes.

Finally, you should find the logo or imprint of the manufacturing company on the reverse side of the jewelry. The method described now relates to the visual assessment of gold.

But this is also not an indicator of reliability, since in Turkey, for example, they can give you any test before your eyes. Yes, and not only there. A fuzzy, blurry sample is the first sign of a fake; such gold should not be taken. The second detail that you should pay attention to is the inside of the product, which should be perfectly mirror-like, without any irregularities or roughness.

How to distinguish pure gold from gilding?

Now about how to recognize a fake from pure metal.

have long been known :

To the sound . You need to throw the product onto any perfectly smooth, hard surface. For example, a table. Pure, crystal ringing will testify to pure gold. However, this method is not suitable for chains and bracelets.

"On the tooth" . This method has been around as long as gold. It was also used by our ancestors, who literally tested the authenticity of real metal. A fake is always solid. If you scratch it, then under the top layer of gold there will be a dark-colored alloy.

Vinegar test . When placed in vinegar or treated with vinegar (drop it on the jewelry), real gold will remain unchanged. The fake will darken in two minutes.

Iodine test . Drop onto the surface of the product. Real gold will not react to this in any way. The fake will have a light to black stain.

Pencil to stop bleeding (lapis pencil) . Moisten the surface a little and apply a line. The gold will not react, and the fake will instantly oxidize and darken.

The solar way . The simplest authentication method. Examine the jewelry in the shade and immediately take it out into the sunlight and examine it again. Real gold will shine equally in the shade and in the sun. The fake looks dull and faded in the shade, but shines in the sun.

Gilding is quickly determined with silver nitrate (can be purchased at a pharmacy). The surface of the product, previously moistened with water, must be wiped with a cotton wool moistened with silver nitrate. The gold will not react and the gold-plated surface will darken.

You may be interested in: Is it possible to magnetize gold?

Now you know how to distinguish gold from gilding or fake. The described methods are quite enough to be able to independently determine the authenticity of your gold jewelry.

Source: http://VseoZolote.ru/interesno/otlichit-zoloto-ot-pozoloty.html

How to check gold for authenticity and against counterfeiting at home

There is a situation in every person’s life when he needs to check the authenticity of a piece of jewelry at home. Moreover, in the modern world, fraudsters have learned to counterfeit gold jewelry in such a way that not every professional can recognize a skillful fake. Let's look at the 14 most popular ways to test gold at home.

How to distinguish gold from fake

Of course, the surest way to distinguish gold from a fake is to go to a jeweler. Only he can give a 100% guarantee. However, many jewelry workshops charge a sum of money for examination, often equal to the price of the product. If you are not ready to throw money away, try doing it yourself using one of the suggested methods.

By the tooth

One of the easiest ways to verify the authenticity of gold jewelry is the method of our ancestors. You just need to bite him. Real precious metal will always leave teeth marks. The danger of this experiment is that it may damage your teeth and the appearance of your jewelry. Sometimes fakes contain very hard metals.

Advantages of the method:

very easy to implement method.

Minuses:

There are many other soft metals besides gold;

low verification accuracy;

risk of damage to the jewelry.

Stamp and hallmark

Hold the piece of jewelry you want to check. Each gold product has a quality mark - hallmark. In order to see it, you will most likely need a magnifying glass.

According to worldwide requirements, the sample is placed in the following places:

On chains and bracelets, the test is placed on the clasp.

On earrings with an English lock, the stamp is on the outer or inner side of the clasp - the bow.

On rings, look for a stamp on the inside; if the ring has a stone or has a figured addition, the hallmark should be in the middle.

On a gold watch, the hallmark is located on the inside of the dial itself. In the case where the watch is made entirely of gold (both the dial and the strap), the sample is placed inside the clasp.

On stud earrings, the sample is on the clasp, or on the stem itself.

Important: the hallmark always accurately indicates the gold purity in numbers, for example, 585.

Interesting fact! In stores we almost always buy 585 gold. However, no one knows that the standard of pure gold without admixtures of other metals is 999. All other samples indicate an alloy. The higher the purity, the more gold it contains.

Pros:

high accuracy of verification of gold jewelry not purchased secondhand.

verification requires additional tools;

no harm to the product.

Minuses:

Fraudsters have long learned to counterfeit jewelers' marks.

Color and sound

In order to check the quality of gold jewelry at home, you just need to throw it on a flat table surface:

Real gold should ring like crystal. Its sound should be very clear.

You can conduct a sound test only with small jewelry: earrings, brooches and rings. Bracelets and watches are not suitable for this experiment.

The table can be replaced with a glass cup.

Identifying gold by appearance can be quite difficult. Its color often depends on its subspecies. There is white, yellow, red and rose gold in the world. Moreover, alloys of some less valuable metals give a golden color.

The main external sign of a fake is an excessively yellow color. However, there are also pitfalls here: Turkish gold also has a rich yellow color.

Checking with improvised means

Of course, checking using the above methods does not always give a 100% guarantee that what you are looking at is not a fake. Perhaps you did the experiment incorrectly (you didn’t see the sample or the top covering of the table turned out to be too soft) or you still doubt the quality of the gold product.

Then the following available means will come to the rescue: iodine, vinegar and ordinary black bread. Read on to learn how to check.

Scratch with a needle

You can also check the authenticity of a gold item using a regular needle. To do this, you need to forcefully scrape the jewelry being tested with a needle. Nothing will happen to real gold. But the gilding will come off easily.

Contact with gold

Every person has a gold item, the authenticity of which he has no doubt:

In order to carry out the test, you need to: draw a line with real gold on a hard surface.

Carry out a similar action on the same surface and with the object you doubt.

There should be no differences between the lines.

You can purchase a special jewelry set with samples of different metals. This way you will determine not only the authenticity of the gold, but also its quality.

Ceramic tile

If you have untreated ceramic tiles at home, you can use them as a gold test:

To do this, you need to run various metals and the product you want to test over the tile.

The trail from it should be golden. Other metals will leave behind black and gray streaks.

Reaction to the sun

For this method of verification, you will have to work a little with nature. A bright sunny day is required:

First, carefully examine the product being tested in the shade. Remember how it shines, what color it is.

Now we do the same under direct sunlight. Standing on the street, look how bright and presentable the product looks.

Real gold never loses its appearance in any weather conditions.

Tips and tricks

Every year the price of gold increases. Along with it, methods of fraud and counterfeiting are also growing. In order to reduce the risk of purchasing a counterfeit when purchasing, use the following tips:

Buy jewelry only from trusted stores. You should not purchase the product secondhand or on the street. You should also avoid pawn shops and shops of dubious appearance.

Precious metals are always expensive. If you see a suspiciously cheap product, then most likely it is a fake.

Pay attention to the appearance of the product. It should shine and have an even color. It should be free of scratches, dents and stains.

Oddly enough, gold has no smell. If you are in doubt, no one in the store will stop you from smelling the jewelry.

Using these tips, the risk of buying fake gold is significantly reduced. And if you have doubts about the authenticity of previously purchased gold jewelry, then you know 14 ways to check the gold yourself.

Source: https://srazuchisto.com/uborka/ukrasheniya/proverit-zoloto.html

How to identify gold at home. Helpful Tips:

It's no secret that recently more and more jewelry stores have appeared in cities, where customers are offered a wide selection of gold products. Meanwhile, mining of this metal has been suspended or stopped in many gold-mining countries.

This suggests that some jewelry stores offer customers not real, but fake jewelry, the composition of which is noticeably different from precious ones.

In this regard, jewelers' clients are faced with the question of how to buy a real product and not a cheap fake, as well as how to identify gold at home if the purchase has already taken place.

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Before the purchase

In general, it is worth buying precious items only in the most famous and largest jewelry stores. Of course, their prices are very different from the cost of jewelry purchased at the market or at a kiosk, but you can be sure that you are paying for gold and not for a fake.

In addition, in specialized stores you can always ask for a quality certificate, and it will be easily provided to any client. When purchasing a product, it is important to pay attention to the sample - it should be visible, if the jewelry bears the manufacturer's mark - this is very good, since it almost 100% guarantees authenticity.

Not everyone knows that the hallmark numbers are the ratio of gold and other components in the jewelry. How to determine gold purity? The best option would be to contact specialists who have the ability to use special equipment and reagents. The metal itself is quite soft, and various compounds are added to it to strengthen the products.

For example, a sample of 585 indicates that the gold content in the jewelry is 585 particles per 1000. In addition to the numbers, it is worth paying attention to the inside of the products - it should be of a uniform color, neatly made and not differ from the outside.

At home

If the purchase has already been completed, the authenticity of the precious metal can be verified using various simple means. There are several ways to determine gold at home. One of the most common is to try it on the tooth. Soft gold leaves fingerprints, but counterfeit gold does not. But in this case, it is worth keeping in mind that there are other soft metals - for example, gold-plated zinc jewelry will also leave teeth marks or scratches.

Using ceramics

You can verify the authenticity of a product using unfired ceramics. Run the decoration over it and see what kind of mark remains. Gold leaves gold scratches, if the color is dark then it is most likely a fake. Ceramics can be replaced with another solid object, but then you need to have another product that is not in doubt. The marks should remain the same in color and depth.

Aurally

How to determine gold at home? By sound. Experts say that the fall of a gold ring or bracelet produces a clear sound, similar to crystal ringing. Counterfeits do not make such a sound when they fall. Of course, to check jewelry in this way, you need to have excellent hearing. In addition, this can only be done with rings and bracelets - chains and earrings will not work.

By severity

One of the methods for determining whether it is gold or not is to pay attention to its mass. Gold is one of the heaviest metals; in the old days it was tested in water - if it sinks immediately, then it is real. If not, it’s an alloy or a fake. Of course, these indicators are also very subjective.

Using iodine or vinegar

Another method for determining gold at home is using chemical reactions. It is enough to apply a drop of iodine or vinegar to the product and hold for several minutes. Real gold does not react with these substances, and there will be no traces left on it.

Spots that appear after the experiment indicate a fake. You can use a lapis pencil for the same purpose, which is sold in pharmacies. This substance - silver nitrate - will leave its mark on counterfeits, but not on gold. Before using lapis, it is better to moisten the decoration with water.

Bread crumb

How to determine the authenticity of gold using bread? Roll the decoration into crumb and leave for a couple of days. When it dries, break it and look - green or dark marks indicate that the product is not real. Gold does not react when interacting with substances contained in black bread, and it does not oxidize.

sunlight

Gold products do not change their color and shine in the sun or in the shade. They look the same. But fakes and alloys can differ in different lighting conditions, and this is noticeable even to the ordinary eye, especially if you look more closely.

Density test

Gold is one of the metals with the highest density. If the jewelry is not inlaid with stones, you can conduct a special test.

To do this, you need to weigh it (ask a jeweler at any workshop or pawnshop), then place it in a small container of water with a millimeter scale on it, and see how many millimeters the water rises. Density can be calculated using the formula: divide the mass of the product by the number of millimeters obtained.

The resulting number is the density of the metal. Gold of different grades can have different densities - from 12.9 to 19 g/ml. Accordingly, the higher the density, the higher the sample. This is a fairly accurate test showing the authenticity of the jewelry.

Source: https://www.syl.ru/article/151920/new_kak-opredelit-zoloto-v-domashnih-usloviyah-poleznyie-sovetyi

How to distinguish gold from fake

Gold is a precious metal that will never lose its relevance. It is from it that the largest number of jewelry is made, and gold products are the most popular among buyers.

However, today you can find a large number of fakes, and products made from this precious metal are no exception. Increasingly, there are cases when the percentage of valuable aurum in the declared sample is much smaller or is absent altogether.

Here are simple and accessible tips from jewelers that will help you distinguish gold from fake gold, gilding and costume jewelry at home.

Checking gold for authenticity

Here are some of the most common ways to check the authenticity of precious metals, which can be done independently, without the help of experts:

Visual inspection Carefully examine the jewelry using a magnifying glass. Gold items have special markings confirming the authenticity of the jewelry. The sample of aurum or its mass in carats must be indicated. However, these days, scammers have learned to put a stamp on fakes, so this method cannot 100% guarantee the authenticity of the product.

Sound test A very simple authentication test. You need to take the jewelry and throw it on a hard and smooth surface. For example, on the table. Real aurum sounds clear and resonant, reminiscent of crystal in sound. However, this method is not suitable for all jewelry - chains and bracelets cannot be checked this way.

Testing with vinegar Pour a small amount of vinegar into a glass and lower the product there for 3-5 minutes. Fake jewelry will quickly take on a dull greenish tint. Real high-quality metal will not react to vinegar in any way.

Magnetic test Take a real strong magnet that makes good contact with metal. Pass the magnet over the jewelry and see if it is attracted. If you are still attracted to the product, you can be completely sure that you have a fake in your hands. Genuine gold will never come into contact with a magnet.

Application of nitric acid A counterfeit from a true precious metal can be determined using nitric acid. To do this, place the decoration in a clean metal container. Then, using a pipette, you need to carefully drop nitric acid. Real gold will not change its color, gilding takes on a milky tint, and ordinary metal becomes greenish. It should be noted that the test must be carried out on an inconspicuous area of the product: on the inside, on fasteners, etc.

Testing with iodine As in the previous version, apply one drop of iodine to the inside of the jewelry. The fake one will quickly change its color to black or green, while the real aurum will remain unchanged.

Lapis pencil test Lapis pencil is a medical product containing silver nitrate. Pre-moisten the product in water and draw a small strip. The result appears instantly - the fake “gold” immediately begins to oxidize and darken.

Jewelers will always help you evaluate the quality of gold jewelry; they identify counterfeits not only visually, but also with the help of special devices. Such verification is usually paid. But you will be absolutely sure that you are holding a piece of jewelry in your hands and not a fake.

Determining gold plating

Gold plating is a thin layer of pure gold that is applied to the surface of a product. The technique of gilding jewelry is quite simple: aurum is sprayed or rolled onto a substrate. The base metal can be medical steel, brass, copper or silver.

The thickness of the gold layer is not regulated, but the thicker the layer of precious metal, the longer your favorite chains, earrings or rings will serve their owner. As a rule, gilding does not have any specific marking.

For example, if the coating is applied to a silver substrate, then the mark on it will be corresponding to the silver.

It is quite difficult to distinguish gold from gilding without special examination, but there are several ways to help identify a fake. The first step is to carefully inspect the product. There should be no abrasions, stains or scratches on its surface. If such defects were found during inspection, then such jewelry is definitely not worth buying. Real gold jewelry has a bright shine and a perfectly smooth, uniform surface.

You can lightly scrape the jewelry in an inconspicuous area. The gold plating will come off a little while the gold will remain the same. The gilding also gradually comes off when the jewelry is worn, especially on the edges of the jewelry. Therefore, if the top coating has worn off or changed color, you can be sure that this is a gold-plated product.

There is also a fairly simple way to check at home. It is necessary to heat the product strongly, for example, over a stove burner, and then quickly lower it into cold water. High-grade gold will not change its color, but streaks may appear on gold-plated metal.

Gilding is also tested with silver nitrate, which is sold in any pharmacy. Treat the wetted surface of the product with a small amount of nitrate. The gilding will become dark and cloudy, while the gold will not react with it.

How to avoid fraud?

Do not buy jewelry in dubious stores, markets and stalls. Often such sellers sell fakes. Purchases should be made only in trusted jewelry stores, where all the relevant documents are available.

Don't look at the price tag of the product. A high price is not a guarantee of quality. Pay more attention to studying the gold standard, its external characteristics and the manufacturer of the jewelry.

You can ask the seller at the salon to check the jewelry for authenticity. Many large stores have special solutions and tools that allow you to determine the quality of the precious metal.

If you have already purchased a piece of jewelry and have any doubts about its authenticity, it is better to immediately contact a pawnshop or a qualified jeweler. Experts will quickly and for little money determine the metal from which the jewelry is made.

Source: https://www.petrogold.ru/blog/kak-otlichit-zoloto-ot-poddelki

How to test gold at home for authenticity

The question of how to test gold at home may arise when purchasing jewelry online, by hand, or at non-specialized retail outlets, especially abroad.

When buying a gold product in official stores, you must ask the manager for certificates and documents for the goods. If doubts remain, you can check the authenticity of gold using home remedies, without resorting to complex examinations.

The household method may not allow you to distinguish white gold from silver; in such cases, the jewelry should be submitted for laboratory testing.

Visual inspection

Before checking gold for authenticity, you should carefully inspect the product. Any jewelry product is marked with a hallmark indicating the percentage of precious metal and the manufacturer's mark (the initial letter of the manufacturer). The sample should have clear outlines; numbers and letters can be easily read when magnified. The mark is applied parallel to the edges.

The bulk of jewelry in Russia is produced in 585 standard. Products of 750 standard and higher are considered elite and have a high price. A budget option is 375 standard products. Products with a lower content of precious metal are costume jewelry.

A gold chain or gold ring, inherited from a grandmother, is marked with 583 hallmark - this was the standard that existed in the USSR.

The newly purchased product is supplied with a thick paper label with a seal. The label indicates the weight, purity, name and location of the manufacturer. You need to know how to test gold at home for authenticity. There are several signs:

Processing quality. The surface must be polished to a shine, without cracks or chips.

Homogeneous uniform shine over the entire area.

Workmanship. A counterfeit product may have traces of rough processing and soldering; the stone (if present) is not held firmly.

Checking with available chemicals

To understand whether you purchased gold or not, you need to carefully examine the product. After a visual inspection of the product, you can check for authenticity at home using available chemicals. It is not recommended to use the ancient method of testing “to the point”, since it is possible to distinguish gold from a fake in this way only in the most primitive cases, without even taking into account the aesthetic component of such a test. The following methods are common:

Reaction with iodine. Real gold reacts chemically with iodine, causing the metal to darken. To distinguish gold from a fake at home, just drop the medicine on the product or moisten the surface with a cotton swab. Darkening of the surface of the jewelry at the point of contact with iodine will serve as evidence of the presence of gold in the object being tested. The interaction of gold with iodine causes persistent darkening of the metal, which can be removed with a 30% solution of sodium hyposulfite (a medicine sold freely in pharmacies).

Acetic acid. The reaction with acetic acid is a proven way to determine gold at home. The product is placed in a 70% solution for 5 minutes. If the surface darkens or another reaction begins (even the release of gases), then you have a fake jewelry. Gold does not react with vinegar. Impurities contained in manufactured products will also not give a reaction in standard tests. If the counterfeit contains precious metal in small quantities, the reaction will occur, but the darkening will be uneven or in a separate part. Jewelry with standard hallmark will not change. After the experiment, do not forget to rinse the product with water, avoiding getting vinegar on exposed skin. Vinegar can have a negative effect on silver and pearls, so products with such inclusions should not be tested in this way.

Reaction with silver nitrate. Silver nitrate reacts with any metal except gold. The drug is known in pharmacies as lapis pencil. To test, the jewelry must be moistened with water and the substance applied to its surface. Gold will not react to contact with silver nitrate, other metals will change color (darken). Testing low-grade gold with a lapis pencil is not advisable; a reaction may occur due to the high content of impurities in the product.

To check gold for authenticity at home and not make a mistake, you can watch a video on this topic.

Other home testing methods

Checking gold for authenticity at home can be done in several ways:

Magnet check. Crude fakes are made by applying gold plating to a steel base. In this case, the product will become magnetized.

You can determine the authenticity of gold at home using another gold product that is beyond doubt. To do this, you need to make scratches on a hard surface with the gold product and the object being tested. There should be no difference in the traces left. It is possible to scratch the gold piece and the test sample with the same hard object. The tracks must be identical.

The test product must be used to scratch the ceramic tile. The precious metal will leave a characteristic golden color, in other cases the band will be dark.

A simple test can be done using rye bread. The crumb should be soaked in water to a homogeneous semi-liquid state, and the resulting mass should be applied to the product being tested. After drying, the fake will show signs of oxidation.

People with sensitive hearing can be recommended to test the sound of gold products. The easiest way to check the quality of rings is this way. You need to throw the decoration from a small height onto the glass surface. Precious metal will emit a melodious crystal ringing, fake products will clang.

Polished gold looks the same in the sun and in the shade. If the sample being tested shines in the light but fades in the dark, it is a fake.

A deep scratch should be applied to the product being tested with a hard object (for example, a diamond glass cutter). If metal of a different color is found under the scratch, then the product was made by gold plating.

Determining the authenticity of jewelry in everyday conditions, at best, shows the presence of precious metal, but does not give an idea of the sample and the amount of impurities. An accurate conclusion can only be obtained in laboratory conditions.

Source: https://ToZoloto.ru/vtorichnyj-rynok/kak-proverit-zoloto-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html

metal	Silver	Gold 375, 500	Gold 583, 585	Gold 750	Gold 999
density	9 — 10	11 — 12	12 — 14	14 — 17	19,3