Gold items such as coins, watches, necklaces, brooches and earrings can be of different fineness. Jewelers or manufacturers indicate the fineness on the product, but it can be much lower. Often times, gold jewelry is actually composed of various impurities. There are several effective ways that you can determine the fineness of gold at home.
Method 1. Visual assessment
In order to determine if you have real gold, you need to carefully examine the product. Pay attention to the following details:
1. Check the manufacturer's stamp. It must indicate fineness (e.g. 585) or carats (10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, or 24K). Use a magnifying glass for this.
If you already have used gold, you may not be able to find the stamp.
However, counterfeit gold can also show a fineness, so please use the other methods listed below.
2. Look for faded spots on the product. Typically, such stains can be found in areas of the product that are constantly rubbed (usually at the edges).
If the gold looks worn, and you can see another metal under it, then most likely your product is not gold, but gilded.
Method 2. Checking for a tooth
We've all seen in films how gold miners try gold on their teeth. We also often see Olympic champions bite it when they receive a gold medal. And that makes sense.
1. Bite down on the gold, but not too hard.
2. Then check if there are any marks on the product. In theory, real gold should leave marks from your teeth. The deeper the dents, the purer the gold.
Method 3. Checking with a magnet
This is a simple test, but it cannot give a 100% answer to the question of whether you have real gold. Weak magnets, such as a refrigerator magnet, will not be of any use here. Therefore, you need to find a stronger magnet that you can buy from specialized stores. Alternatively, you can take a magnet from a woman's wallet, children's toy, or an old unused hard drive. These magnets will allow you to test.
Move the magnet to the gold piece. Gold is not a magnetic metal, so if your product is drawn to a magnet, then you are clearly fake. However, if gold does not reach for a magnet, this does not mean that it is real: non-magnetic metals are often used in fakes.
Method 4. Density test
There are only a few metals that are denser than gold. The density of pure gold is 24 carats (19.3 g / ml), which is much higher than that of most metals. By measuring the density of your item, you can determine if you have real gold or not. Generally, the higher the density, the purer the gold. If your product does not have precious stones, then be sure to conduct a density test. Read on for further recommendations.
1. Weigh your gold piece. If you do not have your own scales, you can get it for free from a jeweler. You will need the weight in grams.
2. Fill the bottle with water.
It will be better if you draw a millimeter scale on the bubble, so it will be easier for you to take your measurements.
You can use any amount of water, the main thing is not to fill your vessel to the brim, because when you dip the gold into it, the water will pour out of the bubble.
It is important here to remember exactly the water level before and after immersing the product in it.
3. Put your product in water. Notice how much the water level has risen and calculate the difference in millimeters.
4. To determine the density of the item, use the following formula: density = weight of item / for the difference in water level. If you get a number equal to 19 g / ml, this means that this is real gold or a metal that has a density like gold. Below is an example of calculating density:
For example, your gold piece weighs 38 g and the difference in water level is 2 ml.
Using the formula, we divide 38 g by 2 ml and we get a result equal to 19 g / ml, which is very close to the density of real gold.
Remember, different fineness of gold will have different densities.
- 14K - 12.9 to 14.6 g / ml
- 18K yellow gold - 15.2 to 15.9 g / ml
- 18K white gold - 14.7 to 16.9 g / ml
- 22K - 17.7 to 17.8 g / ml
Method 5. Checking on a ceramic plate
This is a fairly easy way to tell if you have counterfeit gold. However, remember that using this method, you run the risk of ruining your product, as it may be scratched.
1. Find an unglazed ceramic plate. If you don't have one, you can buy any unglazed pottery from the store.
2. Run your item across the plate. If there is a black line on it, it means that you have a fake. If there is a gold strip on the plate, then you have real gold.
Method 6. Test with nitric acid
This is a very serious method, but it allows you to accurately determine whether you have real gold or not. Since nitric acid is not easy to find and can be dangerous, it is best done with a jeweler.
1. Place your product in a stainless steel bowl.
2. Apply a drop of nitric acid to the gold and check the reaction.
A green reaction indicates that your product is made of a different metal or gold-plated. The gold color reaction means your item is made of gold plated brass.
A milky reaction indicates gilded silver. If no reaction occurs, it means you have real gold.
In contact with
All of us at some point in our lives are faced with the purchase of gold items. In our time, modern technologies have appeared, thanks to which you can easily make a fake, indistinguishable in appearance from real metal. It is important not to get screwed up when choosing a gold item and not spend money on a low-quality product. The price of gold is growing every day, and, deciding on such expensive purchase, I do not want to throw money down the drain.
How to identify quality gold
Recognize at home quality of gold very simple with the following steps:
- Checking gold with iodine. Put a little iodine on the metal, wait, wipe off after the reagent has reacted. If the surface has not changed its color, then the gold is of excellent quality.
- Plain table vinegar. Pour the vinegar solution into a clean, dry container, place the product there for thirty minutes and wait. If metal color changed, then in front of you is a fake.
- At the pharmacy, you need to purchase a lapis pencil. A piece of jewelry, be it a ring or a chain, is slightly moistened with water and applied lapis to a small area, if no reaction is observed, this is a high-quality metal, and if there is any chemical reaction, then this product is of poor quality.
- You can take a large magnet as your helpers. With it, you will determine if there is under the gold plating metal base.
- Unfired ceramic tiles can be used. You just need to draw the decoration over the surface, if a trace of black or gray remains, then this is a fake. Remember metal always leaves behind golden trail.
It is imperative to keep in mind the fact that all these tips can harm your jewelry!
Traditional methods of authentication
There are also older, time-tested methods. identification of authenticity precious metals:
- Test of strength. Everyone knows about the old "tooth" test of metal. But today no one bites him, but scratches with something sharp, which allows you to make sure that there are no impurities. If a black layer is noticeable under the top layer, then it is of poor quality. Naturally, you need to scratch in the place where it will not be noticeable.
- Oddly enough, but black bread can also help in determining the quality. This requires bread pulp. We soak it in water to the state of plasticine, carefully cover the gold product with the resulting mass and let it dry. After complete drying, we break it and look at the bread - if there are no traces left, then the metal good quality, but if there are traces of oxidation, then - no.
- For those who have good hearing, the sound recognition method is suitable. It's very simple: you need to throw a golden object from a small height onto a flat, hard surface. A genuine product will make a sound similar to the clinking of crystal glasses.
- You need to spend two identical lines on a quality, tested product, and on the one that needs to be checked. If the lines are the same in appearance, then the gold is good.
Determination of the sample at home
Gold is a precious metal. Due to the fact that it is soft and pliable, impurities are added to it, and then jewelry is already made. The gold itself, which is contained in an already finished piece of jewelry, is measured by the breakdown. It is worth remembering that if you need to determine the sample as accurately as possible, then it is best to seek help from state inspections or use the services gold purchases, where authenticity is determined by analysis.
At home, in order to determine the sample, you need to have a number of special materials on hand: aqua regia, chlorine water, assay needles and nitric acid.
To calculate the sample by the drop method, you will immediately need to clean the surface of the product with a file and apply the reagent. It should be removed immediately within twenty seconds, and watch on surface changes.
You can also determine the sample using an electronic detector that detects the electrical and chemical reactions of the metal. The advantages of this method are accuracy and time. It checks metal incredibly quickly, in just five seconds. The price of such a device is not huge in space, and you can buy it in any jewelry workshop.
When buying expensive gold jewelry, you should consider your decision, if possible, consult with a specialist. It is imperative to weigh the pros and cons before buying, buy gold only in official and reliable salons... And do not hesitate to ask for certificates and documents confirming the quality of the product.
You should never take gold from your hands or from suspicious sellers. If, nevertheless, there are any doubts about the quality of the purchased item, you can always check it at home, it is not difficult. Remember, haste can cost you a large sum and, of course, nerves: no one is immune from fraud and deception.
Attention, only TODAY!
In view of the fact that there are a lot of scammers around, it makes sense to protect yourself. Today we are going to tell you how to check gold for authenticity. Of course, it is always better to contact a professional jeweler, but by tradition we will carry out manipulations at home. If you have experience in such matters, please share it with other readers.
Chemical means for checking gold for authenticity
Before checking if gold or not, choose the one that suits you best from the options below. At home, you can use iodine, silver nitrate or vinegar essence.
# 1. Iodine
1. If the metal is genuine, when it comes into contact with iodine, it will react and darken.
2. The procedure is carried out as follows: apply 1 drop on a gold jewelry or soak a cotton swab in the preparation, then swipe over the metal.
3. If the surface darkens, then you can be sure that this is genuine gold.
4. You can remove traces of the check by wiping the decoration with a cotton swab dipped in a 30% sodium hyposulfite solution. This remedy is sold in all pharmacies.
# 2. Silver nitrate (lapis pencil)
1. Silver nitrate forms a reaction with various metals, with the exception of gold. This medication is available from pharmacies under the name lapis crayon.
2. Before testing gold, wet the item with clean water. Then, at home, proceed as follows: run a pencil over the wet jewelry, evaluate the result.
3. If the metal is real, it will not change in color. The counterfeit, on the other hand, will darken or take on a different color.
4. It is important to remember that it is pointless to check low-grade gold in this way. Because in addition to gold, such jewelry contains impurities.
No. 3. Vinegar essence
1. The use of vinegar essence is advisable if you are interested in how to check gold for authenticity. But do not confuse ordinary vinegar available at home with 70% essence (this is what we need).
2. So, dip the metal in a highly concentrated solution for 4-6 minutes, wait for the result. If the jewelry turns dark or another reaction makes itself felt (for example, gas formation), the product is fake.
3. Real high-grade metal never reacts with vinegar essence. Also, you will not see a reaction if there is an acceptable proportion of impurities in the factory decoration.
4. In cases where a small part of the real metal is added to the counterfeit, the reaction will be uneven. That is, the decoration may darken in several places.
5. Remember that real gold will not react. And be careful when checking items that contain silver or other metal that can be spoiled by the essence.
Other ways to determine the authenticity of gold
Before checking gold for authenticity, we suggest you consider a few more effective ways that you can use at home.
# 1. Magnet
If the counterfeit is of poor quality, it will be gold plated. In this case, the product in most cases is made of a steel base. If you bring a magnet, the jewelry will become magnetized.
# 2. Gold
To determine the authenticity of one piece of jewelry, you need to use another real gold piece. Scratch the tested object with the last piece. As a result, the traces left should not differ in any way.
No. 3. Ceramics
Try to scratch the ceramic tiles with a gold piece. If the metal is really precious, then it will leave behind a golden color. In other cases, a dark stripe remains from fakes.
Consumers of the jewelry market are often interested in the issues of verifying the authenticity of the precious metal from which the jewelry they have purchased is made. In this article we will talk about how to check the authenticity of gold at home, list the main methods and give them a general description.
How to tell gold from counterfeit: homemade methods
Since gold is a noble metal that is resistant to various chemical influences, you can always check its authenticity using such means as iodine or vinegar.
How to test gold with iodine
Checking gold jewelry with iodine is as follows : it is necessary to drop a small drop of iodine solution directly onto the product, wait a few minutes and wipe with a napkin. If the jewelry is made of gold, iodine will not leave any traces. In the event that the jewelry is made of a different metal, a dark spot will remain on the surface of the item.
Vinegar will tell you whether it is gold or not
The procedure for checking a decoration with vinegar is to immerse the garment in the vinegar. Gold jewelry will not change color, while jewelry made of a different metal will darken.
It is important! Despite the high efficiency of the above methods, they will hardly be able to "expose" the gilded jewelry.
However, a small notch or scratch is enough to carry out a "deep" inspection of the decoration.
Ammonia
Reference! Ammonia is a colorless gas with a pungent odor. In everyday life, the smell of ammonia is known as the "aroma" of ammonia.
One of the main chemical properties of ammonia is that this substance is a weak acid with the ability to form special salts with metals - amides.
Ammonia is very often used to clean the yellow precious metal. This substance helps remove stains, blackening and other visible imperfections from gold jewelry. Accordingly, ammonia does not have a destructive effect on gold, and therefore the metal can be checked with the help of this substance. More details can also be found on our website.
The principle of checking the authenticity of gold with ammonia is the same as with vinegar - ammonia will not leave any stains on the metal.
other methods
Other ways to check gold jewelry for authenticity include:
- checking with a magnet;
- checking with a lapis pencil;
- gold check;
- checking with a magnifying glass.
Determining the authenticity of gold at home using a magnet is quite simple: just bring the magnet close to the product. If a piece of jewelry attracts, it means that it is not made of precious metal.
It is important! Aluminum and copper are non-precious, but at the same time, non-magnetic metals. Therefore, they are often used in alloys for the manufacture of "fraudulent" products.
Checking gold with a lapis pencil which is silver nitrate, consists in holding this product over the surface of a pre-moistened product . In the event that after erasing a trace remains on the surface of the product, then you can be sure that you have a fake in your hands.
Checking gold with gold - one of the most versatile ways to authenticate gold jewelry. This verification method can be carried out only if you have in stock a gold jewelry, the authenticity of which you are sure of. To carry out the check, you must take both jewelry and draw two lines on a hard object. If the resulting lines are identical, then the item being tested is gold.
Checking gold with a magnifier is to search for the hallmark, which is easiest to detect with the use of this object. Please note that identification marks must be extremely clear and even.
Reagents
Acidic reagents are standard reagents that correspond to 375, 500, 583, 585, 750, 833, 900 and 958 samples of gold. These include the following:
- 375 gold fineness: HNO3 (density 1.4) 59.5%: distilled water 40.5%;
- 500 fineness of gold: HNO3 (density 1.4) 100%;
- 583 and 585 gold samples: HNO3 (density 1.4) 46%: HCI (density 1.19) 4 drops: distilled water 54.0%.
- 750 fineness of gold: HNO3 (density 1.4) 1.1%: distilled water 39.6%;
- 833 gold fineness: HNO3 (density 1.4) 68.7%: HCI (density 1.19)) 1.3%: distilled water 30.0%;
- 900 gold fineness: HNO3 (density 1.4) 69.2%: HCI (density 1.19) 1.3%: distilled water 29.5%
- 958 gold fineness: HNO3 (density 1.4) 78.7%: HCI (density 1.19) 2.0%: distilled water 19.3%.
The action of these reagents on the corresponding gold alloys provokes the appearance of a light spot of brownish shades. The higher the purity of gold, the less intensity of darkening of the spot. It is possible to carry out such checks at home, but not recommended. It is better to contact special laboratories.
Well, and, of course, do not forget about professional methods of checking the uniqueness of gold jewelry. Employees of jewelry workshops and shops will help you with this.
Surely many asked themselves the question: how to determine the authenticity of gold? The explanation for this is the number of jewelry stores, which is growing every day. Gold mining is incomparable with the number of such salons, as today it is progressing very slowly. Hence the questions arise: was it not deceived when buying a gold item, was it a fake?
Why is it worth checking gold for authenticity?
For the purpose of enrichment, people can go to any deception. Now there are many unscrupulous manufacturers who have an approach to inspections for the analysis of precious metals. Very often, not the whole precious metal, but only a part of it, gets to the inspection for analysis. It can be a clasp from an earring or a link in a chain, which are well made. Very often, analysis services only check the top layer of the precious metal, and only one manufacturer knows what is inside. Such low-quality goods end up in salons, and then into our hands. Therefore, you have to worry about buying a piece of jewelry and check it for authenticity. There are countless cases of deception.
The following recommendations will help to determine gold or not, which you can easily apply at home:
- visual assessment;
- identification of genuine metal by sound;
- determination by chemical means;
- method of determination with a magnet or a lapis pencil;
- determination by the Archimedes method;
- method of determining the reaction to the sun;
- way of contacting gold jewelry.
Let's consider each of the options.
Methods for determining gold at home
How to determine gold at home by visual assessment and sound? The easiest way or method to identify real gold at home from counterfeiting is by visual assessment. It is worth carefully examining the gold piece and trying to examine the sample.
At the manufacturing factories, a sample is put on any gold jewelry. If there is no sample, then this should alert you. Take a close look at the decoration from the wrong side. The wrong side should be as professional as the front side. You can also try to scratch the jewelry while testing it for strength. It is only desirable to scratch where the scratch will be least visible. If the product is fake, then a base metal can be seen under the layer of gold.
Many people trust the old method of identifying gold for authenticity by sound. To do this, take your product (ring, pendant, earrings) and throw it on a hard and perfectly flat floor. The sound of a genuine gold piece is reminiscent of a crystal ringing. It will be clean and ringing. But, according to experts, a person must have good auditory data for this. This method of determination is not suitable for long and loose bracelets, chains.
How to recognize gold by chemical determination?
For this quality experiment, iodine is needed. Try to put a drop of iodine on the jewelry and let it react for a few minutes. Then try to remove the iodine with a cotton swab. If he did not leave a trace behind him, then this is an original product. If, instead of the original, you have a base metal in front of you, iodine will leave its mark in various colors, from light shades to black.
You can also determine the authenticity with vinegar. For this, vinegar is taken and poured into some vessel. They put the product there and wait for a chemical reaction.
Real gold will not darken or change color.
- Method of determination with a magnet or lapis pencil
The gold product is not attracted by a magnet, the photo is a fake
If a magnet is presented to a gold piece, then it will not be attracted to it, while any other metal will simply stick. You can check the precious metal with a lapis pencil, which is sold in any pharmacy. To do this, wet your gold piece with water and draw a line on it with a pencil. If your product remains clean, then it is genuine, and if it has reacted, then you have a fake in your hands.
- Determination by the Archimedes method
The method consists in the fact that if the jewelry is placed in water, then it will immediately sink. But base metals will remain floating in the water.
- Sun reaction method
This method is carried out in sunny and clear weather. A gold piece should be held and looked at in the shade, and then the sun's rays should be directed at it. A gold piece in the shade and in the sun should remain the same color and shine, while a fake in the shade will be darker.
- Contact method of gold jewelry
For this method, you need to be confident in the gold jewelry with which your product will contact. Let it be an antique gold ring that has been passed down from generation to generation. Draw two lines of decoration on a hard surface. In both cases, the stripes will be the same or very similar to each other.
If you decide to buy a gold piece of jewelry, then let it be manufacturers, time-tested and quality-tested, and the jewelry salon itself.
