How to Identify Real Gold

How do you know if your item is real gold, gold plated or fake gold? By most international standards, anything containing less than 41.7% or 10 karat of gold is considered fake gold. To test gold or jewelry at home, you can do a few simple tests – most of which are readily available things like water, vinegar, and magnets. You don’t have to be a jeweler to know if yours is real or fake – we’ll guide you step-by-step to try gold right now.

Table of Contents

Try gold with household materials

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Drop the gold into the water tank to see if it sinks. Find a container large enough to hold the water and the gold you want to try. The temperature of the water doesn’t matter much – just use lukewarm water. Gold is a heavy metal, so it will sink right to the bottom of the jar. Fake gold is much lighter so it will float. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Real gold also doesn’t rust or tarnish when wet, so if you see a discolored item, it’s probably plated gold.

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Put a few drops of vinegar on the gold. Place the jewelry or item on a flat surface, use a dropper to put a few drops of vinegar on it and wait 15 minutes. Real gold will not change color, but fake gold will. ^{[2] X Research Source}

You can also soak the gold in a glass bowl of vinegar for 15 minutes. However, this method is a bit more risky because vinegar can damage the semi-precious stones mounted on gold jewelry.

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Look for visible discolouration as the gold wears out. Gold is a fairly soft metal, so the gold plating will often wear off over time. The most noticeable places are around the edges of jewelry or coins. These areas are often rubbed against skin and clothing throughout the day. If you see the color of another metal underneath the gold, you know immediately that the object is plated and is not considered real gold. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

For example, the silver color can be silver or titanium. Red can be copper or brass.

Jerry Ehrenwald

President of International Gempogical Institute & Gemologist

IGI President, Jerry Ehrenwald, is a New York-based gemologist who has spent his life in the industry. He is the inventor of the US-patented Laserscribe℠, a device used to engrave a distinctive marking on diamonds, such as a DIN (Diamond Identification Number) number. Ehrenwald is in charge of running IGI’s commercial laboratory and validation division. He is honored to be a senior member of the American Association of Assessors (ASA) and a member of the Twenty-Four Karat Club in New York, a club limited to 200 of the most successful individuals in the world. jewelry industry.

Jerry Ehrenwald
President of International Gempogical Institute & Gemologist

Experts Opinion: Suspicious streaks and discolouration around the edges of jewelry are often a sign that it is fake gold. If the object is not 24k gold (considered pure gold), it will tarnish over time when the base metal is exposed to oxygen.

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Watch for streaks on your skin when you wear gold. Pure gold doesn’t react with sweat or oils on the skin, so if you see black or blue streaks it means you’re wearing another metal. Silver will leave black streaks, copper will create green streaks. If you have so many streaks of color on your skin, perhaps the jewelry you are wearing is not as pure gold as you think. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Note that most gold objects are often mixed with other metals. Even 14K gold jewelry with 58.3% gold leaves streaks on the skin. You should use additional tests to make sure your item is real gold.

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Use a magnet to see if your item is attracted to it. This method requires the use of a strong magnet that can also attract alloys. Hold the moving magnet over the item and observe how it reacts. Gold is non-magnetic, so anything that is attracted to a magnet is not gold. If the object you are testing is attracted to the magnet, it is either fake or impure gold. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Ordinary magnets may not be strong enough to try. To be more precise, buy strong neodymium magnets at home improvement stores.
The magnet test is not entirely certain, as fake gold can also be made of non-magnetic metals, such as stainless steel. In addition, some real gold items also contain ferromagnetic metals, such as iron.

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Rub the object to be tested against unglazed ceramic to see if it leaves a streak. Remember to use unglazed pottery, as the ceramic glaze can affect the results. Sweep the item on the surface of the ceramic plate until some gold dust falls. If you see a black streak, the object is not real gold. If it is real gold, it will leave a golden streak of iridescence. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

You can buy unglazed ceramic tiles or ceramic plates online or at building materials stores.
This test will scratch the gold a little, but it’s usually not obvious. This is much safer than methods that require scraping or acid.
Another way to test gold is to dab some foundation on your skin and dab it on after it dries. Fake gold often reacts with foundation and leaves a black or green streak.

Check the manufacturer’s mark

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Tm official figure stamped on gold. The stamp of authenticity stamped on gold indicates the gold content of the item, usually stamped on a jewelry buckle or the inside of a ring and the surface of a coin or gold bar. The token is a number from 1 to 999 or from 0K to 24K, depending on the gold grading system used. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Use a magnifying glass to observe the authentication mark. This mark is sometimes difficult to see with the naked eye, especially on small jewelry such as rings.
Antique jewelry may not have the mark of authenticity. Sometimes these marks wear out because of time, sometimes the item is never stamped. The stamp became popular in the 1950s in some countries, but in places like India, for example, it was not until 2000 that the stamp was required. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Read the number stamped on the gold to determine the gold content in the item. Most coins and jewelry are not pure gold but are often mixed with other metals. There are 2 systems of gold content scale that are stamped for certification. The European system has a scale from 1 to 999, with 999 denoting pure gold. The US uses a scale of 9 to 24K, with 24K being pure gold. ^{[9] X Research Source}

The numerical scale system is easier to read than the karat scale. For example, the number 375 means that your item has 37.5% gold content.
The standard level called gold will vary from country to country. In the United States, for example, anything lower than 9K is not considered gold, even a 9K bracelet with 37.5% gold content.
Counterfeit items may also have a stamp to look like the real thing, so don’t rely on this mark alone unless you’re sure the item is real gold.

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Check the letters stamped on the item for impure gold. Some common letters you may see are GP, GF, and GEP. These letters indicate that your item is gilded, which means that the crafter will cover a thin layer of gold on top of another metal surface, such as copper or silver. Your item also has some gold in it, but it’s not considered real gold. ^{[10] X Research Source}

GP stands for gold-plated item, GF means gold-plated, and GEP stands for electrolytic gold-plated. means gpd electroplate.
Symbols may vary slightly depending on where the gold is produced. For example, gold produced in India has a small triangle symbol representing the gold grading system responsible for the government council, accompanied by a gold content measurement number and a symbol code, such as the letter K is the symbol of the place of sale.

Gold test by density method

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Weigh the item. You can use it to weigh gold if you have a reliable food scale, otherwise you can go to a gold shop and ask them to weigh it for you. Try calling a few jewelers or goldsmiths to see if they accept scales. Remember that the weight of gold must be in grams instead of ounces. ^{[11] X Research Source}

You need to calculate the weight of gold in grams to use later to calculate. If you use ounces, you won’t get accurate results.

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Fill half of the graduated measuring tube with water. Choose a tube large enough to hold the gold object. The measuring tube must be marked in ml or cc units. If you don’t have a regular graduated measuring tube, you can use a food measuring cup. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Test tubes graduated in mm are also useful because they give a more precise measurement in the test.
The amount of water used does not matter much, as long as there is ample space for the gold item. If you fill the tube with water, the water will overflow when you drop the gold in.

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Read the initial water level in the tube. Look at the water level line on the tube and record it. This measurement is very important, so you should write it down. Remember to place the test tube on a level surface for the most accurate measurements possible. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Note that graduated test tubes in ml or cc units are fine. These two units are equal, so you can use both in the test.

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Drop the gold into the test tube and record the new water level. Gently drop the gold into the tube so as not to lose any water. Put the gold close to the surface of the water before releasing it to prevent the water from splashing out or getting your hands wet. You will then look at the new water line and read the reading. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Rewrite the next measurement on paper. Remember that this is the second measurement, not the first.

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Subtract between the two measurements to find the difference. To find out how much water the gold has taken up, subtract the original measurement from the latter. The answer will be in ml or cc, depending on the unit of measurement on the test tube. ^{[15] X Research Source}

For example, if the initial water level is 17 ml and the second measurement after the water rises is 18 ml, you will have a difference of 1 ml of water.

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Divide the weight of gold by the difference in water. The density of gold will be equal to the mass of gold divided by its volume. Once the density is calculated, you will compare the result with the standard density of gold which is 19.3 g/mL. If the numbers don’t match, it’s possible your item is fake gold. Note, however, that some alloys in fake gold have the same density as real gold. ^{[16] X Research Source}

For example, you have a gold item that weighs 38 g and the amount of water it takes up is 2 ml. Divide 38 by 2 and you get 19 g/mL, which is very close to the density of gold.
Standard densities vary slightly depending on the type of gold. With 14k yellow gold, the density will be around 12.9 to 13.6 g/mL. With 14K white gold, the density would be 14 g/mL.
An 18K yellow gold item has an average density of between 15.2 and 15.9 g/mL. An 18K white gold piece has a density between 14.7 and 16.9 g/mL.
Any object of 22K gold has a density of about 17.7 to 17.8 g/mL.

Use the nitric acid test

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Buy a gold test kit to get the acid you need for the test. The gold test kit includes several bottles of nitric acid for different types of gold. Some sets also have a flat stone called a gold test stone that you can use to brush some gold dust off the item. There may also be hands with yellow and white gold patterns to compare with your piece. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Gold test kits are available online. You can also ask the jewelry store. Most jewelers use this test kit because of its high accuracy.

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Use a sharp tool to carve a streak on the gold object. Choose an inconspicuous spot on the piece of jewelry to engrave, such as the underside of a buckle or the inner ring of the jewelry, and use a sharp tool such as a jewelry cutter. Engrave until it reaches below the surface of the gold, revealing the new layer of gold or other metal within. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

The nitric acid test requires engraving on the item. If the gold is of commemorative value or you want to keep it intact, take it to a jeweler instead of trying it on yourself.

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Add a drop of nitric acid to the mark. Wear latex gloves and work in a well-ventilated room to avoid hazards as this is a dangerous acid. Look for a bottle of acid labeled for 18K gold. Place the gold item in a stainless steel container, place a drop of acid on the etching, then watch to see if it turns green. If it is, you will immediately know it is fake gold. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Normal gold does not react with acids, so your item could be plated gold or an impure alloy.
The reaction that produces a milky white color is usually indicative of gilded sterling silver. If the acid turns yellow, you have a gilded brass item.

Advice

Most of the gold testing methods here are not absolutely accurate. You may have to try several times to determine the authenticity of the gold.
You’ve probably also heard that people often bite into gold to see if it’s real because real gold will have teeth marks on it. However, since most gold items are made of harder alloys, don’t try gold this way to protect your teeth.
When sellers say their gold is 24K gold they mean 99.9% pure gold with a minimal amount of other metals. The 22K gold item has 22 parts of gold and 2 parts of other metals. ^{[21] X Research Source}
In gold objects of less quality than 24K gold, other metals will give the object its color and hardness. Pure gold is very soft, so other metals such as silver and copper are added to increase the durability of the gold item.
White gold, yellow gold, red gold and rose gold jewelry are all alloys of gold and other metals.
If you need help identifying real gold, take the item to a jeweler or gold expert.

Warning

Nitric acid is a strong acid that can burn your skin and damage your precious gold. If you’re not comfortable with this method, you can do the tests at home with vinegar, which is a milder acid, or you can have a specialist or jeweler test it with nitric acid.

Things you need

Gold test with household materials

Yellow
Jar
Water
Vinegar
Dropper
Neodymium magnet
Ceramic tile or unglazed ceramic plate

Check marks and symbols

Yellow
Magnifying glass

Perform density test

Yellow
Weigh
Graded tube or measuring cup
Computer

Using nitric acid

Yellow
Gold Tester
Nitric Acid
Stainless steel container
Touchstone
Latex Gloves

Steps