Don't just go by their word, but test to ensure that your gold is real gold. When starting to source new custom gold jewelry vendors, many people always have a question: is it genuine real gold? There are some ways to determine that, and we would like to go over and help protect you and your investment.
Magnetic Testing.
While this doesn't rule it out completely, this is undoubtedly a quick test that will help. Gold, unlike other metals, doesn't stick to a magnet. Yes, that's right, that magnet on your fridge could be your friend at the moment. If you can pick up your gold jewelry with a magnet, that is a good sign that your jewelry is not real gold. This way is not a sure-fire test, and it should be combined with further testing as other metals don't stick to magnets either.
Test by the sound.
You probably have seen this way in the movies, but it does work. You will need to drop the jewelry to hear the sound that it makes or strike it. Precious metals make a longer and higher-pitched sound. It is similar to that of crystal versus glass. You can also get this sound by using your fingernail and tapping it. Find something you know is not gold and tap it to get the comparison sound. It will be pretty obvious once you get the tapping down right.
Look for the hallmark.
Most gold jewelry manufacturers will put a hallmark on the inside of rings but in an inconspicuous area of the jewelry. It might require a magnifying glass to find, but if it bears a hallmark, there is a good chance that it is gold. However, this again is not a sure-fire way to tell. It is also wasn't mandatory in some countries until the year 2000, so older jewelry might not have it as well as it could have worn off.
Try to wear it.
Wear the gold jewelry and see if it leaves any marks behind. Black marks are indicators that it contains silver. Green marks indicate copper is present. Gold should not leave any marks, even while sweating. So, if it is real gold, it shouldn't leave any marks behind.
Drop it in a jar of water.
Real gold should sink to the bottom, while other metals may float or even take their time to fall. Real gold will drop quickly, and there shouldn't be any rusting afterward either, as gold doesn't rust.
Do the Ceramic Tile test.
Get an unglazed ceramic tile. Drag your gold item across the tile, and you should see a slightly gold streak. Now, this test will scratch up the gold piece, so keep that in mind. Should the streak not be gold but black, you have some fake gold and not the real thing. An alternative method to this is to spread some cosmetic foundation onto your skin. Then take the gold item and streak it across it, as you did with the tile. If it reacts and you have a mark of some kind, then that isn't real gold. Real gold will not react or leave a black or green streak.
Check with a Jeweler
This one seems rather obvious, but you can ask for a piece of jewelry to test it for you. Those Jewelry shops have their ways of knowing, and you can walk away with peace of mind knowing that you have the opinion of a professional.
At Play With Diamonds, we proudly sell only ethical wholesale gold jewelry.
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