How to Spot Fake Gold
Gold is the symbol of status, royalty, and power. We all know that if something is precious, then there’s someone out there who will try to counterfeit it. Glares, watches, handbags are some commonly faked items in the market. It’s not hard to guess that the most recurrent counterfeit material is gold jewelry.
The jewelry market is anticipated to increase from 230 billion to 292 billion dollars in the coming five years, which hints at more counterfeited jewelry. Beware of those who sell imitated jewelry and gold items in the market, as it will cost you a lot.
Here’s a quick guide to spotting fake gold so that you can easily differentiate between real and a spoofed piece of gold jewelry.
Does It Have A Hallmark?
Jewelers often engrave hallmarks in each gold piece of jewelry designed and molded from authentic gold bullion. This impression is a stamp to identify the manufacturer. A jeweler’s loupe is sometimes needed to catch sight of the mini hallmark engraved on fine gold jewelry. The mark will also include the purity of gold, known as karat, used for the piece.
The hallmark test, also known as the stamp test or the magnifying glass test, is the first step when checking the credibility of your gold ornaments.
Does It Discolor Your Skin?
Have you ever noticed the skin under a particular ring turning green? Well, then your ring can be counterfeited. Skin discoloration due to fake gold isn’t a myth. This theory is used to test for real gold. The test is simple. You need to hold the jewelry piece in your hands for a few minutes.
The sweat on the hands will react with the metal, changing the color of your skin. If your skin is unaffected, then you can be satisfied that your piece is of genuine gold. However, further testing is needed to know the purity and weight of gold.
Does It Attract?
The magnetic test is usually the easiest and most convenient test. You just have to bring your jewelry near a strong magnet and see if it attracted. Real gold, irrespective of how pure it is, will never attract magnets.
Is It Dense?
The density of gold is tested in this method to see if it’s real or fake gold. Gold is a highly dense metal. The purer it is, the higher will be the density of gold. Therefore, it must instantly sink when immersed in water. Imitated jewelry will never descend but float on the top of your container.
Is It Inert?
Gold is inert and so is resistant to all types of acids. In this technique, you rub your jewelry against a black stone to leave a mark and then add few drops of nitric acid to the spot. If the acid doesn’t change color, it signifies real gold. However, if it does, then you need to watch out for the seller who handed you an imitated piece.
At Orion Metal Exchange, we protect you from fraudulent vendors who fleece you. We assist you in buying gold coins online from reliable sources. We help you identify and invest in precious metals by introducing you to top gold investment companies.
Our team ensures a streamlined acquisition process for you to have hassle-free transactions. We look forward to helping you create an investment plan that gets you the retirement you want.
