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Unfortunately, today the following trend can be seen in the jewelry market: the amount of precious metals mined is decreasing, and the number of stores offering jewelry to consumers is growing. arithmetic progression. In this regard, each of us has a need to learn to distinguish true gold from fake, so that one fine day we do not make an unpleasant discovery for ourselves - acquired jewelry made of precious metal is a common fake. Meanwhile, a lot of money was paid for it.

Experts note that other metals are often mixed into gold to increase its service life and strength, since the precious alloy wears off quickly due to its softness. For this reason, even the product High Quality may not be entirely gold.

If you are not sure that you can identify a fake with the naked eye, go for jewelry to branded stores that offer products from well-known foreign and domestic manufacturers. In a large store, the chance of buying a fake is minimized than in a dubious market stall, since reputable stores value their reputation. The purchase will cost more, unless, of course, purchasing a fake product was not part of your plans.

Jewelry made from real gold must have a hallmark. But in Turkey, for example, they will give you any sample you want for your jewelry.

In addition to the hallmark, gold jewelry must have a hallmark, a tag and relevant information about the manufacturer. Fake products, of course, are sold without any tags or labels.

How to determine the authenticity of gold

According to international standards, gold is considered fake if its net weight in the product is less than 10 carats. The surest way to make sure whether it is fake or not is to contact a specialist - a certified jeweler. If this is not possible, you can use the methods that our ancestors successfully used.

Iodine
This is one of the most popular and simple ways, it is mainly used by hucksters when they buy gold for scrap. Apply a little substance to the product and wait a few minutes. Then wipe off the iodine with a dry cloth and examine the decoration. If there is a print left on the surface, then this is a fake. If the product has not changed color, then it is real gold.

Magnet
Fraudsters often coat an ordinary alloy with gold plating. A magnet will help you make sure that what you have in front of you is a fake or jewelry made of natural gold. If the magnet attracts the product, then it is fake. This method is not one hundred percent reliable, since copper and bronze may also not be magnetized, but they are much lighter in weight than gold.

Vinegar
This method works like the previous one. Pour a little vinegar into the container and lower the product there for 5 minutes. After the allotted time has passed, remove and inspect carefully. If the decoration has not darkened, then this is gold.

You can buy it at the pharmacy. Wet the object being tested with water and draw a stripe with lapis. There will be no trace left on the gold jewelry. Advantage this method is that the metal oxidizes instantly.

Nitric acid
This test will allow you to most reliably determine the authenticity of a gold product. However, it is quite difficult to purchase nitric acid; this method is mainly used by jewelers. Nitrogen does not corrode gold, but if the jewelry consists of any impurities, then during the test it will be hopelessly damaged.

Place the decoration in a clean, dry container and apply a drop of nitric acid to it. If the product:

turned green - in front of you is metal coated with gold plating;
turned white - this is gilded silver of the highest standard;
has not changed color - this is a genuine precious alloy.

Ceramic plate
If you don't have the required plate, you can easily use a shard of ceramic, this will be quite enough. Swipe the decoration over the surface. If a black mark remains on it, the jewelry is fake. But the golden strip remaining on the plate will indicate that the gold is real.

Bite check
This the oldest way to determine the authenticity of a precious metal. However, this does not mean that it is the ultimate truth, because now gold is practically not found in pure form, other metals are also added to it.

After biting the gold there should be traces of teeth, moreover, than deeper than the mark, the higher the sample.

Sound check
If you throw a gold item onto a tin surface, it will make a ringing, crystal clear sound. This method, like the previous one, cannot be completely reliable.

Comparison method
Every person has a product that he is absolutely sure is authentic. A comparative analysis can be carried out using the present gold decoration. Draw a line on any flat, hard surface. Draw a line next to the product whose purity you doubt. In theory, if both prints are identical, then both jewelry is genuine. But this method has a significant drawback - the sample may be different, therefore, the lines will be different.

Chlorine gold
When applied to a product made of pure gold, no reaction will follow. The alloy will begin to fizz and oxidize.

Special device
Fortunately, today there is no need to use ancient methods to identify fakes. There are special devices that allow you to conduct a rapid authenticity test. The principle of their operation is to measure the electrochemical potential of the surface of an object.

Gold or brass

Most often, brass is passed off as gold, and today's craftsmen have learned to do this so skillfully that it is almost impossible to distinguish real jewelry from a fake, consisting of zinc, copper, lead and other metals. Of course, only a jeweler can do this accurately, but knowing some of the nuances, you can do it yourself:

Authentic jewelry has perfect finishing. Cracks, chips, and nicks should alert you.
The opinion that brass visually appears duller than gold metal is erroneous. If done well, the copy will shine no less than the original.
The reddish tint of the metal indicates that the composition contains copper, pale yellow indicates the presence of zinc.
Gold cannot be cheap. If you are offered to purchase jewelry at a low price, then most likely this is a fake.
If you doubt the authenticity of the metal, scratch the product. If it's a fake, then top layer an alloy that is not at all precious may be discovered.
With changes in daylight, neither in the shade nor in the sun, real gold will not change color.

If after carrying out the tests you still have doubts, take the jewelry to a jeweler, who will make a comprehensive verdict - whether it is a genuine precious metal or not.

Video: how to distinguish gold and silver from other metals

Pure gold is a saturated metal yellow color. What made it precious along with platinum, iridium and palladium was the special property that gold does not oxidize under normal atmospheric conditions. But it is distinguished by high softness and plasticity. It is precisely because of these characteristics of the popular precious metal that the jewelry industry uses alloys in which only one or another proportion of gold is present. Gold comes in red, yellow and white. The most famous is yellow gold, which contains copper and silver. The classic method of making yellow gold involves using all components in equal quantities.

Unfortunately, some jewelry makers, knowing that even the highest quality product consists of an alloy of metals, use this for selfish purposes. Of course, no one wants to buy a fake. The problem is to an ordinary person It is difficult to distinguish high-quality jewelry from a fake. In order to avoid getting into an awkward situation, it is enough to know some rules:

Buy products made of precious metals only in jewelry stores. There is little chance that you will buy real gold on the street or in an underground passage.
Pay attention to the tag. It should contain information about the manufacturer, the name and article number of the jewelry, price per gram, weight, sample, total price and QC stamp.
Sample – information about the amount of pure gold in the product. For example, a sample of 585 means that the ring consists of 58.5% gold, and 41.5% is an admixture of other metals. If the sample is blurry, refuse such a purchase, as you may purchase a fake.
Pay attention to the inside of the product. There should be no irregularities or flaws on the “wrong side” of the jewelry.

What if you need to check the purchased item, but there is no way to contact a jeweler? You can use methods for testing gold at home:

Place the product in vinegar for a few minutes. If it turns dark, you probably purchased a fake.
Apply a drop of iodine to the surface of the jewelry and wait about three minutes. Wipe off the iodine with a handkerchief and carefully inspect the product. If there are no stains left on it, this is real gold.
Drop the ring from a small height onto a table or any other smooth, flat surface. When struck, real gold will ring.
Look closely at the decoration first in the shade and then in the sun. The color of a quality product will be the same in any light.
Place a magnet near the product. If the item is magnetic, most likely you have been deceived. Manufacturers often apply a thin layer of gold to cheap metal. But remember that aluminum, bronze and copper are also non-magnetic.
Take a gold item that you have no doubt about the quality of, and draw a stripe with it on a piece of paper. Next, do the same with the experimental sample. Compare the prints. Please note that the jewelry must be of the same sample, otherwise the lines will differ significantly.
Moisten the product with water, and then draw a small line on it with a lapis pencil. If no stains appear on the jewelry, you have a high-quality gold alloy.

Please note that none of these methods can guarantee that your gold is 100% authentic. In order to protect yourself from purchasing counterfeits, buy jewelry from well-known manufacturers in reputable stores. Remember that gold jewelry cannot be cheap, so refrain from buying if the seller gives you a surprisingly generous discount. Most likely, they will sell you not gold, but a cheap, low-quality alloy.

If you doubt the authenticity of the purchased item, contact an independent specialist. Only laboratory examination can dispel all your doubts.

According to American standards, gold can be considered counterfeit if its net weight in the product is less than 10 carats. If you need to ensure the authenticity of a gold item, the most reliable way is to have it checked by a certified jeweler. If you want to check the authenticity of gold jewelry yourself, use our tips.

Steps

Visual test

The first thing to do to verify authenticity is to look at the gold. First of all, look for special markings that indicate genuine gold.

Product bite test

We've all seen the scene in the movie where the archaeologist bites into a piece of gold to test its authenticity. Prize-winning athletes Olympic Games they bite down on won gold medals (of course, the last example does not apply to checking the authenticity of gold).

Magnet test

Gold concentration test

There are very few metals stronger than gold. The weight of gold in the product weighing 19.3 grams is 24 carats. Determining the concentration of gold will help determine its authenticity. There is a rule: the higher the mass of gold in the product, the more authentic the gold. Conduct the test only on gold items that do not contain precious stones. Read the warnings carefully before performing a gold concentration test.

Ceramic plate test

It makes it easy to detect fake gold. But remember that gold jewelry is very easy to scratch.

Nitric Acid Test

Nitric acid is a great way to test the authenticity of gold. Of course, buying nitric acid is quite difficult. It can also cause damage to your home. It is better to let a jeweler perform this test.

Place the item in a small, stain-free steel container.

Drip nitric acid to gold and look at the result of the reaction.

The state mark can be applied in different ways. IN European countries The hallmark signifies, first of all, the weight of pure gold. There are three indicators:
- 10K 417 standard: pure gold percentage - 41.7%
- 14K 585 standard: pure gold percentage - 58.5%
- 18K 750 hallmark: proportion of pure gold - 75%
- 22K 917 standard: pure gold percentage - 91.7%
- 24K 999 hallmark: pure gold percentage - 99.9%
When we talk about 24-karat gold, we mean that the 24 components of the product are pure gold without impurities or added metals. In this case, the mass of pure gold is 99.9%. 22-karat gold means that 22 components of the product are pure gold, and the remaining two are metal. The mass of pure gold is 91.3%. 18 karat gold means that 18 components of the product are gold and the remaining 6 are metals. The mass of gold is 75%. A carat is equal to approximately 4.1625%.
In Portugal, the weight of gold in the product is usually 80%, or 19.2 carats. Gold comes in three colors:
- Yellow. Composition: 80% - gold, 13% - silver, 7% - copper.
- Red. Composition: 80% - gold, 3% - silver, 17% - copper.
- White (gray). Composition: 80% pure gold combined with palladium or nickel.
If the weight of gold is less than 24 carats, the remaining impurities give the product color and hardness. 24 karat gold is the softest and 10 karat gold is the hardest. 10 carat gold contains 41.6% gold. The rest is made up of metals that weigh more than gold. The color of the remaining metals adds beauty to the product. For example, there are products in white, yellow, red, etc.
If a piece has the abbreviation GF on it, it means "gold filled." Before the mass of pure gold there is a sample. For example, 1/20 14 karat GF means 1 part 14 karat gold on the outside of the remaining 19 components.
24 karat gold is pure gold, but it is too soft to be used in jewelry and coins. That is why other metals are added to this gold for hardness.

Warnings

Test using nitric acid: Nitric acid corrodes almost everything. Be careful and take appropriate measures. The use of nitric acid in the case of gold is completely safe. Gold is not damaged by nitric acid. If the product contains impurities, the product will be damaged.
These tests do not always distinguish between pure gold and gold-cut tungsten.
Gold concentration test: This test- not the best The best way definition of real gold. You must know exactly what the gold product is made of.
Gold concentration test: Due to the need for correct calculations, you must have a measuring bottle with a scale in millimeters.
Gold concentration test: Often the thick parts of the product are hollow inside. If air gets into them, the test result will be incorrect because the gold will become lighter but the volume will not change. This test is only suitable for solid products, or for products that contain water. It fills the void inside the product. Even a small air bubble can cause incorrect results.

Professional jewelers and self-taught craftsmen can easily determine the authenticity of a product made of precious metals with the naked eye. For the average consumer, characterizing a gold product is a complex task that requires attention, certain skills and available materials. To avoid being deceived by scammers and to protect yourself from purchasing a fake, you need to know how to test gold for authenticity at home.

Before the invention of modern precious metal analyzers, training videos and reagents, experts tested gold jewelry using simple but effective methods.

Visualization

Determination “by eye” allows you to determine the presence of gold markings (up to 999 purity) or the mass of an object in carats.

Checking with a magnifying glass will simplify the task, since the markings on the metal are applied very finely. The mark must be clear, even, with distinguishable markings and proportional edges. Rare exhibits and objects made of old gold cannot be checked visually: the sample may be deformed.

A visual test allows you to identify a gold-plated object in places of bends and fastenings: if there is a different alloy under the precious metal, the product will become discolored over time. Genuine gold becomes brighter in places of folds and fastenings, but does not lose its yellowish tint.

Testing gold “to the point”

The favorite method of film directors to distinguish gold from gilding is still effective today. Gold is soft, so when you bite into it, it will leave a slight mark on the alloy. Its depth depends on the sample: the higher it is, the more prone the product is to deformation.

It is not necessary to bite the product: a small clamp or puncture is no less practical. It is prohibited to check goods in stores this way. Before leaving a mark on the product, you must ensure the owner’s consent.

The time-tested method is not 100% reliable: if the lead is gold-plated, there will be a mark after biting.

Determining the authenticity of metal by smell

Smell testing is a simple method on how to test gold at home. Precious metal has no odor. If, when you bring the product to your nose, a pronounced metallic smell appears, then this indicates a fake item. To make it easier to recognize a fake, you should rub the product.

Solar method

In clear weather, it is easy to distinguish between gold and fake. When the precious metal is brought to an illuminated surface and back, it does not lose its visual advantages: the gold both glittered and will continue to glitter with the same brightness. The gold plating will lose its reflectivity and fade.

Rule of musical ear

The ability of precious items to ring like rock crystal when heavy objects fall onto the surface distinguishes them from gold-plated trinkets. Jewelers note the effectiveness of the sound method in determining the quality of a product, but the appraiser must have an ear for music. You can check this way Golden ring, earrings and other products that do not consist of several links.

Gold vs. Gold – check with another gold jewelry

It is effective to distinguish a noble metal from a fake at home if you have a gold product of the same standard and parameters.

You should hold two objects with equal pressure on a hard, flat surface. The pressure marks must be identical. If the density, width, and depth of the grooves are different, the product being tested is counterfeit.

How to identify real gold using reagents and special items

Reaction or chemical inertness upon contact with other elements and substances – effective methods How to distinguish real gold from fake.

Reaction with iodine

Testing gold with iodine gives a 100% result, but after it you should clean the product from traces (by placing it in a glass of Coca-Cola for 5 minutes). Iodine is applied to the inside after scratching the application area with an abrasive or sandpaper; 1 drop is enough.

The noble metal reacts and the color of the object changes. The counterfeit product does not darken after iodine.

Gold and vinegar

After immersing the product in a container with vinegar for 5 minutes, you should wait for the absence/presence of traces on the surface of the product. Testing gold with vinegar is similar to the method using iodine: there will be no reaction on the noble metal. The forged metal will turn black.

Nitric acid and gold

How to determine the quality of a product using nitric acid? The same as with other reagents. A real noble metal does not darken and does not react to acid.

How to spot a fake using ammonia

Ammonia removes traces of darkening on jewelry, so by wiping the item with a dampened cloth, experts determine the quality of gold at home. Black marks, surface abrasion and tarnishing indicate that the alloy has been gilded. Real gold doesn't change appearance when exposed to ammonia, except for the disappearance of dark traces during operation or contamination of the noble metal.

Magnetic method

An easy way to determine whether it is gold or not is to use a magnet. Jewelry made of precious metal is not attractive, unlike fakes. To determine the authenticity of gold, special magnets purchased in a store are suitable, and not souvenirs from the sea. Copper, bronze or aluminum will also not interact with a magnet.

Ceramic surface as a way to protect yourself from counterfeiting

Unfired method ceramic tiles accurately determines whether a product is a counterfeit. Rubbing a ring or other precious metal object against ceramics leaves a yellowish mark. After the test, a fake will reveal itself by the presence of a dark stripe on the ceramic.

A piece of ceramic tile purchased at a home improvement store or an ordinary plate can be used as a tester.

The method is effective if you wet the product with water before use. After running a pencil over the surface, there should be no traces left - they mean a fake.

Folk way

Craftsmen learned to counterfeit jewelry back in the old days, so buyers have long learned how to distinguish gold from a fake at home. Bread crumb - faithful assistant to determine the quality of the metal. By leaving the product inside the crumb for 48 hours, past experts looked for green or dark marks on the surface. They indicate a product made from cheap alloys.

Archimedes' method

The great scientist and thinker studied metal using mathematical calculations and formulas. He placed the piece of jewelry in a flask of water and measured the amount of substance displaced. The data corresponded to the parameters of a noble metal. The method is not suitable for hollow jewelry (“blown” rings, chains).

The use of touchstone has been known for a long time. It determines the gold standard and allows you to identify a fake. After rubbing the stone with almond oil, you should draw a line on its surface. An assay needle is used to mark product samples. By dripping nitric acid onto the strokes, reaction experts determine the conformity of the declared sample and the nobility of the metal.

Modern precious metal analyzers

Mobile analyzers use X-rays to determine metal markings, identify counterfeits and measure the proportion of ligature. Scope of application: pawnshops, jewelry stores and centers for receiving/delivering products made from precious metals.

How to distinguish gold from copper

Copper resembles gold in appearance and is often used as an alloy metal. To avoid counterfeiting, you should pay attention to the sample of the product (corresponds to the marking of jewelry made of precious metal) and appearance. The shade of copper is reddish, gold is yellowish.

Copper tends to darken over time, and gold jewelry never changes color and brightness, but is subject to deformation, since the metal is very soft.

How to distinguish gold from pyrite

Pyrite is called “false gold” because of its external similarity to noble metal. It refers to iron sulfide, a mineral.

Element differences:

pyrite has a sulfur smell;
when exposed to a sharp object, a dent will remain on the gold, and the pyrite will split;
Pyrite does not shine in the shadows, unlike gold, which has a constant calm shine outside the light source.

How to avoid fraud when buying precious metals

Methods for determining the authenticity of gold at home are used in the absence of the possibility of professional examination of the product.

When purchasing expensive jewelry you should:

buy goods labeled as being of adequate quality.
Pay attention to the availability of supporting documents and certificates.
Visually check the quality and price compliance.
Don't react too much low price. Promotions do not always mean benefits: sometimes sellers reduce the price for defects or low-quality goods.

Conclusion: It’s easy to distinguish gold from fake at home, but independent methods should be used when it is not possible to contact a professional. You should not purchase goods from unregistered retail outlets or from suspicious persons. Marking does not always mean the nobility of the metal. To instantly determine the authenticity, a visual check is suitable, the absence of odor and abrasions with signs of a different alloy in the product.

However, among such diversity there are often things that cannot claim to be originals. It is important for every person who wants to spend their money to know how to distinguish gold from a banal counterfeit. cash for precious metal.

Is it possible to counterfeit gold with purity?

Initially, they carefully examine the thing they like - a ring, bracelet, necklace, cufflinks, watch, etc. So, how to distinguish real gold from a fake by visual assessment? You should focus on these important details:

Brand. It should be fairly clear, but sometimes it can be difficult to see, especially with antique jewelry. However, scammers have gotten used to skillfully imitating markings. So counterfeit gold with hallmarks can also occur.

Tag and certificate. The original label contains relevant information about the product itself, and the name of the manufacturer must be indicated. The fake is devoid of accompanying documentation and labels.

The state of the “wrong side”. The inner surface of the original item is finished neatly and professionally, which cannot be said about the counterfeit. Chips, cracks, and other similar defects are also not allowed.

An example of a very clumsy fake of gold is shown in the photo below:

Metal color. The reddish tint of the jewelry indicates an excessive amount of copper in it. The alloy, which is pale yellow in appearance, contains a lot of zinc. In addition, high-grade gold will not change its color when lighting fluctuates.

Occasionally, a sound check is also used. How to distinguish gold: it differs from a fake in that when it hits a hard surface it produces a slight “crystal” ringing. But, of course, not every person has such hearing to catch and recognize the finest facets of sound. Previously, gold was tested by biting with teeth. Imprints remain on the surface of the precious metal, however, one should not forget about the softness of lead.

How to distinguish - fake or gold?

To confirm (or refute) the decent quality of a jewelry product, they resort to simple but reliable analyzes. There are several simple techniques, giving a chance to distinguish gold from fake even at home.

For example, suitable for this:

Iodine solution. Drop a little substance and wait a couple of minutes, then remove the iodine from the product with a dry cloth. If there is a trace left on the area under study, then this is a forgery. If there are no prints, then the original is before your eyes.

Video demonstrates how to distinguish gold from fake ( we're talking about about iodine test):

Vinegar. Pour the liquid into a cup, lower the jewelry item there for literally 5 minutes, then take out the “trinket” and carefully examine it. If it has not darkened, then the acquisition can be safely called successful.

Unglazed ceramics. If you run the edge of the original decoration over a porcelain plate, a golden stripe will remain on it, and if it’s fake, it will be dark.

lapis pencil. How to identify real gold: from a fake (after applying small strokes to its wetted surface using the mentioned pencil), you should expect the appearance of a dark blot. The precious metal will remain golden after manipulation.

One more known interesting way how to identify gold - it is distinguished from a fake by its reaction to a heavy magnet. A noble ingot is not attracted, but a fake one immediately “sticks” to the magnet. There is, however, an important nuance: scammers manage to use magnetically passive ingredients (copper, bronze), which also cannot be discounted.

You can also conduct the following study: heat the product over the burner, then quickly immerse it in cool water. Gold will not change its appearance, but stains will form on other metals.

If you buy goods in a large brand store, then the risk of stumbling upon a “fake” will be much lower. But you shouldn’t let your guard down, because even prestigious retail outlets sometimes offer substandard products.

All considered testing options are acceptable exclusively for so-called express diagnostics. They help to identify only gross plagiarism. Only an experienced jeweler, who has special highly sensitive equipment at hand, can accurately determine the authenticity of the purchased jewelry and its detailed composition. Therefore, if any nagging suspicions arise regarding the quality of the product, the most rational solution would be to visit a professional.

The material was prepared by the editors of the site site

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