Home >> Collecting >> Antiques

How to Verify That Gold Is Real

Most gold is mixed other metals to make it more durable, but it is still considered genuine so long as it reaches a minimum standard of purity - 10 carats in the United States; 9 in the United Kingdom. Gold that reaches this standard will usually carry a mark as proof, known as a "hallmark" or "assay mark." If a yellow metal item doesn't have a hallmark, there are some rough, but reliable tests you can apply to satisfy yourself as to whether it might be gold. Or, you can buy a gold testing kit for a more scientific answer.

Things You'll Need

Pin
Gold testing kit

Instructions

- 1
  Look first for the hallmark, which will express the standard of purity either in carats - parts per twenty-four, abbreviated to "ct," "kt," or "K" - or as parts per thousand. The hallmark is usually located near the clasp on chains, on the inner surface of rings and on the reverse of brooches and pendants.
- 2
  If you do not see any hallmarks, feel the weight of the item in the palm of your hand, comparing it to another metal item of the same size. Gold is heavy, so a good weight is a strong first indicator that the piece might be genuine.
- 3
  Scratch the item with the end of a pin. If the point sinks in like a knife into butter, then this is very good news, because genuine gold is very soft -- the higher the purity, the softer it is. If the pin simply bounces off, then the item in your hand is made of base metal.
- 4
  Buy a gold testing kit. Available from online jewelry accessories stores, these contain acid solutions made up to different strengths to test for various standards of purity. You apply a droplet of the acid to the metal you want to test, and if there is no reaction at all, you have a positive match. Ugly, black discoloration tells you that the piece is base metal. Base metal likely will color your skin and will not look as pretty. Often, jewelry with base metal has a gold-colored coating, which quickly wears off.

Antiques