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How to Know if Gold Is Real in the Field

To be considered real or genuine, gold doesn't have be be totally pure. Most of the gold you encounter is mixed with small quantities of other metals to give it extra strength. However, this is very different from gold plating --- sometimes referred to as "gold cladding" --- in which a very thin outer layer of gold is applied to a base metal body. Gold-plated or clad items are not considered to be genuine gold. Follow some simple tips to spot real gold in the field.

Things You'll Need

Instructions

- 1
  Look first for a hallmark. This impressed or laser-etched mark is a sure indicator that a piece meets a legal standard for gold purity. The hallmark takes one or both of two forms --- a three-digit number expressing the bullion content in terms of parts per thousand, or a measurement in carats, abbreviated by "ct," "kt" or "K." (For more help with caratage, see Resources.)
- 2
  Weigh the item in the palm of your hand, then compare it to the weight of a base metal item of a similar size. Unless the item is so small that your palm can't detect any weight at all, a gold item will always seem distinctly heavier than an equivalent base metal one.
- 3
  Scratch the item with the point of a pin. If the pin sinks in easily, this is a sign of real gold, because it's a very soft metal. If the pin scrapes along the surface without penetrating it, then you are handling some other kind of metal. This test in particular is an excellent indicator of gold, but remember to ask the vendor's permission before applying it.

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