How to Test for Real Gold

 

Fake gold or real? How to test your gold.
Here a few tools, techniques and tricks on recognizing real gold. Sadly, gold hallmarks are not 100% reliable, with unscrupulous people adding false ones especially recently. I've had a lot of experience and still, very rarely, I have been fooled so you do have to be careful and thorough...
There are many ways to test for gold purity, ranging from mass spectrography (you need a university in your pocket for that), refining (you need a furnace), various electronic testers (too expensive unless you’re a professional) or you can buy a few acid solutions and a touch stone from your local jewellers supply.
This is what I have used over many years and it has seldom let me down. You cannot buy these online as they are very powerful and dangerous acids and shipping these by mail is banned and please be careful when using them. Disposable gloves are a must unless you want yellow stains on your hands that will stay their until the affected skin comes off. That's not a joke.
TOUCH STONE ACID TESTING...
The acid solutions are marked with various karat gold strengths, usually 9K, 14K and 18K. This is in Australia. Other countries have their own standards.
You must have samples of known ct / K gold to compare with if you use the touch stone method. A touch stone is a ground black glass sheet or similar.
You take your unknown piece and rub it on the touch stone leaving a mark. You then rub your various known carat golds next to it and apply the acids across them all. The unknown gold will react the same as one of the known gold marks (generally the mark disappears). And thus the unknown becomes known.
I personally use the next method as it is far more accurate and reliable although it will leave a permanent mark.
ACID TESTING THE ITEM DIRECTLY...
Because you are only rubbing surface gold onto a touch stone, you may not be testing what’s really inside. It may be just thick plate. What you need to do is go through the surface of the gold by using a file or blade in an INCONSPICUOUS place. A good place in the case of a chain or bracelet is to do it inside the links or clasp, where there is already a lot of wear from links rubbing. File or cut into it a small amount and then place a drop of, say 9K acid, directly on the cut...

If no reaction then it is at least 9K.

Use the next highest acid (say 14K).

No reaction then try 18K acid.

No reaction? Then you know it’s a least 18K gold.

Some of the reactions you may see are as follows...

If the cut goes brown then it’s gold but less than you acid strength. Try a lesser acid until no reaction. That’s your carat gold.

If it goes green and may bubble, it’s got copper in it and is plated gold. Copper is nearly always used in the gold plating process.

If the acid goes milky white and the metal black, it is possibly silver.

The only reaction you want to see is a brown tarnish on the gold….All else is NOT solid gold. Remember you want to test well below the surface. I have seen many old pieces of jewellery that have many nicks and file marks having been tested numerous times. Sadly some dealers are none too subtle as to were they mark the piece. If you think about where to test, you should leave only an inconspicuous mark.
Things that should raise your suspicions...

Look for discolouration. Plating wears and the metal beneath may show. Inspect between the links and near the clasp where the piece rubs the most. If in doubt, test.

Anything lacking known hallmarks should be questioned. There are a number of reasons that the marks may not appear. The piece may have been repaired. A ring may have been resized. A piece may be worn enough to rub away the hallmark. If in doubt get an unconditional guarantee and then test.

Experience in the colour of particular carat gold is important. 22K or 24K is a bright bright yellow. 18K is a strong yellow. 14K is less and 9K less yellow again. Not always a perfect indication as sometimes a lower carat gold is plated with a higher carat gold to make it look better. That’s not illegal.

Look at the links. Nearly all gold jewellery has every link soldered closed. Gold is a precious metal and no self-respecting jeweller would leave links open so you could lose the piece easily. If any link is unsoldered be suspicious

Most fake gold chains and bracelets are heavy. Lightweight counterfeit are uncommon. That’s because it’s only worth forging heavier pieces. No point in breaking the law for peanuts.

With rings it’s a different matter and you have to be particularly careful and of course if the piece discolours your skin then you know it’s not gold. To late, then, I'm afraid.

Many other tests only come from experience. A few are a bit strange but are enough to raise your suspicions.

Gold is a very heavy metal and over the years you learn the “feel” or “heft” of it. I can generally tell if it’s ok by the weight as it falls into my hand.

Gold is a soft metal. With high karat gold (22K, 24K) you can leave a mark with your teeth. I’m sure you’ve all seen it on TV. It works but don’t try it on 18K or less if you value your teeth.

Many have suggested a magnet is a good test. I have yet to encounter gold plated steel jewellery so I don't think that test has much use. In fact I have never bothered with it.

An interesting one is the smell test. When people say they can smell gold they may not be far wrong. If your hands are sweaty, rub the gold jewellery vigorously in the palms of your hand. If it’s plated you may smell a strong acidic metal smell. That’s the electrolytic reaction of your salty sweat on the plated metal.

In the old days people were able to recognize the “ring” or “tone” of a gold band which was tied to a hair and tapped.

None of the last few can be relied upon and are mentioned out of interest. So the best thing is to buy a gold testing acid kit. They are not particularly expensive, considering the price of gold. It will have full instructions. Next, make sure you get a guarantee as to the gold you are buying. Check it yourself if you feel confident or have it checked by a professional.
One last point worth making is that if the piece of jewellery has some age, and the hallmark is clear and in the style of the period, you can be pretty cetain the piece is genuine. It seems only more modern items are sometime less reliably hallmarked.
LASTLY, I point out that I am not a jeweller and that the above guide is just that, a guide.
I am a pawnbroker with 25 years experience. If you want professional advice go to a jeweller.
SEE MY OTHER GUIDES FOR OTHER INFORMATION ON JEWELLERY.


假金或真实的吗？如何测试你的黄金。
这里有一些工具，技术和技巧，认识真正的黄金。可悲的是，黄金的标志是不是100％可靠，不择手段的人加入真假难辨，尤其是最近。我有很多的经验和仍然很少，我已经上当了，所以你必须要仔细和彻底的...
有很多种方法测试黄金纯度，从质谱法（你需要在你的口袋里，一所大学），精炼（你需要炉），各种电子测试仪（太贵了，除非你是一个专业），或者您也可以买了几酸性溶液触摸石头从当地的珠宝商供应。
这是我已经使用了许多年，它已经很少让我失望。你可以不买这些网上，因为他们是非常强大和危险的酸和运送这些邮件被禁止使用它们的时候，请小心。一次性手套是必须的，除非你想在你的手中，将留他们，直到受影响的皮肤脱落的黄渍。这不是一个笑话。
摸石ACID测试...
酸溶液中都标有各种K金的强项，通常9K，14K和1​​8K。这是在澳大利亚。其他国家也有自己的标准。
您必须具有已知CT / K黄金样品，如果你使用的摸石方法​​进行比较。触摸石地面的黑色玻璃片或类似。
你把你的一段未知擦触摸石头留下一个标记。然后擦你的各种已知它旁边的克拉黄金和应用它们之间所有的酸。未知金的反应相同的一个公知的金标记（一般标记消失）。从而未知变成已知。
我个人使用的一个方法，因为它是更准确，更可靠，但它会留下永久的印记。
ACID测试时，直接...
因为你只触摸石头上摩擦表面金，你可能不测试什么是真正的内部。它可能只是厚板。你需要做的是通过表面的黄金通过使用文件或刀片在一个不显眼的地方。链或手链的情况下是一个好地方，它里面做链接或扣，那里已经有很多的链接摩擦磨损。文件或切成少量，然后将一滴说9K酸上，直接对砍...
如果没有反应，那么它是至少9K。使用下一个最高酸（比如14K）。没有反应，然后尝试18K酸。没有反应？然后，你知道，这是一个至少18K黄金。一些反应，你可能会看到如下...如果切变褐色，那么它的黄金，但酸强度比你少。尝试较小酸，直到没有反应。这是您的克拉黄金。如果这样下去，绿色和五月泡沫，有铜，它是镀金。铜几乎总是使用镀金工艺。如果酸变为乳白色和黑色金属，它可能是银。你想看到的唯一的反应是对黄金的棕色变色....其他一切都是不牢固的黄金。记住，你要测试远低于表面。我见过很多老件珠宝有很多划痕和文件标记已被无数次测试。可悲的是，一些经销商都没有太含蓄，他们标记的一块。如果你仔细想想哪里来测试，你应该只留下一个不显眼的标志。的事情，应该提高你的怀疑......寻找变色。电镀穿金属下方显示。检查之间的联系，在扣环附近的一块磨最。如果有疑问，测试。任何缺乏知名的标志应该受到质疑。有很多原因，马克可能不会出现。这件作品可能已被修复。环可能已被调整大小。 A片可能会磨损擦足够的标志。如有疑问得到无条件的保证，然后进行测试。尤其是克拉黄金的颜色是很重要的经验。 22K或24K是一种鲜艳明亮的黄色。 18K是一个强大的黄色。 14K是再少9K黄少。并不总是完美的指示，有时较低克拉黄金镀具有较高的克拉黄金，使它看起来更好。这是不违法的。看链接。几乎所有的黄金首饰每一个环节焊接封闭。黄金是一种贵金属，没有自我尊重珠宝商的留下链接打开，这样你可能会失去一块容易。如果任何一个环节是虚焊可疑假金链和手镯是沉重的。轻型假冒是罕见的。这是因为它是唯一值得锻造较重的部分。没有点打破花生法律。带环，这是一个不同的问题，你必须要特别小心一块，当然，如果你的皮肤不会变色，那么你知道这是不是黄金。来晚了的话，我很害怕。许多其他测试只能来自经验。有几个是有点怪，但已经足够，以提高你的怀疑。
黄金是一个非常沉重的金属，多年来学习的“感觉”或“分量”。我可以大致分辨出它是否可以落入我的手，因为它的重量。黄金是一种软金属。使用高K金（22K，24K），你可以与你的牙齿留下痕迹。我敢肯定，你在电视上看到。它的工作原理，但不要试图在18K或更少，如果你珍惜你的牙齿。徇磁铁是一个很好的测试。我还没有遇到镀金钢首饰，所以我不认为测试多大用处。事实上，我从来没有困扰它。有趣的是气味测试。当人们说他们可以闻到黄金，他们可能不远矣。如果你的手都出汗了，大力擦黄金首饰，在你的手的手掌。镀如果你可以闻到一股强烈的酸性金属气味。这是上的电镀金属的电解反应，咸的汗水。在旧时代的人能够认识到“环”或“音”黄金带绑头发，拍了拍。
过去几年没有可依靠的，并提到出于兴趣。因此，最好的事情是买了黄金测试酸试剂盒。他们也不是特别贵，考虑到黄金的价格。这将有完整说明。接下来，确保你所购买的黄金，你会得到一个保证。检查自己，如果你有信心，或者由专业检查。
最后一点是值得的，如果一件珠宝首饰有一定的年龄，标志是明确的，在这一时期的风格，你可以相当cetain一块是正品。似乎只有更现代的项目一段时间不可靠纯度标记。
最后，我想指出，我不是一个珠宝商和上述指南，指导。
我是一个当铺，拥有25年的经验。如果你想要的专业意见，去一家珠宝店。
看到我的其他指南的其他信息，销售珠宝。