How to tell if your jewellery is made of real gold
Spotting fake gold jewellery can be tricky if you don’t know how. Good thing there are several methods that prove whether a gold jewellery is authentic or not.
We can use these simple methods to tell fake gold jewellery from the real ones. But if you’re still unsure, it doesn’t hurt to seek help from the best jewellers in Sydney.
Use stamp test
The stamp test is done by checking for any sign of hallmark embedded on your gold jewellery. Typically it’s a small mark that indicates the karat weight of the piece. The karat weight tells us the amount of gold in your jewellery.
Keep in mind, really good imitation gold jewellery can also make convincing fake hallmark. Make sure to perform this test along with other methods.
Magnet test
Always remember, gold is not magnetic. If your gold jewellery somehow is attracted to a magnet, you better have that piece checked for authenticity.
To perform this test, you’ll need a stronger than average magnet. If the jewellery piece is attracted to the magnet, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s made of fake gold. It can also indicate that the jewellery is not made with as much real gold as specified.
Visual inspection
Inspecting your gold jewellery for colour inconsistencies is a great way for spotting if it’s real gold or just gold plated.
Solid gold jewellery will stay gold no matter how long you’ll wear it. Gold plated jewellery means the piece is only coated with gold but has other metals underneath which eventually show with wear and tear.
Check for skin discolouration
Have you ever experienced getting green or black discolouration on your skin from wearing a certain jewellery piece? Nickel, copper and silver are common jewellery metals that cause this chemical reaction.
The skin’s moisture (like sweat), cosmetics or chemicals cause the corrosion in the metals. If you happen to observe this in your gold jewellery, chances are it’s definitely not made from solid gold.
When testing gold jewellery without an expert’s supervision or advice, it’s better to stick to simple and harmless methods only. Otherwise, you might bring more damage to your jewellery.
At best, just seek a professional’s help for absolute surety.
