How do you know if a piece of jewellery is made of gold?
Usually, the purchase of gold jewellery is done in an atmosphere of trust. We like to know what we are buying and we prefer certain places to do so. In some cases, the question of real gold can arise if we buy in an unusual context such as when travelling abroad. Is it really 10 k, 14 k, 18 k or just gold-plated? And if your grandmother gives you her jewellery as a gift, how can you tell if it's sterling silver plated or genuine gold? Sometimes jewellery can tarnish and appear worthless. Don't always trust appearances. Not everything that glitters is gold and vice versa. Here are some steps to follow to find out if the jewellery you have in your hands is gold.
The stamp / the punch / the hallmark
The first thing you look for on a piece of gold jewellery is its hallmark, meaning the stamp that identifies the metal and its purity. If the jewellery is made in Europe, for example, the hallmarks appear as symbols and are often placed in a very visible area. The eagle's head signifies 18K, the shell 14K, and the clover 10K. In Canada, the hallmark is more discreet, often concealed, and simply indicates the grade as follows: 10K, 14K or 18K. 24K gold pure gold is very rarely used in jewellery. Here, as in Europe, the numbers 750 (18K), 585 (14K) and 417 (10K) are also used and represent the concentration of pure gold based on the 1000 value. If the jewellery is gold-plated, the hallmarked number is followed by a p or gf (goldfilled).
European hallmark
The missing stamp
A piece of jewellery can lose its hallmark after being sized, after a few polishings or simply because of wear and tear. In addition, some jewellers simply do not use a hallmark. So how can you tell if a piece of jewellery is made of gold if there are no hallmarks? There are some small tests that can be done quickly before you go to a jewellery store to have it appraised.
The weight, a magnet, a color
Gold is a heavy precious metal, much heavier than lead and silver. If you can feel that the ring or chain carries its weight well, there is a good chance that it is gold. However, some lower quality gold jewellery may be empty inside and this could give a false reading. The second test requires a small magnet. If the jewel is attracted to the magnet, it is definitely not gold. Other metals are attracted to it but not gold. Finally, if your jewellery shows signs of discolouration on the edges due to wear, the jewellery is gold-plated and not entirely gold. Real gold does not discolour regardless of the carat number. And take our word for it, it's not white gold underneath.
Chemistry saves the day
A simple chemical test is all that is needed to determine the karat of your gold. First, if you want to know if a piece of jewellery is gold, rub it on a touchstone or ceramic tile. These surfaces are scratch resistant and will force the jewel to leave some metal on it. Next, you test three different mixtures of nitric acid associated with the three different karats starting with the highest. (18K, 14K, 10K). You get your answer when the mixture does not make the gold line disappear. Click at the bottom of the paragraph to watch the video by the co-founder of Flamme en rose. She gives concrete examples to help you understand. At Flamme en rose, gold holds no secrets for our master jewellers. The jewellery store will even buy back your gold if you so choose. However, we strongly suggest that you transform your jewellery instead of selling it. We are the best place in Quebec for this type of service which allows you to recycle your precious stones and metals to create a brand new piece of jewellery. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
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