Disclosure: Some of the links you’ll encounter are affiliate links. If you click and buy something, I’ll get a commission. If you’re reading a review of some precious metals company, please understand that some of the links are affiliate links that help me pay my bills and write about what I love with no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Gold is the most well-known and one of the most valuable and sought-after commodities on our planet.
Because of its intrinsic value, shady players like to make their inexpensive, unmarked jewelry look more expensive by making it appear like it’s made of genuine gold.
Of course, it’s either fake gold or no gold at all and in both cases you’ve lost your money and your savings.
To be safe you must know how to correctly identify real from fake gold and my guide below will teach you everything you should know.
- 7 Easiest Ways to Tell Whether Gold Is Real or Fake (Tests You Can Do at Home)
- #1- How to Test Gold at Home With Water? (Gold Float Test)
- #2- How to Test Gold Authenticity By Looking for a Letter Mark?
- #3- How to Test Gold at Home With Magnets?
- #4- How to Test Gold at Home by Looking for a Hallmark?
- #5- How to Test Gold’s Density at Home to See if It’s Real or Fake?
- #6- How to Test Gold at Home With Nitric Acid? (Gold Scratch Test)
- #7- How to Test Gold at Home With Ceramic Tiles?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold With Makeup?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold With Bleach at Home?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold With Lemon Juice at Home?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold at Home With Baking Soda?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold at Home With Alcohol?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold at Home With a Lighter Flame or Fire?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold at Home With Toothpaste to See if it’s Real or Fake?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold at Home With Vinegar?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold With X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Test?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold With Sound?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold With Ice to See if its Real or Fake?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold With an Eraser to See if its Real or Fake?
- Is it Possible to Test Gold With a Multimeter to See if its Real or Fake?
Table of Contents
7 Easiest Ways to Tell Whether Gold Is Real or Fake (Tests You Can Do at Home)
Here’s how you can test gold at your home to see if the gold object you have is made of real gold or not.
These 7 easiest and free home testing methods work on gold coins, bars, ingots, jewelry, rings, chains, bracelets, pendants, broches, bands, armbands, cutlery, tableware…
#1- How to Test Gold at Home With Water? (Gold Float Test)
How to do the gold float test at home (step-by-step):
- Step #1– Fill a container at least half-full or more with water depending on the size of the gold item you’re testing;
- Step #2– Gently drop your gold item into the water.
- Step #3– See if the gold item floats or not.
To test gold at home with water you need to fill a container with water at least half-full or more depending on the size of the gold item you’re testing.
You don’t need as much water when you’re testing a gold ring compared to a gold watch compared to a 1kg gold bar.
Real gold is a heavy metal and won’t float under any circumstance.
Gently drop your gold item into the water. You’re looking to see whether the item floats or drops dead to the bottom of the container.
Your gold is fake if it floats, real if it drops like a stone.
Gold float test can also tell you whether your gold is real or fake based on whether it tarnishes or not.
Authentic, 100% pure gold (24K) will never tarnish or rust. And a clear sign your gold is fake is if your gold starts to change color after it’s been in water for a while.
Note: don’t do the gold float test with an item that has sentimental value to you (given the risk of permanent tarnishing).
#2- How to Test Gold Authenticity By Looking for a Letter Mark?
It’s easy to test gold authenticity by looking for letter marks engraved on the object.
The jewelry item that has the letters GF, GP, GF, GEP stamped on it isn’t made of real gold.
GF stands for “gold filled”, GP stands for “gold plated”, and GEP stands for “gold electroplate”. These gold hallmarks indicate the jewelry is made of some other metal with a thin gold veneer on top.
While this superficial gold plating may be real, it’s only a small part of a complete product and it’s not enough gold for the item to be considered true gold.
#3- How to Test Gold at Home With Magnets?
How to Test Gold at Home With Magnets? (step-by-step):
- Step #1– get a strong, neodymium magnet;
- Step #2– put the magnet on the top surface of your gold item.
- Step #3– See if the gold item sticks to the magnet or not.
To test gold at home with magnets you need to put the magnet on the top surface of your gold item and see if the item sticks to it. 100% authentic gold won’t magnetize.
You don’t have real gold if your item attaches itself to your magnet.
I said you need a strong magnet because most kitchen magnets aren’t powerful enough so you’ll need to go to the hardware store and buy the strongest magnet they have.
Keep in mind you might get a reaction from the jewelry if the gold is alloyed with a ferromagnetic metals such as iron, cobalt, nickel or some stainless steel forms.
#4- How to Test Gold at Home by Looking for a Hallmark?
It’s easy to test gold at home by looking for a stamped official gold hallmark.
A gold hallmark is a stamp or engraving on gold jewelry that indicates the purity, value, and other information about the piece. It’s a tiny stamp that shows the gold’s karat weight.
Different locations use different measurements. For example, In the U.S. the hallmark number is a fraction of 24. This means pure gold is labeled as 24k gold. And hallmark of 12k gold, or 12 karat, means that half of the gold item is made of gold (other hallmarks used in the US are 8K, 9K, 10K, 14K, 18K, 20K, and 22K).
| Gold Karat | Gold Content |
|---|---|
| 24K | 100% gold content |
| 22K | 91.67% gold content |
| 20K | 83.3% gold content |
| 18K | 75% gold content |
| 14K | 58.30% gold content |
| 12K | 50% gold content |
| 10K | 41.7% gold content |
| 9K | 37.5% gold content |
| 8K | 33.3% gold content |
If you’re based in Europe you’ll see a number between .000 and 1.000, with 1.000 being 100 percent gold -pure gold.
All of this info is valid only if the hallmark is present. However, your jewelry or supposed gold bullion doesn’t contain real gold if the hallmark is absent.
Moreover, it’s possible the hallmark has worn away over time, which can happen if the item is in constant contact with skin.
Also, if the jewelry is old, it might be real gold but the item was made before hallmarking became a consistent gold authentication practice.
Here’s an example of a very old gold locket produced when gall hallmarking wasn’t obligatory.
#5- How to Test Gold’s Density at Home to See if It’s Real or Fake?
How to Test Gold’s Density at Home to See if It’s Real or Fake (step-by-step):
- Step #1– weigh your test item and note its weight in grams;
- Step #2– put your container on a flat surface and half-fill it with water;
- Step #3– record how full the container is in milliliters;
- Step #4– lower your gold item into the container so the water doesn’t splash over the sides;
- Step #5– write down the new water level;
- Step #6– subtract the first measurement from the second to find out how many milliliters of water your item displaced;
- Step #7- divide the gold item’s volume by its weight.
The density of gold is approximately 19.3 grams per milliliter (g/mL).
The closer your gold item’s density is to this figure, the more real gold it contains.
You’ll need a container with markings in milliliters and a scale that measures in grams to find the density of your gold item.
First, weigh your test item and note its weight in grams. Second, put your container on a flat surface and half-fill it with water. Third, record how full the container is in milliliters.
Fourth, lower your gold item into the container so the water doesn’t splash over the sides. Fifth, write down the new water level.
Sixth, subtract the first measurement from the second to find out how many milliliters of water your item displaced. This gives you the item’s volume.
Now, to find the density of your gold item, divide its volume by its weight. For example, if your item weighs 50 grams and has a volume of 2.5 milliliters, its density will be 50 / 2.5, which is 20 g/mL. Since the density of gold is 19.3 g/mL, the chances are your item is mostly real gold and gold content is really high.
Of course, other metals have a weight similar to gold’s, so this test is a good guide but not completely foolproof.
#6- How to Test Gold at Home With Nitric Acid? (Gold Scratch Test)
How to Test Gold at Home With Nitric Acid? (step-by-step):
- Step #1– get your gold item to test;
- Step #2– find a place where you can make a small scratch;
- Step #3– apply a drop of nitric acid;
- Step #4– see whether the scratched part turns milky or green.
To perform the gold scratch test at home you need to get your gold item (for example, a piece of jewelry, a ring or a band or an armband) and find a place where you can make a small scratch. On the inside of a ring or under a clasp is fine.
Create a mark deep enough to scratch through the top gold layer.
Carefully apply a drop of nitric acid to the mark and see whether it turns milky or green. There will be no reaction if the item you’re testing is made of pure gold or is mostly made of gold.
Pro tip: nitric acid is a dangerous chemical to humans. Make sure you wear protective gloves and goggles. And be sure your room is well-ventilated because you don’t want to breathe in that stuff.
You also don’t want to apply nitric acid to something of great personal value to you given the potential permanent damage nitric acid does to the jewelry you’re testing.
#7- How to Test Gold at Home With Ceramic Tiles?
How to Test Something Made of Gold at Home With Ceramic Tiles? (step-by-step):
- Step #1– Find an unglazed ceramic tile;
- Step #2– Gently rub your gold item against the tile;
- Step #3– See if there’s golden or black streak on the spot you rubbed.
Testing gold at home with ceramic tiles is excellent for determining whether the item is made of pure gold, or is just plated with a thin gold veneer.
This test involves damaging your gold item. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to get definitive results with minimum damage.
Find an unglazed ceramic tile. It must be unglazed as tile glaze affects the results.
Gently rub your gold item against the tile until you see fragments of gold flaking off. There’s a very good chance your item is made of real gold if you notice a golden streak where you rubbed.
Your gold item is made of fake gold if you notice a black mark instead of a golden streak.
Is it Possible to Test Gold With Makeup?
Yes, it’s possible to test gold with makeup.
To test gold with makeup you need to take a small amount of liquid foundation and blend it into your hand. Set with powder, and after it’s dried down, rub your gold item on the area.
It’s real gold if the area turns black. There shouldn’t be residue left from the gold after rubbing your gold item on clean, dry skin that’s free from oils, lotions and makeup.
It isn’t authentic gold if a black or greenish mark appears on clean skin.
Note: Test your gold item with makeup on both clean, dry skin and skin with the liquid foundation to see if there is any difference.
Also, testing gold with a deodorant isn’t possible. I’m adding it here as someone recently asked me if their deodorant can help them determine whether their gold’s real r fake.
I said no, it can’t.
Is it Possible to Test Gold With Bleach at Home?
Yes, it’s possible to test gold with bleach at home. I don’t recommend it though as bleach can permanently damage your gold item.
Drop a small amount of bleach on the surface of your gold item. It’s not authentic if it shows signs of discoloration. Real gold won’t change color when exposed to bleach.
Once you’re done with the bleach gold test remember to thoroughly rinse the tested item.
Is it Possible to Test Gold With Lemon Juice at Home?
Yes, it’s possible to test gold with lemon juice at home. I don’t recommend it though as lemon juice is not reliable when testing gold’s authenticity and purity.
You can use lemon juice to test gold because of lemon’s acidic nature. Apply a drop or two to the item and look for changes. Genuine gold won’t react to lemon acid. Fake gold will show signs of corrosion or discoloration.
Keep in mind that lemon juice applied to gold item’s surface can permanently damage your item. So be careful with your valuables, especially if you’re testing a valuable, rare gold coin.
And don’t bother testing silver with lemon juice. Lemon acid is too weak to get conclusive results when testing silver coins, bars and jewelry.
Is it Possible to Test Gold at Home With Baking Soda?
Yes, it’s possible to test gold at home with baking soda. I don’t recommend it though as this testing method is inconsistent and unreliable.
Here’s how you can test gold at home with baking soda:
- Step #1– Purchase baking soda from a grocery store.
- Step #2- Create a paste by mixing a small amount of baking soda with vinegar or water in a small container.
- Step #3- Apply the paste to the gold item’s surface.
- Step #4- Gently rub the paste over that surface area.
The baking soda paste will have no effect on real gold. Gold-plated items will change as their base metal (for example brass) will react with the paste and the entire object will discolor.
Testing gold with baking soda is imperfect and it won’t detect all types of impurities in gold.
Baking soda is a mild abrasive but strong enough to permanently scratch and damage your tested object. So be careful and remember there’re better and safer gold testing methods described in this guide.
Note: don’t bother trying to test platinum with baking soda. Platinum is immune to the effect of baking soda, though prolonged exposure will permanently damage your platinum item.
Is it Possible to Test Gold at Home With Alcohol?
Yes, it’s possible to test gold at home with alcohol. This test isn’t the best though.
You need pure alcohol to test gold purity with it. You can’t, for example, use a bottle of whiskey to test your gold item for authenticity.
Here’s how to test gold at home with alcohol.
- Step #1– Apply a few drops of alcohol to the gold.
- Step #2– Gently rub it in with your finger.
- Step #3– Observe the reaction.
Alcohol won’t affect pure (24k) gold. Gold-plated objects will change color depending on the base metal’s reaction to the alcohol.
Alcohol also discolors fake gold.
Is it Possible to Test Gold at Home With a Lighter Flame or Fire?
Yes, it’s possible to test gold at home with a lighter flame or fire. This gold-testing method isn’t reliable though and it’s not the first one you should be trying.
Here’s how to test gold with a lighter. It can be a regular lighter or a kitchen lighter.
Hold your gold object close to the lighter. Don’t let the flame touch your gold item.
Observe the reaction. Gold has a high melting point so authentic gold won’t be affected by the lighter’s flame.
Gold-plated item will be affected by the heat from the lighter and will change either color or shape, or both simultaneously.
Fake gold will also visibly respond when exposed to a lighter flame.
Note: don’t bother trying to test palladium with lighter flame. Palladium doesn’t exhibit a visible color change when heated with a typical lighter flame so it’s difficult to distinguish palladium from other metals.
Is it Possible to Test Gold at Home With Toothpaste to See if it’s Real or Fake?
Yes, it is possible to test gold at home with toothpaste.
You can use regular toothpaste to test if gold is real or fake.
Rub a small amount of white toothpaste onto the gold item for about 30 seconds. Rinse off the toothpaste with water.
It’s authentic gold if the gold item remains unchanged. Fake gold exposed to toothpaste usually shows signs of wear or discoloration (a black spot may form).
Testing gold with toothpaste isn’t a perfect method and should be combined with other free home gold test for more conclusive results.
Is it Possible to Test Gold at Home With Vinegar?
Yes, it is possible to test gold at home with vinegar.
Put your gold item into a bowl and add a few drops of vinegar (ideally white vinegar, as it’s most acidic and higher acidity is better for this test).
Real gold isn’t reactive and won’t change color when it gets attacked by acid from vinegar.
Fake gold exposed to vinegar turns either black or green.
Vinegar gold testing works best on solid-gold items like raw gold nuggets, gold pieces, gold coins or 24k bullion.
Is it Possible to Test Gold With X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Test?
Yes, it’s possible to test gold with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) test.
It’s one of the most accurate methods for determining gold purity. An XRF machine uses X-rays to measure the elemental composition of the gold and can accurately discover the percentage of gold in an item.
However, you probably don’t have an XRF machine in your home. Unless you’re a professional jeweler, which is highly unlikely considering that you’re reading my article on the best free ways to check whether your gold is real or fake.
Is it Possible to Test Gold With Sound?
Yes, it’s possible to test gold with sound.
To test gold with sound, use the “ping test” where you gently strike the gold piece against another object, like a coin, and listen for a long, high-pitched ringing sound.
When struck, genuine gold vibrates at a specific frequency, creating a clear, ringing sound.
Fake gold produces a dull, short sound due to different metal composition.
Is it Possible to Test Gold With Ice to See if its Real or Fake?
Yes, it’s possible to test gold with ice.
To test gold with ice, you can place an ice cube on the gold piece and observe how quickly it melts.
Real gold conducts heat away from the ice relatively slowly and this causes the ice to melt at a moderate pace.
Fake gold melts the ice much faster because it has lower thermal conductivity.
Testing if gold is real with ice isn’t a definitive way to test gold and should be used with caution as other factors like the size of the gold piece and the surrounding temperature affect the result and give false positives.
Is it Possible to Test Gold With an Eraser to See if its Real or Fake?
Yes, it’s possible to test gold with an eraser.
To test gold with an eraser use a pencil eraser to lightly rub against a piece of suspected gold jewelry to check for a black mark.
The piece isn’t real gold if a black mark appears on the eraser. It’s because the eraser is picking up the plating material from a fake gold item.
Is it Possible to Test Gold With a Multimeter to See if its Real or Fake?
Yes, you can test gold with a multimeter. It’s not the most accurate method for determining gold’s purity and is best used as a preliminary check.
By measuring the electrical resistance of the gold piece you can get a rough idea of its gold content, as pure gold has a very low resistance compared to other metals mixed with it.
Is it Possible to Test Gold at Home With Hydrogen Peroxide?
No, it’s not possible to test gold at home with hydrogen peroxide.
Testing gold at home with hydrogen peroxide isn’t reliable, gives conflicting results and damages your gold items.
Pure gold is a highly non-reactive metal and won’t change when exposed to hydrogen peroxide.
However, most gold jewelry isn’t pure gold, but an alloy mixed with other metals like copper, nickel, or silver to increase its durability. Hydrogen peroxide reacts with these base metals, causing discoloration that might be mistaken for a positive test result, even on genuine gold jewelry and watches.
Real Gold vs Fake Gold- Testing Gold for Free at Home (FAQ)
Is Gold Vermeil Jewelry Considered to Be Real Gold or Fake?
Yes, gold vermeil jewelry is considered to be real gold. This is despite the sterling silver base underneath the gold plate making up most of the jewelry.
Besides yellow gold vermeil, there’s also rose gold vermeil and white gold vermeil. All three types are considered to be real gold as long as they’re made from a bare minimum of 10k gold and with a standardized plate thickness of 2.5 microns.
Is Colored Gold Considered to Be Real Gold?
Yes, colored gold is considered to be real gold. There’re many types of colored gold and these gold alloys are made of pure yellow gold and various there metals that produce distinct colors.
Major types of colored gold are white gold, rose gold, red gold, green gold, blue gold, purple gold, gray gold and black gold. I cover them all right below.
Is White Gold Real Gold or Fake?
Yes, white gold is real gold. It’s not fake.
White gold is an alloy of white metals (nickel, palladium, platinum, and silver) and yellow gold. White gold’s exact metal composition varies, but it’s usually made of 75% yellow gold and 25% some other white metal.
White gold is real gold and it looks white because yellow gold is alloyed with silvery metals like nickel, palladium, silver or zinc.
It’s mostly in jewelry, particularly for engagement and wedding rings, because of its elegant, platinum-like appearance and durability. It is also used in other jewelry items like necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, where its neutral color provides a versatile backdrop for diamonds and other gemstones.
Read my white gold guide for more details.
Is Rose Gold Real Gold or Fake?
Yes, rose gold is real gold. It’s not fake.
Rose gold is an alloy of yellow gold and copper which gives it its pinkish-red hue. A small amount of silver is often added for increased strength and durability. However, this low amount of silver can’t influence the color of the alloy.
And higher copper content leads to deeper shades of rose and verging on becoming red.
Rose gold is used most widely in jewelry, particularly for engagement rings, wedding bands, and other accessories like necklaces and bracelets.
Its popularity also extends to other sectors like fashion, technology, and interior design, where the warm, pinkish hue is used for everything from electronics to decorative home accents.
Read my rose gold guide for more details.
Is Red Gold Real Gold or Fake?
Yes, red gold is real gold. It’s not fake.
Red gold is an alloy of yellow gold and copper+ trace amount of silver and other metals. Red gold is real gold.
Copper adds hardness and durability to red gold and also gives it its deep red hue.
The copper content determines the color intensity with higher copper content leading to a deeper red.
Red gold is used most widely in jewelry, particularly for engagement rings, wedding bands, and other accessories like necklaces and bracelets. This gold alloy is particularly popular in Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East and the Far East, with Russia historically being a major center for its use.
Read my red gold guide for more details.
Is Blue Gold Real Gold or Fake?
Yes, blue gold is real gold. It’s not fake.
Blue gold is an alloy of yellow gold and indium or gallium. The latter two metals give this alloy a distinct shade of blue.
Blue gold is rare on the market as it’s considered to be a specialty gold, something rare, something you show off at very special occasions instead of wearing it casually.
Blue gold used in jewelry design, specifically for high-end ornamental applications.
Read my blue gold guide for more details.
Is Green Gold Real Gold or Fake?
Yes, green gold is real gold. It’s not fake.
Green gold is a natural alloy of gold and silver. It’s other name is Electrum and it has a greenish hue because of high silver content.
There’s also human-made green gold and in this case zinc, copper and nickel are often added to green gold alloy to strengthen it.
Green gold is used primarily in jewelry, decorative items, and historical artifacts, prized for its unique greenish hue. It is also used in eco-friendly industries, luxury products, and in decorative elements like pyramid coatings and thrones.
Read my green gold guide to learn more.
Is Purple Gold Real Gold or Fake?
Yes, purple gold is real gold. It’s not fake.
Purple gold is an alloy of yellow gold and aluminum. The alloy is made of 79% gold and 21% aluminum, forming the intermetallic compound AuAl2.
Purple gold is a rare and challenging gold alloy to create and work with and this makes it one of the most expensive types of colored gold you can own.
Purple gold is used in high-end jewelry, particularly as inlays or small decorative elements, and for luxury watches due to its unique color and value. Because it’s so brittle, it is difficult to work with traditional jewelry techniques, limiting purple gold’s use to applications where it’s not subjected to high stress.
Read my purple gold guide for more details.
Is Black Gold Real Gold or Fake?
Yes, black gold is real gold. It’s not fake.
Black gold is a gold alloy that’s created when yellow gold’s surface is treated to achieve a dark, blackish color. Techniques used for making black gold are electroplating, alloying, oxidizing and laser treatment.
Black gold products are expensive and rare on the market. This alloy is prized for its unique aesthetic and is mostly used for creating modern and stylish jewelry, such as engagement rings, wedding bands, and designer watches.
Read my black gold guide for more details.
Is Gray Gold Real Gold or Fake?
Yes, gray gold is real gold. It’s not fake.
Gray gold is a gold alloy that gets its color from the combination of yellow gold and other metals like palladium, silver, copper, or manganese. A mix of these metals combined gives it its unique silvery hue that makes it resemble silver, platinum and palladium at the same time.
Gray gold metal is primarily used in jewelry where it’s prized for its unique color and elegant, sophisticated looks.
Read my gray gold guide to learn more.
Is Fool’s Gold Real Gold or Fake?
Fool’s gold isn’t real gold. Instead, fool’s gold is a naturally occurring mineral that resembles real gold but has minimal value. Fool’s gold is scientifically known as pyrite (chemical name is iron sulfide, FeS₂).
Fool’s gold has minimal usage in jewelry design, specifically for making marcasite jewelry.
Read my fool’s gold guide to learn more about it.
Is Spangold Real Gold or Fake?
Yes, spangold is real gold. It’s not fake.
Spangold is a specialized gold alloy that combines gold, copper, and aluminum to create a unique material with shape-memory properties.
Spangold is composed of 76% gold, 18% copper, and 6% aluminum and is made with either 18K or 23K gold. Varying compositions of copper and aluminum give spangold different colors, including yellow and rose.
Spangold alloy is primarily used in jewelry manufacturing for its unique aesthetic properties, which are created by inducing a surface phase transformation that results in a faceted, glittering appearance.
Read my spangold guide to learn more about it.
How to Tell if Unmarked Gold is Real?
To tell if unmarked gold is real you need to use a combination of gold-testing methods I described above.
I suggest you combine the gold float test with magnet test and with ice cube test. Multiple gold-testing methods will lead to a more conclusive results.
You can also get in touch with a professional jeweler who can appraise your unmarked gold for you. This is a last resort because it’ll cost you money.
How to Tell if Jewelry is Made of Real vs Fake Gold?
To tell if jewelry is made of real vs fake gold you should use the free ways I described above.
I don’t suggest using just one method to test for fake gold jewelry. Instead, combine two or three methods for best and most consistent results.
The methods above work for all kinds of jewelry, including gold chains, rings, bracelets, pendants, bands, armbands, broches…
Speaking of gold chains, you need to be extra careful here.
Some unscrupulous people have recently been caught selling chains with clasps that are made of genuine solid gold and stamped as such, but the chain itself is plated. This is obviously a scam if you bought a supposed “solid gold chain”.
Is it Possible to Recognize a Fake 750 Gold Stamp Just by Looking at it?
No, it’s not possible to recognize a fake, counterfeit, 750 gold stamp just by looking at it.
Instead, you first need to understand there’s a possibility the stamp is fake. And then you should proceed to use one of the methods I described here to see if your gold item is real or fake.
Can Fake Gold Be Stamped 14k?
Yes, fake gold can be stamped 14k.
A 14k stamp on gold doesn’t necessarily guarantee that the gold is real. It could be counterfeited.
Note: fake gold can be stamped 14K.
But it can also be stamped 24K, 22K, 20K, 18K, 14K, 12K, 10K, 9K and 8K.
If in doubt, test!
How to Tell if 24k Gold is Real?
To tell if 24K gold is real you need to test is at home using one of the gold testing methods I provided in this article.
Go to a professional jeweler to have your 24K-gold item appraised correctly if you’re unsure or if it’s important to you to know the truth.
How to Tell the Difference Between Real Gold and Fake Gold Just by Looking at it?
You can’t tell the difference between real gold and fake gold just by looking at it. It’s impossible to discern a gold knockoff like that.
Instead, you need to use one of the easy ways I provided to check if something’s made of gold or not.
If you can, combine several methods for best results.
Does Real Gold Float or Sink in Water?
Real gold doesn’t float in water. It sinks.
Pure gold is a dense material and doesn’t float in water so any item made of real gold sinks immediately to the bottom of the water container.
Is Real Gold Heavy?
Yes, real gold is heavy because it’s a dense metal. Gold has a density of 19.3 grams per cubic centimeter, which is much higher than most other metals.
Real gold also feels heavier than it looks. For example, a real gold ring should match the weight expected for its size and karat value.
What is the Fastest and Best Way to Test Gold at Home for Free?
The fastest and best way to test gold at home for free is with water (gold float test).
Simply drop your gold item into a water container and see if it immediately drops to the bottom of the container.
Testing gold with a magnet is the second fastest and best way to test gold at home. It takes only a few seconds provided you own a strong neodymium magnet.
Is There a Mobile App That Tells You if Something’s Made of Real Gold?
There’s no mobile app that can definitively tell you if any item is made of real gold using just the phone’s camera or sensors.
Standard smartphone sensors (like the magnetometer used for metal detecting apps) can detect the presence of certain metals, particularly ferromagnetic ones like steel or iron.
However, they can’t distinguish between different precious metals or determine their purity (karat) with scientific accuracy.
How to Tell if Gold is Real or Fake at Home? Test Your Gold Coins, Bars and Jewelry (Unmarked Rings, Necklaces, Chains, Cufflinks…)- Conclusion
You’ve read my guide and now you know how to test whether the gold you have or want to buy is fake or real.
My suggestion is to not use just one method to test. Instead, use several of them together. You must be diligent here as you could be saving yourself a lot of money and headaches in the future. Especially true if you have unmarked gold items on your hands.
Don’t get scammed, be smart, get professional advice if needed and always work with a reputable gold dealer.
I recommend Augusta Precious Metals as the best gold investment company in the US (they also sell gold IRAs as well as platinum, palladium and silver bullion). They can help you open a gold IRA and also educate you for free on how to spot common gold IRA scams so you don’t get robbed out of your money.
Resources:
- A cool guide on how to tell if Gold is real or not, even when it’s unmarked- https://www.reddit.com/r/coolguides/comments/16dgcqj/a_cool_guide_on_how_to_tell_if_gold_is_real/
- How to Tell if Gold is Real – DIY- https://www.moregems.com/blogs/news/how-to-tell-if-gold-is-real-diy
- How To Tell if Unmarked Gold Is Real- https://www.cleanorigin.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-gold-is-real/
- How to Tell if Gold Is Real or Not- https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-Gold-Is-Real
- How can I tell if gold is real or fake just by looking at it?- https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-tell-if-gold-is-real-or-fake-just-by-looking-at-it
- Gold Testing: Ways to Know if Your Jewelry is the Real Deal- https://aaajewelryutah.com/gold-testing-ways-to-know-if-your-jewelry-is-the-real-deal/
- How To Spot Fake Gold Chains, engagement rings and wedding rings- https://www.silverspringjewelers.com/2024/05/17/how-to-spot-fake-gold-chains/
- I know the 750 (18k) should tell me this is gold, but a tiny part of me thinks that It might fake, because I get a great deal on it…so MY QUESTION; do you guys recognize the other stamp with the sun. AND Is there a significant chance of it being fake .- https://www.reddit.com/r/Hallmarks/comments/ua60dg/i_know_the_750_18k_should_tell_me_this_is_gold/
- No hallmarks, no idea, need help!- https://www.reddit.com/r/Antiques/comments/1g21ph2/no_hallmarks_no_idea_need_help/
- https://www.bullionvault.co.uk/– real gold vs fake gold
- No hallmarks, no idea, need help!- https://www.reddit.com/r/Antiques/comments/1g21ph2/no_hallmarks_no_idea_need_help/
- Do NOT get the Rose Gold!!!- https://www.reddit.com/r/ouraring/comments/1heiuej/do_not_get_the_rose_gold/
- What Is Black Gold: Your Ultimate Guide- https://www.nobbier.com/blogs/editorial/what-is-black-gold/
- What Is Gray Gold: Your Ultimate Guide- https://www.nobbier.com/blogs/editorial/what-is-grey-gold/
- What Is Purple Gold: Your Ultimate Guide- https://www.nobbier.com/blogs/editorial/what-is-purple-gold
- What Is Green Gold: Your Ultimate Guide- https://www.nobbier.com/blogs/editorial/what-is-green-gold/
- What Is Blue Gold: Your Ultimate Guide- https://www.nobbier.com/blogs/editorial/what-is-blue-gold/
- Patina on Antique Rose Gold- https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/patina-on-antique-rose-gold.241026/
- White Gold Diamond Pendant Necklaces- https://www.diamondsfactory.ca/diamond-pendants/white-gold
- Fool’s gold is a good source of the real stuff- https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/07/19/fools-gold-is-a-good-source-of-the-real-stuff
- Fabulous Span gold plated Spanish Flower Bracelet- https://www.etsy.com/listing/1663576844/fabulous-span-gold-plated-spanish-flower
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.
