It is known that glitters is not always gold. As with any value, yellow metal has fakes-fake gold. His market is growing all over the world and fakes are becoming more and more skillful. So the question of how to check the gold in any form is very relevant. Yellow metal and jewellery made of it are so perfectly forged that it is very difficult to distinguish a true ornament from a fake, especially to a simple consumer. Quite often, for example, if you need to sell gold to a pawn shop, the question arises: how to check the gold and do it quickly, without leaving the house.
In the USA the standard is valid if the product contains less than 10 carats of pure dragmetal, it is considered as false. If you are concerned about how to check whether it is genuine, use the most reliable method-contact a specialist-certified jeweler. If you think yourself to check the authenticity of jewelry from dragmetal, you can use the tips given in this article or watch a video from the internet, which can tell how to check the gold.
Test visual
How to check using this method, the authenticity of gold? It is enough just to look closely at the subject from it. First of all, consider special markings that indicate the authenticity of gold. The ornament must contain a state stamp denoting a sample or carat weight.
In cases, if you do not know how to see a very small sample, you can use a magnifying glass to simplify the task and check whether the real gold. An antique product can have a subtle stigma. Unfortunately, fakes can also be branded and distinguish the authenticity of things in this case can only experienced jeweler.
The sample should be on all parts of the product, otherwise it may be that it has a part of a fake dragmetal. Doubt about the authenticity of the yellow metal can cause the absence of a sample stamp, or its impression to be uneven, with crooked numbers. Since the requirements for branding at manufacturing plants are not very strict, the imprint may not be quite neat. But its presence is obligatory.
It is worth paying attention to the noticeable lack of color in some places. The product must be checked for the absence of discolored areas, especially at the edges where it has contact with other surfaces.
If in a gold product which order has worn out, there is another metal, most likely it is a jeweler’s ornament in a cut from a dragmetal.
Popular now white gold in its appearance is similar to silver, but if you look closely, there are significant differences. How do I check it for authenticity? First of all, pay attention to the color. It has a warmer hue than silver, which has a colder shade of color.
Gold and silver have different density, silver is softer metal. It leaves a trace on the paper, if you hold a product of it on it, and white gold-not.
By making a visual test, further investigation of the question how to check the gold may be unnecessary.
Sound Research
Another popular way to check whether the real gold is to determine it by sound. The ring produces a crystal ringing when falling on a smooth and firm surface.
Metal Strength Research
There is another option, how to check in the jewelry product is the real gold-scratch its surface. In the fake under the coating of dragmetal can be absolutely not precious metal.
Bite Test
This method can often be seen in movies, especially westerns.
Be careful to bite the piece of precious metal. After that it is necessary to check a surface for presence of traces from teeth. It is believed that if the true gold-bite will be visible and the trace of the teeth is more pronounced, the higher the mass of pure dragmetal contains alloy. But in fact, this method of authentication is not suitable for all products. You can simply damage your teeth. Another thing to consider is that some metals, such as lead, are softer than the yellow metal and will also remain a bite. The huge disadvantage of this method-it is not always appropriate to use it-for example, under the watchful eye of the seller in the jewelry store.
Using a magnet
This method is very simple, but requires some preparation. You need to purchase a suitable magnet. Magnet Gold does not attract, so if the product sticks to it-it is definitely fake. But now they produce jewelry containing magnet-passive components, and they are not attracted to the magnet, although they may not contain gold.
Chemical method
Many want to know how to verify the authenticity of gold by dripping on its surface with iodine and by tint stains to judge the authenticity of the dragmetal. So, the dark color of the stain speaks about the truth of the product, the milky-that before you fake. Vinegar is also a component of the chemical test. How to check whether gold is genuine vinegar? It is necessary to place the product briefly in vinegar and if it becomes darker, it means that the alloy does not contain an aurum. You can use a pencil. To do this, first the ornament must be moistened with water, then draw a line on it. The remaining trace on the metal speaks of the gold’s faliness.
Gold has chemical inertia, so it is possible to use chlorine gold in the experiment. Its application on a surface of a product from true gold will not give any reaction. The alloy of forgery will hiss and mutate.
Use of assay Stone
The most ancient way to check gold is to use a assay stone.
This stone is very resistant to reagents, does not have a compound of non-ferrous metals. Its surface is not porous, homogeneous, as a rule, black color.
The following actions must be performed for the test:
First – Rub the stone with almond oil and wipe dry with filtered paper;
Second-on the surface of the stone to hold a small (1, 5 cm) line tested product.
The third step is to apply strokes with special needles with the sample number. The final step is the use of nitric acid, pre-applied across the strokes. Once the alloy is oxidized, and the line darkens, you can check the gold for authenticity.
So, the way to determine the authenticity of gold is enough, but it is not always worth trusting them, because you can get a forgery of high quality. Therefore, if you need full confidence in the quality of the product, it is better to consult with a professional who will determine the truth of yellow metal with modern equipment.