How to distinguish gold from counterfeiting at home: features, recommendations

Gold has always been and remains the most stable way of investing capital. After all, this precious metal practically does not lose its value and is constantly growing in price. It's no wonder that the business of falsifying jewelry attracts all sorts of dishonest dealers and brings huge profits to scammers. How to distinguish gold from counterfeiting and not become a victim of rascals, this article will tell.

Features of precious metal

Pure gold has a rich yellow color and differs from other metals in softness and ductility. And to give the strength of jewelry, it always adds copper or silver, as well as other substances. So that no jewelry can not be made of "pure gold." The sample is just the percentage of pure metal. For example, in a product of 585 samples there should be 58.5% of gold, and the rest - impurities. "Clean" can be called only bank ingots that have a sample of 999. But such gold is not used in making jewelry. So if there is a sample of 999 on the product tag, then this is a clear lie.

Are you real?

The best way to distinguish gold from counterfeiting is to carry it to a specialist for testing. But if there is no possibility to visit the jeweler, then you can take advantage of several tips from professionals. First of all, carefully consider the decoration. It should have a special marking, which is responsible for the authenticity of the metal. In addition, the gold ornaments should be stamped, if not, then the mass of the product in carats. To facilitate the inspection you will help magnifying glass. If the sample has fuzzy and blurry outlines, then, most likely, it is a fake. Of course, this does not apply to antique jewelry.

But modern scammers have learned to put a sample on fakes, so this method does not always help. How to distinguish a fake gold, if worth a try? First of all, look at the edges and joints of the decoration. Over time, the top layer is erased, and if through another metal is seen through it, then the decoration is not from pure gold.

We check "for a tooth"

We all often watched the same scene in the movie: a man checks the gold "for a tooth". This method really works, and thus you can recognize whether the present is in front of you an ornament or a fake. Take, for example, a ring or an earring and press it with your teeth. On real gold there are traces, and the deeper they are, the higher the sample of the product. However, there is another soft metal, on which there will also be dents - this is lead. So the "tooth" test is not a reliable way of distinguishing real gold from forgery. For other methods, read on.

Pottery for help

There are a huge number of ways how to distinguish gold from counterfeiting at home, but now we will talk about the simplest. Take unglazed ceramic cookware and swipe it with a gold piece with a slight pressure. In this case, be careful, since the decoration can be easily scratched. Now look at the result of your actions: if the band left by the product is black, then you are a real fake. Gold at this test leaves a yellow line.

Magnet check

For the next method, how to distinguish gold from counterfeiting at home, you need a small magnet. Just do not think that the one that decorates your refrigerator is also suitable. A magnet must be real, heavy and hard. Only such an excellent interaction with all metals. Bring the gold product to the magnet, and if they are attracted, then, in front of you is a fake. But sometimes a component is added to the decorations, which is attracted by a magnet. In this case, you can confuse the present decoration with a fake. So this method is not the most correct, so it's worth trying other ways of testing.

Nitric acid

This chemical solution can easily identify a fake. How to distinguish gold from forgery with its help? For the experience, we need a small metal dish, in which we will put the decoration. Now, from the dropper, we drip the solution onto the product and observe the reaction: if the decoration has changed color and has acquired a greenish tinge, then you are dealing with the most common metal. The gilding in this trial will acquire a milky shade, and only real gold will not change in color. To date, this is the most reliable way to identify a fake metal! But we can not say that nitric acid is available in every home, so it is worth learning about other methods of verification.

A few more ways

• Take small dishes and pour vinegar into it. Now put the golden ornament there. If the metal is real, then nothing will happen to it. The fake will darken within two minutes.
• Check for sound. Throw the gold decoration on the table and listen: the precious metal sounds sonorous, like crystal. Such a test can be carried out only with small products, for example, earrings, rings, pendants.
• Testing with iodine. This chemical element interacts with all metals except gold. To check, apply a drop of iodine on the product, preferably on the inside, and look at the reaction: if the metal has darkened, it has acquired a light gray or even black color, then the jewelry is fake. This gold will remain invariably yellow.

How to distinguish gold from counterfeiting of gilding or copper

All of the above methods are relevant in cases of frank falsification. But how to recognize if another metal is hidden under a thin layer of gold and do not give out gilding for a "clean" product? The presence of a sample has long been not an indicator of the validity of the metal, so we turn to practical tests.

First of all, look at the decoration, it should not be scratched, and the treatment should be perfectly smooth. If you notice slight damage, then, most likely, the decoration is covered with gilding, and from real metal it only has a lock. If everything is clean, then scrape the jewelry on an inconspicuous patch. With such a test, gold will remain intact, but the gilding will slightly lag behind, and another metal will be exposed.

An excellent way of how to distinguish gold from a fake is a lapis pencil. This medical device perfectly interacts and oxidizes metals, and you can buy it in any pharmacy. Slightly scrape the product and water it with water. Now it is necessary to spend on a scraping with a pencil. All metals except gold will darken.

How to distinguish gold from forgery and brass

The most common method of deception in the jewelry market is issuing for "pure" gold alloys of brass, which are outwardly very similar.

In some cases, only a professional can distinguish a fake, but you can also avoid fraud yourself:

• Take a closer look at the shade of the product. Any discrepancy with the usual gold color indicates a large amount of impurities.
• Before you buy jewelry, you should know its usual price. If the cost of the product is too low, the likelihood of counterfeiting is significantly increased.
• Brass and gold differ in chemical composition, respectively, they have different weights. That is, the same products will have a different mass. Gold is heavier, and jewelry made of noble metal will weigh more.

Maybe it's silver?

White gold has recently become frenzied. This is due to the fact that products made of such metal are distinguished by special refinement and refinement. Not surprisingly, the market was flooded with fakes of less noble metal. How to distinguish white gold from forgery? First of all, look at the color of the product. Silver has a colder shade. A good test method is a paper test. If you spend on it a product of silver, then there will be an almost imperceptible trace, white gold will not leave it at all. In addition, it will help to distinguish noble metal tests with iodine, vinegar, magnet and lapis pencil, mentioned above.

To get real jewelry is best in well-known jewelry stores that value their reputation. And most importantly, try to avoid shopping in spontaneous markets, stalls, crossings or strangers. This will help you not to be disappointed and not to become a victim of scammers. Do not try to save - and then the decoration will long please with its warm color and bright shine.