How To Tell If A Gold Chain Is Real

To perform this test to check if gold is real make a light tiny scratch on the item using a small nail file.

How to tell if a gold chain is real. However if a green or milky coloration is observed this indicates either fake gold or a gold-over sterling silver product. If it is then it means that it contains other metals. Rub a jewelry cleaning cloth firmly over a specific section of the gold chain.

Alternatively find out if your item is gold plated by holding the piece under a light to see if its fading at the edges. If its real gold it will not stick to the magnet. No matter how skilled a counterfeiter is they can only plate the surface of fake gold with color.

Drag a part of the jewelry across the ceramic. If it sticks it probably isnt real gold since gold isnt magnetic. Real gold jewelry will definitely sink while fake jewelry will float right at the surface of the water.

If you can see a gold mark on the ceramic once youve done this then the gold is real. Hold the gold chain close to a magnet to see if there is any attraction. They are hollow inside but still real.

Many manufacturers produce hollow also called semi-hollow chains that are real gold but just a 14 of the weight. Choose a spot that is not noticeable if possible. If there is no reaction then the piece is probably made from real gold.

Acid tests are the only reliable way to determine whether a piece of jewelry is real gold. Would you have been fooled by this 14k gold chain. Sometimes gold products with 22k 18k 14k and 10k are also tagged as solid gold.