How to recognize gold? This is a question that many people ask themselves, whether they are buying gold as an investment or simply to know if the jewelry they own is real gold. People have appreciated gold since ancient times for its beauty, rarity and durability. It is often used in the manufacture of jewelry, coins and various valuable objects. Have you found old jewelry in a drawer and want to know how to recognize if it is gold?

 

Here are some tips to help you recognize it, tell the difference between real gold and simple imitations and know where to have an antique piece of jewelry appraised .

 

How do you know if a piece of jewelry is really gold?

 

There are several ways to recognize gold, but one of the most reliable is to check if the jewelry has a hallmark.

 

Recognizing a hallmark on a piece of jewelry

 

A hallmark is a stamp that indicates the purity of gold. In France, 18-carat gold must bear a hallmark representing an eagle's head and sometimes a number indicating its purity in carats. For example, an 18-carat hallmark indicates that the gold is composed of 75% pure gold and 25% other metals (an alloy of copper, nickel or zinc). The higher the number, the purer the gold. A 24-carat hallmark means that the gold is composed of 100% pure gold, which is quite rare.

 

To check the hallmark on a piece of gold jewelry, simply turn it over and look for it. Typically, you'll find the hallmark on one side of the jewelry, often on the back or on one of the branches for earrings. If you don't see a hallmark, it doesn't mean your jewelry isn't gold. It could be that time and wear have worn the hallmark away, or that it's simply difficult to see with a magnifying glass. In this case, there are other methods to check the purity of gold.

 

There are other hallmarks that indicate the gold grade: the owl for 18 karat gold, second-hand or imported, the scallop for 14 karat gold and the clover for 9 karat gold. Hallmarks can also be found for gold-plated jewelry, so we recommend that you always check your jewelry with a professional.

 

 

You can find the list of different French hallmarks on the government website ( customs.gouv.fr ): PDF to download

 

Using a touchstone to recognize gold

 

Another method to recognize gold is to do a touchstone test.

 

1. Obtain a touchstone and a mixture of acid to test gold. These mixtures must be handled with care (mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid).

 

2. Clean the gold item you want to check and make sure it is dry.

 

3. Rub the object against the touchstone. Do this with light pressure, using a back and forth motion. You want a clean trace. There will be a golden trace left on the stone.

 

4. Place drops of acid on the marks left by the object.
- If the traces disappear: it is not gold.
- If they disappear partly: it could be gold plating
- If the trace persists: it is most likely gold, but it is always necessary to check it.

 

And how to check silver jewelry?

 

To know if it is silver jewelry, you have to rub the silver jewelry and carry out these simple tests in the same way as gold, except that the clear trace will become silvery, slightly blue after application of the acids.

 

It is important to note that this method does not guarantee 100% that the object is genuine gold. This method can be misleading if the object has a layer of metal harder than gold, such as platinum or rhodium. Therefore, it is recommended to combine this method with others to ensure the authenticity of the gold in the object.

 

 

Recognizing gold with a magnet:

 

Gold is a non-ferrous metal, meaning it is non-magnetic. If you can magnetize your gold jewelry, it means it is made of another metal such as stainless steel. However, this method is not foolproof, as some gold alloys can be slightly magnetized.

 

Recognizing gold with a magnifying glass:

 

If you have a magnifying glass, you can examine your gold jewelry closely to see if there are any imperfections or marks that would indicate that it is made of another metal. Pure gold is a very malleable metal and should not have any easily visible marks or scratches. If you notice any color differences or wear that reveals another color, it is probably plating.

 

Request a free professional assessment:

 

If despite all these methods you still have doubts, it is recommended to go see a professional jeweler who will be able to help you and recognize gold thanks to his experience. An expertise to recognize gold is free and you should have an answer quickly. Our jewelry is guaranteed and provided with certificates of authenticity. Discover for example our antique gold rings .

 

What is real gold?

 

It is important to note that most gold jewelry is not made of pure gold. Most of the time, it is made of gold alloys that make it stronger and easier to work with. 18 karat gold, for example, is an alloy that contains 75% pure gold and 25% other metals. 14 karat gold contains 58.5% pure gold, while 10 karat gold contains only 41.7% pure gold. If you are looking to buy gold, it is important to check the purity of the gold before making a purchase.

 

What is a master's mark?

 

A maker's mark is a diamond-shaped hallmark with letters and a symbol that identifies the maker of the jewelry. This mark can be difficult to spot with the naked eye, but it is usually visible with a magnifying glass.

 

It is important to note that goldsmith's or master's marks are not present on all gold objects. Some jewelry or valuable objects may not have a hallmark, either because they were made in a country where the use of hallmarks is not mandatory, or because they were made before the adoption of the use of hallmarks. However, the presence of a hallmark can be an indication of the quality and purity of the gold.

 

 

What is the difference between carat and karat?

 

In French, the word karat is used to refer to the purity of gold. It is the unit of measurement for the purity of gold. The purer a gold object is, the more karats it has. Thus, an object made of 100% pure gold will have 24 karats, while a gold object that is composed of 50% gold and 50% other metals will have 12 karats. Be careful, the karat has nothing to do with the weight of the gold object. A 24 karat gold object can be lighter than a 14 karat gold object if it is smaller or if it has a shape that does not allow it to contain as much gold.

 

Carat is a unit of weight measurement used for diamonds and other precious stones. One carat equals 0.2 grams. This unit is used to indicate the weight of diamonds and other precious stones.

 

These simple tests should help you determine if your jewelry is gold or not.