How to Spot Fake Gold Quickly & Easily

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Plus, learn how to buy gold without getting scammed

Co-authored by Kennon Young and Aimee Payne, MFA

Last Updated: November 28, 2024 Fact Checked

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Testing the Gold

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Buying Gold Safely

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

The value of gold constantly changes, which results in the precious metal being more susceptible to counterfeiting. It’s important to know how to spot fake gold to ensure you get what you’re paying for. We spoke with Graduate Gemologist Jerry R. Ehrenwald and Master Gemologist Appraiser Kennon Young to learn how to distinguish between real and fake gold. This article covers signs of real gold, tests, and how to safely buy gold.

How to Tell If Gold Is Real: Quick Tips

Test if gold is real by seeing if it sticks to a strong magnet. Gold isn't magnetic, so if your jewelry sticks to the magnet, it's either fake or not 100% gold. Alternatively, drop your jewelry in a glass of water. If it floats, it's not real gold.

Section 1 of 2:

Testing the Gold

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1
Compare the size and weight of the gold to known gold items. Gold is one of the densest metals, so it’s heavier than it looks. If you have a piece of gold jewelry or gold piece you know is real, compare the size and weight to the piece you’re questioning. Fake gold pieces may have a heavier weight but also be too large for the weight to match the weight of real gold. Use a jeweler’s scale to determine the exact weight of the gold items.^{[1]
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- Gold bars, coins, and pieces often have their weight inscribed on them. Make sure the actual weight matches this inscription.
- Check the diameter and thickness of any gold coins you are considering buying. Find the specifications for collectible coins in numismatic guides or online.
- Gold bars are sold in many different sizes, but the size of a standard gold bar is 7”x 3 ⅝” x 1 ¾” and weighs 400 ounces or 27.5 pounds.
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Check for a stamp with a hallmark and lettermark. Ehrenwald says, “With a magnifying glass, look for a purity hallmark from the manufacturer on the jewelry. For example, if you own the purest gold, the hallmark “999” or “24K” engraving appears somewhere on the jewelry item.”^{[2]
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Expert Source

Jerry Ehrenwald
Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist

Expert Interview. 12 August 2019.}
- Gold is stamped with karat weight or purity as well as the manufacturer’s name, Young advises.^{[3]
  X
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  Kennon Young
  Certified Jeweler
  
  Expert Interview. 11 September 2019.} The stamp will typically be on the clasps of jewelry.^{[4]
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  Trustworthy Source
  
  Gemological Institute of America
  Nonprofit institute responsible for gemological research and education and setting gemstone buying and selling standards
  
  Go to source}
- Typical karat markings are 10K, 14K, and 24K.
- Some counterfeit gold will have a karat stamp but rarely has a manufacturer’s name.
- Gold may also be marked with GP (gold plated), GF (gold filled), or GV (gold vermeil). These are not solid gold pieces. Gold-plated pieces have the thinnest layer of gold over a base metal. Gold-plated pieces have a thicker layer of gold over a base metal. Gold vermeil is a thick layer of gold over sterling silver. So, if an item is stamped 10K GF, it’s not solid gold, says Young.^{[5]
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  Kennon Young
  Certified Jeweler
  
  Expert Interview. 11 September 2019.}
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As a precious metal, gold does not rust and takes a very long time to tarnish. Young says, “Gold does tarnish, but it tarnishes over a much longer period than it takes for silver to tarnish.”^{[6]
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Expert Source

Kennon Young
Certified Jeweler

Expert Interview. 11 September 2019.} If you see any discoloration on a new piece of gold or gold jewelry, it’s a sign that it’s not pure gold.
4
Test to see if the piece attracts a magnet. Ehrenwald says, “An easy at-home test is to see if the gold jewelry item sticks to a magnet. If the item sticks to the magnet, it may be fake or not 100% gold.”^{[7]
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Expert Source

Jerry Ehrenwald
Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist

Expert Interview. 12 August 2019.} Gold is not magnetic. However, many metals used to make fake gold have magnetic properties. Hold the magnet slightly above the gold piece. If the gold is attracted to the magnet or the magnet picks it up, it’s not pure gold.
- For the clearest results, use a magnet that is stronger than a typical refrigerator magnet to perform this test.
5
Perform the float test with plain water. Test if the piece of gold floats to determine if its real. Real gold is dense and will sink to the bottom of a container of water, but many pieces of fake gold will float. Test it by dropping the gold into a glass large enough to fit the piece of gold and fill it with water.
- If the gold floats, it’s not real.
Rub a sample of the suspected gold or pyrite on an unglazed ceramic tile. A colored streak will be left behind. Fool's gold or pyrite will leave behind a greyish streak. Real gold will leave a shiny golden streak if any.^{[8]
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Perform a scratch test to determine the hardness of the gold. Real gold is a very soft metal with a Mohs hardness level of 2.5. Try to scratch a copper penny with your suspected gold. If it’s real, it won’t scratch the penny.^{[9]
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- Fool's gold or pyrite has a Mohs rating of 6.5 and will scratch a penny.
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Calculate the density of your gold. Density is a measurement of mass per volume. Once you know the weight of the gold and its volume, calculate density by dividing the mass by the volume. Determine the actual volume of irregular objects, such as rings, by placing them in a graduated cylinder accurate to .1 milliliters(mLs). Place 20mLs of water in the cylinder and add the object you wish to test. Record the difference in water level. 1 cubic centimeter is equal to 1 mL.^{[10]
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- 24-karat gold has a density of 19.3 grams per cubic centimeter.
- 18-karat gold has a density of 15.6 grams per cubic centimeter.
- 14-karat gold has a density of 13.1 grams per cubic centimeter.
- Pyrite has a density of 4.8-5 grams per cubic centimeter.^{[11]
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9
Complete the nitric acid test to determine the gold’s purity. “Real gold does not react to nitric acid, so if the surface turns green, your jewelry may be gold-clad versus solid gold,” Ehrenwald advises.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Jerry Ehrenwald
Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist

Expert Interview. 12 August 2019.} This is a good test to use on scrap gold but not recommended for jewelry you plan to wear or resell because it causes damage to the piece. Use a gold testing kit with different concentrations of nitric acid to see if the gold has a chemical reaction with it. Your kit will contain a number of needles with karat value markings. Each needle has a colored gold sample at the tip. Use the yellow needle for yellow gold and the white needle for white gold.^{[13]
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Gemological Institute of America
Nonprofit institute responsible for gemological research and education and setting gemstone buying and selling standards

Go to source}
- It’s also possible to use nitric acid to test jewelry that has a hidden area to scratch or notch the gold without affecting its general appearance.
- Always wear protective goggles when working with acid.
- Make a light, small scratch on the gold with an engraving tool or nail file. The goal is to expose the deeper layers of the metal.
- Use an eyedropper to apply one drop of nitric acid to the scratch on the gold.
- If the liquid turns greenish, the item is probably mostly another metal like zinc and plated with gold. If the liquid turns a milky color, the item most likely is mostly sterling silver and plated with gold.
- If you're nervous about using nitric acid, try a vinegar test instead. While slightly less accurate than nitric acid, vinegar is a milder acid that will produce similar results.

Section 2 of 2:

Buying Gold Safely

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1
Ask for the gold item’s melt value. Some people melt gold jewelry and coins to extract the metal from the piece. The melt value is the value of the gold based on its weight and the current spot price of gold.^{[14]
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Research source} Calculate the value of scrap gold by determinant the purity and weight and multiplying the weight by the spot price per gram. If you are told that the melt value exceeds the weight of the item, be wary of the purchase because it may be a gold-plated or counterfeit piece.
- The spot price of gold refers to the current market price for immediate delivery. This price fluctuates based on market conditions like supply and demand, economic data, and geopolitical events.
2
Avoid purchases delivered to a “secured location.” Some businesses trick consumers into buying gold by saying the purchase will be stored in a high-security location for safety. In many instances, the gold product does not actually exist or is of an inferior quality.^{[15]
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Federal Trade Commission
Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson

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- Always inspect your gold before making a purchase.
- Rent or invest in a safety deposit box or safe to protect your gold.
3
Know the current market value or spot price for gold. Gold price is based on its weight. The price of an ounce of gold fluctuates regularly. Reputable dealers will provide you with the current market value of an ounce of gold when making a purchase.
- Expect mark-ups when purchasing coins or jewelry to cover the artistic or collectible value of the item.
- If the price of an item is below the market price for its weight, don’t buy it.
American Numismatic Association (ANA) provides grading and certification of collectible gold coins. Make sure that any gold coins you purchase have been assessed for grading by the ANA.^{[16]
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Expert Q&A

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How can you tell if it's fake gold?

Kennon Young
Master Gemologist Appraiser
Kennon Young is a Master Gemologist Appraiser and the Owner of Vermont Gemological Laboratory in Burlington, Vermont. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Kennon and his team specialize in handmade engagement rings, wedding bands, and custom jewelry. He attended the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, the Gemological Institute of America, and the Rhode Island School of Design Extension. He is a Jewelers of America (JA) Certified Bench Jeweler Technician and received the highest credential in the jewelry appraisal industry, the ASA Master Gemologist Appraiser, in 2016.

Kennon Young

Master Gemologist Appraiser

Expert Answer

If your skin becomes discolored or greenish when wearing golden jewelry it is likely a bronze mixed with copper. Pure gold does not cause a reaction when worn against the skin for extended times.

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Copper reacts with the acids on your skin, giving a green or black spot where the metal touched you. If you see one of these marks on your skin after wearing jewelry, it’s probably not gold.^{[17]
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Fake gold may also develop a green, cakey oxidation, that's typical of copper oxidizing, which usually means that there's a heavy copper content, says Young.^{[18]
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Kennon Young
Master Gemologist Appraiser

Expert Interview. 11 September 2019.}

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If you still aren’t sure if the gold is real after testing it yourself, take it to a jeweler to get appraised professionally, Young recommends.^{[19]
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Expert Interview. 11 September 2019.}

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Warnings

Use protective gear like goggles and gloves when performing the nitric acid test.

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There are some people who test gold using fire from a lighter. However, this test damages delicate gold pieces and isn’t reliable for gold-plated items. Professional gold assayers test gold purity with a furnace that heats up to around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1093.333 degrees Celsius).

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Be leery of gold priced way under the price of other similar pieces. The current market price of gold changes daily. Compare your purchase weight to the market price. If there is a large difference, it’s a red flag.

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Don’t perform the nitric acid test on any gold jewelry you are sentimental with or plan to wear.

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Avoid cleaning or testing gold with bleach. Most gold jewelry isn’t 24K because pure gold is too soft. Bleach reacts with other metals and permanently damages real gold jewelry in 10K, 14K, and 18K that is mixed with small amounts of other metals for strength.^{[20]
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