How to Know if a Gold Ring Is Made From Real Gold
You cannot tell by sight if gold jewelry is made from real gold. In 2004, shoppers from ABC's "20/20" show bought gold jewelry from 22 different jewelry stores in three states. They had the jewelry tested and discovered that the gold pieces from more than half the stores were not real gold. If you aren't sure about your gold ring, you can perform some simple tests to verify if it is made from real gold. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Hallmark Stamp
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1
Hold your ring under a bright desk lamp.
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2
Slowly turn the ring, looking along the inside edge for any letters or stamp.
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3
Use a magnifying glass to read the stamp, if needed. In the United States, gold manufacturers must stamp real gold pieces -- anything 10 karat gold or higher -- with a karat mark and manufacturer's trademark. If the ring is marked with "10K," "14K" or "18K," this denotes the karat rating of the ring.
Acid Test
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4
Use a file to scrape your ring. Choose an inconspicuous spot on the inside of the ring.
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5
Put on rubber gloves.
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6
Place a drop of nitric acid on the scraped area. If the chemical has no reaction with the ring, it is real gold. If the nitric acid turns green, the ring is made from a base metal and not real gold.
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Tips & Warnings
The U.S. did not require stamping on gold jewelry until the early 1900s. Very old gold pieces may not have a stamp. Also, pieces from Europe do not use the same stamping system.
Take your ring to a respectable jeweler for testing. Some jewelers charge a nominal fee. Contact several in your area for the best price.
Nitric acid is a hazardous chemical. Follow all safety directions when using this chemical. Do not allow the nitric acid to come in contact with your skin.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
