How to Check Gold Quality

Gold jewelry

Determining the gold quality of your jewelry is extremely easy. By law, each piece of jewelry sold in the United States must be stamped with the karatage of the gold. Determining the quality is as easy as reading the stamp.

Things You'll Need

• Magnifying glass

Instructions

1. Locate the gold stamp on the piece of jewelry in question. The stamp should indicate the karatage and then the metal type, e.g., 14kt gold.

   For rings, the stamp is usually inside the band. Necklaces and bracelets are usually stamped on or near the clasp. Earrings will have the stamp on the earring closure or inside the hoop.

2. Examine the stamp using your magnifying glass, if necessary, and notate the gold quality indication. This is best done in a well-lit area.

3. Determine the quality of the gold. According to the FCC, anything marked "Gold" without any indication of a specific karatage is by definition pure or 24kt gold. The remaining quality indications are 22kt gold, 18kt gold, 14kt gold and 10kt gold. In the United States, 10kt gold is the lowest karatage legally available for sale.

References

• GoldPrice: Gold Jewelry
• FTC: Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals and Pewter Industries

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish