How to Tell if Gold is Real: 11 Easy Methods

Gold is possibly the most stable alternative investment in the marketplace. But since it’s not sold on the public marketplace, investors must take charge to determine whether your commodity is real or fake gold.

There are common ways for investors to get around that situation. This guide covers 11 ways to show investors how to tell if gold is real.

Steps on How to Tell if Gold is Real

A jewelry expert can tell fake gold from actual gold, but those outside of the industry can get fooled. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways to estimate how pure a gold piece is, which will at least give you a sense of the current commodities marketplace.

Checking Manufacturing Marks

Each piece of gold or gold jewelry has a designated hallmark number and letter marking. It is usually stamped on a concealed clasp, locket or piece of gold. They’re used as identifiers — each one is unique and never repeated.

Hallmark numbers offer assurance of an object’s value, purity, authenticity and originality. They are normally represented as a series of marks and symbols that are stamped on surfaces of gold. 

Letter markings are also primarily used to identify the gold. They can include the jeweler’s signature, the measurements of purity and potentially other helpful information.

Different Rating Systems

Most of Europe uses the number rating system. It is calculated as a percentage between 333% and 999%. This number refers to how much gold is in the assets — does it contain other alloys or is it true pure gold?  

The U.S. uses the karat scale to determine purity. To keep things simple, the scale is composed of whole numbers between 0 and 24. Objects that score 24k are true pure gold. Those scoring 18k are 75% gold. The scale descends from there.

The Acid Test

Color changes affect the value of gold. Extra-fine gold items are considered valuable, while those with discoloration are on the lower end of the scale.

Re-sellers, dealers and jewelers employ the acid test. But with a little reference material close at hand, anyone who has gold holdings and access to nitric acid can do it, too.

During the acid test, the tester will perform the following actions:

• Make a small scratch on the object
• Apply a drop of nitric acid onto the scratch
• Observe the reaction and watch for discoloration
• Determine the ratio of gold to other elements

If the reaction unfolds very slowly, that’s a good sign of value. But if it comes quickly and forcefully, that means the alloys are taking it over, making it less valuable.

The process is inherently destructive, so it runs the risk of permanent discoloration and surface damage. Delicate, valuable and intricate items should be tested with a different method.

The Magnet Test

Pure gold pieces don’t stick to magnets. But a gold piece intermingling with other alloys, metal or fake gold may stick to the refrigerator or another strong magnet.

The magnet test evaluates gold’s purity. Here are the steps:

• Find a strong magnet 
• Place the gold to be tested on a flat surface
• Slowly move the magnet toward the gold
• Observe the gold’s reaction

If the item you are testing moves in response to the magnet’s proximity, you likely have a piece of gold that is less than pure.

The Lighter Test

A lighter test works the same way as an acid test, except it uses fire instead of acid. It involves subjecting gold to a flame to watch for discoloration.

To conduct a lighter test, take these steps:

• Get a butane lighter with fluid — don’t use a common cigarette lighter
• Hang your jewelry with a hook or lay items on a level surface
• Put on protective gear
• With the lighter, apply an even stream of fire to the article
• Maintain fire for around 90 to 120 seconds
• Remove the object 
• Look for shape changes, residue and discoloration
• Note if you detect a strong odor

Real gold gets brighter when it’s hit with flames, and alloys will darken in color when they’re touched by fire.

Extremely delicate or fragile items with gold, like cable necklaces, should not be evaluated with the lighter test, as they may melt.

The Float Test

Items of pure gold are durable and dense. Pure gold sinks if you drop a piece of it in water. When other metals and alloys are present, though, the item may float for a while.

The float test involves these steps:

• Fill a tall container with water
• Drop your gold item into the container and observe

If the gold sinks immediately, it is probably pure gold. If it floats, it probably isn’t pure gold. Both of those results are far from the gospel truth, though, and can’t lead to any firm conclusion. 

The Density Test

This procedure uses the same principles as the float test, but it’s squarely focused on the density and weight of the object. Pure gold has a high density, while non-gold items tend to be of lower weight and density.

Here’s how a density test works.

• Find a container or bowl with millimeter measurements
• Weigh the object on a kitchen scale with millimeter measurements
• Fill the container or bowl with water up to 75% and let it settle
• Slowly drop your gold piece into the water
• Take a second measurement weighing the container and gold piece to reveal how much water the container displaced
• Subtract this second weight from the first weight
• Divide the weight of the gold piece in grams by its volume

This calculation estimates your gold piece’s density. The higher the result, the more likely it is that the piece is pure gold.

The Ceramic Test

Also called the ceramic scratch test, this method relies on the softness of gold to test its authenticity. To conduct this test, you’ll need at least one piece of ceramic. Use unglazed ceramic for this test. 

Firmly but gently drag your gold item across the ceramic surface and observe the resulting mark. If the item you are testing is real gold, the mark will be yellow. An item that is full of impurities or not gold at all will likely leave a much darker streak on the ceramic.

Exerting too much pressure while conducting this test could damage your gold item, so don’t go overboard. Since gold is soft, it will only take a light touch to obtain a useful result.

The Discoloration Test

Put a gold object in your hand and hold onto it for two minutes. When time is up, look at your hand for skin discoloration.

Real gold leaves no traces — it does not discolor the skin. So if your hand is color-free, your object is probably real gold.

Fake gold, however, leaves color on your hand, usually green or black. It reacts to perspiration and mixes with other alloys. If your skin is discolored, you probably have a fake on your hands. (Literally.)

Make sure your hands are completely clean to avoid a false positive.

Professional Tests

Professionals use some very different testing procedures that consumers don’t have access to. Here are two evaluations for gold purity best left to the professionals.

Sigma Metalytics Precious Metal Verifier

This device helps to certify the authenticity and purity of several precious metals. The inventor’s driving theory was that these metals have accelerated electrical connections but behave in very different ways from each other.

A tester places the Precious Metal Verifier on the metal they’re testing. The device then measures the resistivity of the metal and compares it against other metal types to verify accuracy and composition.

XRF Spectrometer

Spectrometry is the field of analysis of metals using non-destructive force (unlike many of the tests we’ve seen so far). XRF Spectrometers operate under the concept of X-ray fluorescence, finding out which material lies within the gold and how thick the outer shell is.

In the test, scientists beam X-rays onto the vessel’s surface. When the beams hit the outer surface, they can dislodge several atoms and disrupt their orbit. This releases a lot of energy.

Eventually, the new-found relationship between X-rays and atoms delivers another round of unique X-ray beams. These are sent back to the source, which analyzes the clone beams to gauge their new constructions.

Visit a Professional Jeweler

If the DIY tests aren’t working, find an expert to ask. A professional jeweler has the expertise, precision, special equipment and reputation to help you learn the true value of your gold holdings.

Learn about the professional jewelers in your community and don’t be shy about asking them about gold. 

Where to Invest in Authentic Gold

Gold is not currently sold on the major stock exchanges as it’s considered an alternative investment. Trading professionals can find many opportunities in the OTC market. Here are some top-rated gold investments.

Learn How to Tell if Gold Is Real

The valuation of a given gold commodity is contingent on its authenticity. Using a combination of the above methods is a good idea for those who want to jump into the gold market head-first. Although it’s good to ask a trusted jeweler, it’s beneficial to make your own estimations as well.

Frequently Asked Questions