Are you unsure what to bring to a valuation? How do you know if what you want to sell is real gold or not? Identifying genuine gold from fake can be tricky, but we have made it easier with these tips and tricks.
Everything is in the Hallmarks
Start with checking for hallmarks or single marks on your items. The marks will tell you the purity, or Karat, of the item. The most common purities in jewellery are:
- 24K, which is the purest and shiniest gold of them all.
- 18K, which contains 75.0% pure gold mixed with other metals to make the material more durable.
- 14K, which contains 58.5% pure gold and is used for premium jewellery designed for daily wear.
- 9K, which contains 37.5% pure gold and is the most common purity in jewellery in the UK.
A complete Hallmark is a combination of multiple marks and it is often found on the inside of rings or near locks on bracelets, necklaces and chains. A complete hallmark consists of: a maker’s mark, a purity mark, and an Assay Office mark.
Sometimes the marks get worn out or are completely missing from the items, but that does not immediately mean that the item is fake. If the marks are incomplete or missing, it is best to bring the item to one of our gold experts for valuation – you can always bring items you are unsure about and get an answer on the spot.
The Good Old Magnet Test
One of the oldest tricks in the book is to check the authenticity of your jewellery using a magnet. Although gold is a precious metal, it does not stick to a magnet. This means that if your jewellery sticks to a magnet, it is most likely made of other metals and just plated with gold. The item is not automatically worthless if it sticks to a magnet, it is just not made of pure gold.
Premium Weight and Feel
Genuine gold is much heavier than other metals, so if the item in your hands is relatively large but is very lightweight, it probably is not genuine gold, but consists of other metals with a gold plating.
The Rich Colour of Genuine Gold
Genuine gold has a warm, deep and rich yellow colour throughout and an even surface. If the item you are holding has scratches, discolouring or spots that reveal a silverish metal colour underneath, the item is not genuine gold. Real gold does not oxidise or darken with time – it will always stay shiny and yellow and have an intact and evenly coloured surface. Green, black and silver spots and areas are certain signs of fake gold.
Consulting a Gold Expert
Gold is a precious metal that never loses value, but did you know that an item does not have to be of pure 24K gold to be valuable? Consulting one of our gold experts and having your items evaluated is the best way to know for sure what the jewellery on the bottom of your drawer is really worth! You can bring one or many items with you to the valuation, our experts will inspect and evaluate them thoroughly and give you the right price.
Bring your unused jewellery and other gold items for a free and private valuation to Gold Arthur!
