What material is my jewelry made of?

How to Recognize Real Gold

Understanding Precious Metals to Avoid Scams

Have you ever wondered, how can I tell if a jewelry piece is gold? Or, after purchasing a jewelry item, asked yourself, Is this gold or brass?

Metals can be easily confused, especially with the existence of gold-plated pieces that, at first glance, look identical to the materials underneath.

Let's start with the basics:

Gold, like other precious metals, is mixed with small percentages of other metals such as palladium, silver, or copper, to improve its durability and change its color.

Carat is the unit of measurement for the purity of gold. The higher the carat, the greater the amount of pure gold in the alloy.

Here are the most common types of gold available on the market:

• 24K: Pure gold, but too soft for jewelry.
• 22K: 22-carat gold is 91.6% pure.
• 18K: 18-carat gold is 75% pure.
• 14K: 14-carat gold is 58.5% pure.
• 9K: 9-carat gold is 37.5% pure.

This doesn't mean that a 9K gold piece is not gold compared to an 18K one. It simply has a lower percentage of pure gold in the alloy, which affects the price!

So, how can I recognize if my jewelry is gold or silver?
How can I avoid doubts about the materials my precious items are made of?

The easiest method is to look for a stamp on the jewelry, often found inside rings, on the plates of chains, or on the butterfly clasps of earrings.
The stamp is technically known as a punch mark and identifies the metal used with a number inside a shape.

You will typically find:

• 18K gold: 750
• 9K gold: 375
• Sterling silver: 925

In addition to these marks, you may also find a numeric stamp that identifies the artisan who created the piece.

What if my jewelry doesn’t have a stamp?
What if I have doubts about the authenticity of the stamp?

Let’s start by acknowledging that if someone wanted to scam you, they could easily falsify the stamp. Additionally, you might have very old jewelry with no stamp, or have purchased a piece in a place where regulations differ.

Here are a few tips on how to recognize real gold at home, with the last one providing absolute certainty:

1. The Magnet Test
   A home method to discover if your jewelry is real is the magnet test. Get a strong magnet and bring it near the jewelry. If it’s neither attracted nor repelled, it could be real gold.
   What we know for sure is that real gold doesn’t react to magnetic fields, unlike gold-plated objects or other metals.

2. The Ceramic Plate
   Do you have an unglazed or undecorated ceramic plate at home? It can be used for another test. But be careful: we recommend not using objects you care about, as this method may damage them.
   Simply rub the jewelry against the plate and see what happens. If it leaves behind a golden streak, it’s likely real gold. If there’s any other color, it’s made of a different material.

3. The Bite Test
   Among the methods for recognizing gold at home, this is one of the most well-known. It’s based on a key characteristic of pure gold: its softness.
   Like the previous test, the bite test is not without consequences, as it can affect the integrity of the jewelry. If you don’t want to damage it, better opt for another test.
   If it’s real gold, biting it will leave visible marks on the metal due to its softness compared to other materials. This test works well for pure gold.

4. The Acid Test
   The last option is to contact us or visit your trusted jeweler and ask for an assay or nitric acid test. These tests can also be purchased to perform at home, but be cautious as they are specific to each material.
   So, how do you recognize gold with acid? Simply apply a drop of acid to the jewelry or to the dust created by scratching the jewelry. If the color changes, the metal isn’t gold.

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