An estimated 40 percent of Americans own at least one piece of gold jewelry according to a recent survey. It’s a highly sought-after item for many reasons. On the most basic level, it’s pretty. Whether it’s yellow, white, or rose-toned, gold shines and catches people’s attention. Somehow, it has the power to bring smiles to people’s faces by simply touching their skin. Receiving a gift of gold holds significant symbolism and emotional value.
Of course, the monetary value of gold can’t be overlooked, either. Its value often rises as that of stocks and other investments dwindles. Even when its worth is on a downward trend, it’s still comparatively high. That leads many people to want to sell gold jewelry that no longer holds special meaning to them or is simply sitting in their jewelry boxes gathering dust.
Helping People Profit from Their Gold Jewelry
At Alliance Gold & Silver Exchange, we’re here to help people profit from their unwanted gold jewelry. We make the process of buying and selling gold simple, and we’re committed to honesty and transparency. Those who are looking to sell their gold and other precious metals need only gather their items, bring them to us, and let us evaluate them. From there, we’ll provide a fair payout on the spot.
Determining If Gold Is Real
Considering the inherent value of gold, many people want to own it. Quite a few businesses want to cash in on it as well. As such, a variety of imposters are on the market. Many of them closely resemble the genuine article, so people often struggle to distinguish the fakes from the real thing. Certain measures can provide a definitive answer to the question of whether a piece is real.
Examine the Item
One of the simplest ways to determine if gold is real is to check the item in question. True gold generally bears a mark that indicates the volume of gold in the item. It can range from 8 to 24 karats with 24 karats being the purest. Real gold should be marked with a symbol that says 24k, 18k, 10k, or so on. On gold rings, this is usually found on the inside of the band. With bracelets and necklaces, it may appear somewhere on the clasp. Examine a piece of gold to find this telltale mark.
Pay special attention to other information found with those stamps, though. Some may have hallmarks that indicate karats but have additional details. Those may include marks that say GP, HGP, GEP, or other variations of those letters. Items with those stamps are gold-plated or electroplated, so they’re not quite as real as they may seem. Not having a hallmark doesn’t definitively mean a piece is fake, but it’s a good indication.
The Vinegar Test
Next up is the vinegar test. Be advised; this test will damage items that aren’t made of true gold. If the item being tested holds sentimental value, consider avoiding this method. As an acid, vinegar can dissolve some elements and compounds. Gold is resistant to its effects. For this test, place an item in a bowl or on a plate, and drip a few drops of vinegar on it. If it turns dark or green or starts to fizz, it’s not real gold. In the event the vinegar has no impact, the item may be genuine.
Use a Testing Kit
Another option is to purchase a precious metals testing kit. These kits are readily available online, and some of them aren’t very expensive. They contain a flat stone, several bottles of acids in varying strengths, a vial of acid neutralizer, and a cleaning cloth. The acid vials are labeled with different gold amounts, generally ranging from 10k to 24k.
Start off by scraping the item being tested on the stone to leave behind a line of gold residue. Then, place a drop of the 10k testing acid on that line. Always start off with the acid for the lowest volume of gold. If the substance underneath the drop of acid dissolves, it’s not gold.
On the other hand, if it changes color according to the instructions included with the kit, it may be at least 10k. For an item that proves to be at least 10k, proceed through the other vials of acid using the same strategy. That’ll determine how much gold is in the item and indicate whether it’s time to start looking for the best place to sell gold.
Cashing In On Unwanted Gold
Some people own more gold than they realize. They may have pieces stowed away in jewelry boxes, drawers, or cases in their closets that they’ve forgotten about. All those items could easily be transformed into cash as long as they’re real. Use the previously mentioned tests to determine if items are really made of gold. If they are, they could equate to extra spending money.