Check the Authenticity of Gold So You Are Not Fooled

There was news about fake gold which caused many people to feel worried. Especially investors.

If you are also interested in buying and selling gold, you should really know how to check the authenticity of the precious metal. Don't be fooled by fake objects and suffer losses.

Usually counterfeit products are made by mixing other types of metal. Only the outermost part is the real gold layer. So, it takes high precision to be able to distinguish them.

There are actually a lot of things that might be counterfeited, not just precious metals. So it is necessary to be careful when buying something. Here are some ways to check the authenticity of gold.

1. Observing Gold

How to check the authenticity of gold can be done by observing the physical part. For example, by weighing. You need to know that this precious metal is classified as solid so it is quite heavy.

So you can observe if the weight is appropriate. When buying in the form of bars, generally the weight information is already listed on the product. However, you can do a weighing to find out the correct weight.

In addition to observing the weight, you can observe the size. The size of the object must be smaller than its weight. If the size and weight don't match, then it's probably fake gold.

Another sign that is easiest to spot is a stamp. Generally, jewelry will be stamped on the carat weight or purity. Rust marks are usually 10K, 14K and 24K. Counterfeit products generally only have a rust stamp without the manufacturer's name.

You can also observe gold by testing it on the skin. If your skin turns green when you wear jewelry, it's likely that the product is a mixture of bronze and copper.

The original product is unlikely to cause discoloration. Even when wearing jewelry for a long time, the skin condition will be fine without green oxidation occurring.

2. Testing Gold

Apart from just observing its physical form, you can check the authenticity of gold by testing it. For example by testing a magnet. Use a magnet to test if the product is attracted. If so, then the product is fake.

If there is no magnet, you can try to test using water. Place the product in the water to test whether it floats or sinks. Because the original product has a high density, it will definitely sink.

If you have used jewelry that you don't want to sell anymore, you can use nitric acid to check the authenticity of the gold. This test aims to see if the related product has a reaction to nitric acid.

Before carrying out the test, wear safety glasses and gloves. Make small scratches on the jewelry using a nail file. Then use a pipette to apply a drop of nitric acid to the scratch.

The original product will not react to nitric acid. However, if there is a greenish reaction, then the related product is probably made of zinc. Meanwhile, if the color is milky then chances are it is made of silver.

3. Buying Gold

Before making a product purchase, be sure to seek information first about the price. Precious metal prices can fluctuate. So you need to see the price before coming to the gold shop.

If you find a store offering prices below market, you should be suspicious. Because, most likely the product being sold is a fake. Don't be tempted by cheap prices.

If you are interested in buying in the form of coins or bars, make sure an official certificate is available. Also pay attention to whether the certificate is genuine or not. So, you can avoid counterfeit products.

There are many different types of objects that can be forged, including precious metals. In fact, precious metals including profitable investment instruments. Therefore, it is necessary to check the authenticity of gold so as not to be deceived.