Guide to Recognizing Real Gold and Couple Promise Rings
What is gold marking?
Couples Braclets is a result of the ancient practice of using gold marks to assure quality in jewelry, such as engagement rings or diamond rings. These hallmarks were accompanied by the signature from the assay office that is responsible to verify the quality of the product or the carats of gold. In time, the identifying marks of the goldsmith who made the product were also added.
The hallmarking of jewelry made of gold was a first-of-its-kind method of consumer protection in Europe and dates back to the time of King Louis IX of France and Edward I of England in the 1200s. In the medieval era as well as the emergence of guilds of craftsmen in these dominant European markets, assayers from the state were hired to examine precious metal products. They were required to use a specific mark, and with time they added personalized goldsmith marks as well as production dates were added. These hallmarks later became an essential requirement when selling gold items to the public.
In many countries like Italy and India, the hallmarking of jewelry can be carried out on a voluntary basis. Gold producers use their own hallmarks on their jewelry in order to certify the source and weight of their gold. This practice has its roots in the oldest centers of Italian goldsmithing, like Arezzo, Vicenza, Valenza or Bassano del Grappa. The manufacturer's identification mark is comprised of a number and the initial two letters of the region, like 1 AR for Arezzo. In Switzerland the use of gold-marked jewelry, with the exception of watches, is a voluntary process.
In 1972, in order to uniformize the inspection of precious metals, a group of European nations signed the Vienna Convention on the Control of the Fineness and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals. Some European countries are a part of the Vienna system while other adhere to it. The Convention established the common control mark (CCM).
Each member nation agrees to allow importation of goods bearing the CCM mark without further testing or labeling, provided that these items are typically suitable for national marks. To obtain the CCM mark, a precious metal must be accompanied by an inscription of fineness, a responsibility mark and an office mark. CCM is a symbol of quality and security that assures the authenticity and purity of precious metals used in jewelry bought by consumers.
How do you determine real gold by its hallmark
If you're trying to figure out if your jewelry is made from real gold, there's an easy and fast way to verify it: look up the hallmarks and stamps of white or yellow gold. The majority of real gold is marked with a distinctive mark that indicates its purity expressed in carats. You can also find out the value of diamonds with our other available guide entitled "Diamond price value and estimation".
The "carat" is the unit of measurement of the purity of gold. The higher the carat value the more pure gold is present in the alloy. The most popular karats are 10k 14, 14k, 18, 22k, and 24k.
Let's take a look at what each karat symbolizes:
24K Pure form of gold, however it's usually too soft to be used in jewelry or everyday objects.
22K: 22-karat gold is 91.6 percent pure.
18K: 18-karat is pure gold that is 75% pure.
14K Gold that is 14-karat is 58.5 percent pure.
10K Gold 10 Karat is 41.7 percent pure.
The absence of the hallmark or stamp does not mean that the piece is counterfeit. Jewelry with hallmarks of old gold for instance, might not have them since they were not required in the past.
The best way to ensure that customers get what they pay for is placing a gold-colored mark on the top.
Usually, these hallmarks will be found on the inside of rings, on the clasp of bracelets or necklaces or on the posts of gold earrings. Look for these stamps or hallmarks when looking to purchase authentic and high-quality jewelry.
Be sure to check for Unhallmarked Gold
It is possible to have an item of gold that's not stamped or hallmarked. In this scenario, it is essential to conduct a thorough investigation to confirm the authenticity of the item. This is extremely important to safeguard your investments, to accurately value your assets, and ensure that you're getting most value for the amount of gold you are purchasing. Following the simple steps and tips below will allow you to determine if the gold you purchased is genuine, which will ensure the security of your financial assets.
Magnifying Glass Test
The test with a magnifying glass is the initial home test you can conduct in order to verify the authenticity of your gold. It is a straightforward test that requires only the gold and an magnifying glass. The magnifying glass is used to carefully look at the gold object.
Gold is chemically inert, as stated in the article on the care of precious metals.
This means that gold is not affected by any environmental elements. If you notice any discoloration it could be a sign of fake gold or gold plating. This is particularly relevant if you spot other metals under the discolored areas.
The color and shine could be a clue because genuine gold is a beautiful pale yellow hue but isn't very shiny. If your gold piece has a yellowish or reddish color, it's not pure.
The Skin Test
The test for skin discoloration is among the simplest methods to determine the quality of gold. Gold that is pure will not leave blotches or stains in your skin. However when you wear fake jewelry or handle fake gold bars, your skin might be stained.
How to do it Do it? Simply hold the object in your hand for a few seconds. If it's fake gold the sweat on your skin will chemically react with the metal producing a black or green discoloration. This is because fake gold contains other elements in the alloy that react with your skin.
On the other on the other hand, in the event that it's real gold there will not be any reaction and your skin will not be affected.
Important note: To ensure the test is not affected by makeup, it's crucial to test the gold object only on a clean and dry area of skin. If you apply gold to an area previously covered with powder or liquid foundation A black stain could appear, which could impact the test results.
If you apply the test on clean skin and see green or black, then it is likely fake gold.
Float Test
The "float test" is a simple and convenient method to test at home for gold. All you need is a bowl or cup of water and your gold item. Put the gold item in the water.
If it's gold that is real, the liquid will sink to the bottom. This is because pure gold has a very high density of 19.32 g/ml. If the product floats or stays afloat then it is likely fake gold. Its density will be lower: for example 14 Karat (14K) gold, the density ranges from 12.9 to 14.6 g/ml, for 18 karat (18K) gold the density ranges from 15.2 to 15.9 g/ml, while for 22 karat (22K) gold, the density is around 17.7 to 17.8 g/ml.
However, it is to be observed that the float test isn't 100% accurate, since fake gold may contain other heavy metals that could cause them to sink. Therefore, it is an in-progress method that could help in the beginning to determine the authenticity of the gold.
If your gold piece has sunk but you're still unsure about its authenticity, you may conduct further tests. A crucial thing to bear in mind is that genuine gold does not change color or rust when submerged in water. Any indications of discoloration or corrosion are a sign that the object in question is not genuine gold.