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3 ways to tell if your gold item is real

If you are currently considering selling your gold jewelry, you will want to really check to tell if the piece is real or authentic.

It is no secret that shiny items can fetch a considerable price on the market, but before selling any luxury item, it’s important to check the authenticity of the piece because the quality will determine the value (price) and how much money you will be able to receive for it. Gold is also a metal that can often be imitated or mixed with other metals.

There are many ways to check if a gold piece is real or fake from the comfort of your home. However, you must be sure to apply methods that don’t damage the condition of the metal due to it can be dangerous and harmful even to yourself (for example, biting the gold piece).

So how can you check if your gold is real or fake?

At Instant Cash for Gold, we want to help you get the best performance from your gold jewelry and shiny items, that’s why we have prepared this brief guide so you can know if your gold pieces are real or if they are imitations.

 

Thorough visual inspection

Most gold pieces have a mark or hallmark that tells you karat weight. So one of the easiest ways to know the authenticity of your gold piece is to perform a thorough visual inspection in order to find a mark that tells you the purity or karat.

If the piece doesn’t have an engraved stamp or hallmark, the gold may be fake or the mark may have faded over time.

However, it’s important to take into consideration that engravings or hallmarks don’t always indicate that the gold is real or 100% authentic, because as mentioned above, gold is a metal that is commonly faked and even the hallmark itself.

The magnet test

Although the use of the magnet may seem like a rudimentary method, it’s actually a useful tool when testing the purity of a gold piece, as long as a large magnet is used.

Gold is not a magnetic metal, so if the gold or the piece is not easily attracted to the magnet, then you could be dealing with an imitation or even a gold-plated ferrous material.

As gold is commonly mixed with other metals or magnetic materials, the magnet test may not be sufficient and the percentage of gold may have to be calculated. But no problem, we also have a solution for those cases. So read on.

Get a professional appraisal

Although we can check through rudimentary ways the authenticity of our gold jewelry or gold garments, it’s advisable to verify the purity and quality of our pieces through experts in the area (precious metals), because they are the most indicated to guarantee a professional, careful and detailed appraisal.

Besides, professional appraisers have the proper skills and equipment to calculate the percentage of gold in jewelry.

If you want to know or verify the authenticity of your gold, silver, diamond, or platinum jewelry, Instant Cash for Gold is your best option.

Don’t put your jewelry or luxury items at risk and come visit us at our local store in Calgary. We are here to meet your requirements and provide you with transparent, safe, and fast service.

Get in touch with us today by calling 587-889-6067!

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