How to Test Your Gold Jewelry with a Nitric Acid Test

Gold is a highly valued metal all around the world. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and shiny luster. However, there are other types of metal which have a similar appearance making gold identification difficult. By using the nitric acid test, you can test metal samples to confirm the presence of gold at home.

Why Do We Use Nitric Acid to Test Gold Authenticity? Nitric acid will not affect gold (other than to clean it), whereas it will dissolve most of the other metals found. Quiteoften mica or iron pyrites (fool’s gold) are mistaken for the real thing. Nitric acid will not affect iron pyrites or mica (fool’s gold), but those are brittle and will not pass the hardness test.

Nitric acid can be purchased from some drug stores or prescription counters. It can sometimes be found where gold mining equipment is sold.

CAUTION:Nitric acid can be dangerous to work with. Precautions must be taken to prevent harm to yourself and your equipment when working with it.

If you are dealing with strictly scrap gold, you can use the nitric acid test to determine if it is real or fake. Please note that it is not advisable to use this test on jewelry that you plan to keep or that has aesthetic value for resale.

Items You Need for the Nitric Acid Test

• Jeweler’s Loupe
• Nitric Acid or Gold Testing Solution Kit

*Both items can be purchased online.

Step 1: Put protective rubber gloves on your hands and place the gold jewelry you would like to test for gold content in a small glass bowl or a small stainless steel container.

Step 2: (Optional) Scratch the object on inconspicuous place of the jewelry with a file where the nitric acid will be applied.  A test stone can also be used to test a streak of metal laid down from the jewelry.

Step 3: Apply a drop of nitric acid on the gold jewelry (or on the streak of metal on the test stone) and watch for any resulting reaction to the acid.

• A green reaction indicates your item is either a base metal or gold plated.
• A milk-colored reaction would indicate gold-plated sterling silver.
• If there is no reaction, you mostly likely are dealing with real gold. (A dark brown reaction would indicate a 10 karat gold. A light brown reaction would indicate a 12 karat gold. A little or no reaction would indicate 14 karat or higher.)

Step 4: Clean the acid off of the gold using a cotton cloth. Rinse the metal thoroughly with water to remove the acid.

The nitric acid test is a great way to test your gold. However, due to the difficulty is acquiring the acid, and the inherent safety risks of doing this in your home, sometimes, it may be best to leave this test to a jeweler.

Gold is a highly valued metal all around the world. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and shiny luster. However, there are other types of metal which have a similar appearance making gold identification difficult. By using the nitric acid test, you can test metal samples to confirm the presence of gold at home.

Why Do We Use Nitric Acid to Test Gold Authenticity? Nitric acid will not affect gold (other than to clean it), whereas it will dissolve most of the other metals found. Quiteoften mica or iron pyrites (fool’s gold) are mistaken for the real thing. Nitric acid will not affect iron pyrites or mica (fool’s gold), but those are brittle and will not pass the hardness test.

Nitric acid can be purchased from some drug stores or prescription counters. It can sometimes be found where gold mining equipment is sold.

CAUTION:Nitric acid can be dangerous to work with. Precautions must be taken to prevent harm to yourself and your equipment when working with it.

If you are dealing with strictly scrap gold, you can use the nitric acid test to determine if it is real or fake. Please note that it is not advisable to use this test on jewelry that you plan to keep or that has aesthetic value for resale.

Items You Need for the Nitric Acid Test

• Jeweler’s Loupe
• Nitric Acid or Gold Testing Solution Kit

*Both items can be purchased online.

Step 1: Put protective rubber gloves on your hands and place the gold jewelry you would like to test for gold content in a small glass bowl or a small stainless steel container.

Step 2: (Optional) Scratch the object on inconspicuous place of the jewelry with a file where the nitric acid will be applied.  A test stone can also be used to test a streak of metal laid down from the jewelry.

Step 3: Apply a drop of nitric acid on the gold jewelry (or on the streak of metal on the test stone) and watch for any resulting reaction to the acid.

• A green reaction indicates your item is either a base metal or gold plated.
• A milk-colored reaction would indicate gold-plated sterling silver.
• If there is no reaction, you mostly likely are dealing with real gold. (A dark brown reaction would indicate a 10 karat gold. A light brown reaction would indicate a 12 karat gold. A little or no reaction would indicate 14 karat or higher.)

Step 4: Clean the acid off of the gold using a cotton cloth. Rinse the metal thoroughly with water to remove the acid.

The nitric acid test is a great way to test your gold. However, due to the difficulty is acquiring the acid, and the inherent safety risks of doing this in your home, sometimes, it may be best to leave this test to a jeweler.

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Guide to Gold Jewelry Stamps and Inscriptions

Photo via Gold.Org

 

Most authentic gold jewelry is stamped with information about the purity level of the metal content. Generally, the stamp is placed in an inconspicuous place on the item so it does not detract from the design. Stamps are usually located on the inside of the band of the ring, on the post or basket setting on a pair of earrings, on the bail on a pendant, and on the connecting ring or the clasp on the necklace or bracelet.

The term karatage simply refers to the proportion of pure gold in a piece of jewellery. Karatage can be defined in two ways:

• as ‘fineness’ which expresses the amount of gold in parts out of 1000;
• as a ‘percentage’ of pure gold 

The first thing you need is a magnifying glass or a jeweler's loupe--a 30 x 21 mm which is what I use.  The table below lists the most common precious metal stamps on gold jewelry, their alternative stamps or hallmarks, their purity level, and alloys commonly used.

Metal stamp	Minimum percentage of pure gold	Common alloys**
10k Also: 416, 417, 10KP*	41.6% pure gold (10 parts out of 24) -minimum standard for U.S. gold	Usually silver, copper, zinc, and nickel
14k Also: 583, 585, 14KP*	58.3% pure gold (14 parts out of 24) -one of the most popular gold purities	Usually silver, copper, zinc, and nickel
18k Also: 750, 18KP*	75% pure gold (18 parts out of 24) -Standard international karatage	Usually silver, copper, nickel, and palladium (for white gold)
22k Also: 916, 917*	91.6% pure gold (22 parts out of 24) -popular in India and Middle East	Usually silver and copper
24k Also: 999*	100% pure gold (24 parts out of 24)	None

*Alternate stamp or European hallmark is a simple, three digit number representing the quality or fineness of Gold.

Additional Information

• Common alloys vary depending on desired color, such as white gold or rose gold
• The term "karat" (usually abbreviated as "k," "K," or "Kt") refers to the relative purity of gold; pure gold is 24 karats. "Karat" is different from "carat," which is a metric unit of weight for gemstones.
• In gold jewelry, "plumb" is an old-fashioned term that means that the fineness or purity level of the gold content is precisely what is stamped on the item. The word "Plumb" or the letter P still sometimes follows the metal stamp (e.g., "14k Plumb," "14KP").
  
• Other gold stampings such as 15kt, and 16kt gold are not used any longer. When a 15kt stamp appears in jewelry,  this would indicate it is a antique piece. Most 16kt gold is used for dental purposes only and you will not see it used in jewelry. Most of the other stampings 8kt, 9kt and 12kt are of a lesser gold quality and are not generally highly desirable.  

Does Gold Jewelry Have to Be Stamped? -- powered by ehow

Anything with one of these stamps below is not gold. It is made out of a different metal with a very thin gold layer that will wear off over time. These pieces do not have any real metal value and most gold buyers won’t purchase them from you except for sterling silver. Here are a few stamps which signify the piece is NOT gold:

• 14K 1/20 (1/20 gold is basically gold-filled)
• 14K G.F.(gold-filled)
• 14K G.P. (gold-plated)
• 14K H.G.E.(hydrostatic gold electroplating)
• 14K G.E.P. (gold electroplating)
• .925 (sterling silver)

So take note that even if your piece is stamped “14K” you cannot be 100% sure it is gold. There are a number of fake stamps out there and the only way to be 100% sure is to test the metal with a gold tester using nitric acid. On the other hand, even if there is no stamp it could still be gold.

Aside from the stamps or lack thereof, there are a couple other ways you (or most likely a jeweler) will be able to tell if the piece is gold like the nitric acid test or density test.

Related Post: How Can I Tell If Gold is Real?

Photo via Gold.Org

 

Most authentic gold jewelry is stamped with information about the purity level of the metal content. Generally, the stamp is placed in an inconspicuous place on the item so it does not detract from the design. Stamps are usually located on the inside of the band of the ring, on the post or basket setting on a pair of earrings, on the bail on a pendant, and on the connecting ring or the clasp on the necklace or bracelet.

The term karatage simply refers to the proportion of pure gold in a piece of jewellery. Karatage can be defined in two ways:

• as ‘fineness’ which expresses the amount of gold in parts out of 1000;
• as a ‘percentage’ of pure gold 

The first thing you need is a magnifying glass or a jeweler's loupe--a 30 x 21 mm which is what I use.  The table below lists the most common precious metal stamps on gold jewelry, their alternative stamps or hallmarks, their purity level, and alloys commonly used.

Metal stamp	Minimum percentage of pure gold	Common alloys**
10k Also: 416, 417, 10KP*	41.6% pure gold (10 parts out of 24) -minimum standard for U.S. gold	Usually silver, copper, zinc, and nickel
14k Also: 583, 585, 14KP*	58.3% pure gold (14 parts out of 24) -one of the most popular gold purities	Usually silver, copper, zinc, and nickel
18k Also: 750, 18KP*	75% pure gold (18 parts out of 24) -Standard international karatage	Usually silver, copper, nickel, and palladium (for white gold)
22k Also: 916, 917*	91.6% pure gold (22 parts out of 24) -popular in India and Middle East	Usually silver and copper
24k Also: 999*	100% pure gold (24 parts out of 24)	None

*Alternate stamp or European hallmark is a simple, three digit number representing the quality or fineness of Gold.

Additional Information

• Common alloys vary depending on desired color, such as white gold or rose gold
• The term "karat" (usually abbreviated as "k," "K," or "Kt") refers to the relative purity of gold; pure gold is 24 karats. "Karat" is different from "carat," which is a metric unit of weight for gemstones.
• In gold jewelry, "plumb" is an old-fashioned term that means that the fineness or purity level of the gold content is precisely what is stamped on the item. The word "Plumb" or the letter P still sometimes follows the metal stamp (e.g., "14k Plumb," "14KP").
  
• Other gold stampings such as 15kt, and 16kt gold are not used any longer. When a 15kt stamp appears in jewelry,  this would indicate it is a antique piece. Most 16kt gold is used for dental purposes only and you will not see it used in jewelry. Most of the other stampings 8kt, 9kt and 12kt are of a lesser gold quality and are not generally highly desirable.  

Does Gold Jewelry Have to Be Stamped? -- powered by ehow

Anything with one of these stamps below is not gold. It is made out of a different metal with a very thin gold layer that will wear off over time. These pieces do not have any real metal value and most gold buyers won’t purchase them from you except for sterling silver. Here are a few stamps which signify the piece is NOT gold:

• 14K 1/20 (1/20 gold is basically gold-filled)
• 14K G.F.(gold-filled)
• 14K G.P. (gold-plated)
• 14K H.G.E.(hydrostatic gold electroplating)
• 14K G.E.P. (gold electroplating)
• .925 (sterling silver)

So take note that even if your piece is stamped “14K” you cannot be 100% sure it is gold. There are a number of fake stamps out there and the only way to be 100% sure is to test the metal with a gold tester using nitric acid. On the other hand, even if there is no stamp it could still be gold.

Aside from the stamps or lack thereof, there are a couple other ways you (or most likely a jeweler) will be able to tell if the piece is gold like the nitric acid test or density test.

Related Post: How Can I Tell If Gold is Real?

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How Can I Tell If Gold is Real?

How to Identify Gold on Howcast

Have you cleaned out your jewelry box and have a pile of rings, necklaces and more in front of you. but have no clue about the karat or if it is actually gold? There are several methods that you can use to tell if your gold jewelry is made of real gold. Keep in mind, these do-it-yourself methods are not all 100% conclusive.


All of these methods can be useful ways to see if your gold jewelry is made of real gold or fake. However, they will not give guaranteed answers or tell you the quality or carats of the piece. To be certain, bring your gold jewelry to a certified jeweler.


Visual Inspection

Look closely at the piece for a stamp or label on it somewhere identifying either the karat (24K, 22K, 12K, 10K...), fineness (.1-.999 o r.999), or percentage (.999, .916, .833, .792, 583). This would be a small marking usually on the clasp of necklaces, inside the bands of rings and on the backs of pendants. If you see anything marked 1/20, GF, GP, RGP or EGP, these are symbols for gold filled or gold plated items, which means they are not pure gold.

Don't panic if you don't see a stamp at all, gold produced before the early 1900's was rarely tagged and you may have a valuable antique on your hands. Also, older pieces may not have visible stamps because of wear or repairs that may have been previously done on the piece. On top of that, some forged pieces will still have authentic looking stamps so further testing would be recommended.

Related Post: Guide to Gold Jewelry Stamps and Marking

The terms karat, spelled with a K, and carat, spelled with a C, are different. Karat with a K describes the purity of a substance and carat with a C is a measure of a gemstone's weight.

Check for dull splotches or discoloration, especially around edges and other areas that would experience a lot of friction. If the gold is wearing off and revealing another material underneath, your jewelry is only gold plated and not real gold.

Anything under 10k isn’t considered real gold in the U.S.


Magnet Test

Check whether the object is magnetic. Gold is not magnetic, so if the object is attracted to the magnet, it is not gold. But just because the object is not magnetic does not mean it is authentic gold. However, scammers also use non-magnetic metals, which would not be attracted to the magnet, and therefore appear to be gold. So again, this is not a full proof test.


Nitric Acid

Nitric acid can tell you if your gold jewelry is real. This is the method most jewelers use. Always take all necessary precautions when handling any type of acid. Put on your gloves and glasses and take a drop of nitric acid and see if it causes a reaction. To tell if the piece is gold plated, you may have to take a file and make a scratch in the jewelry (somewhere that will not be noticeable) to test under the plating. Then, rinse with running water. If the nitric acid creates a green reaction, you are dealing with a gold plated piece or a base metal. If you see a milky color reaction, it is probably gold plated over sterling silver. What you want to see is nothing at all—real gold should not react when it comes in contact with nitric acid.

Related Post: How to Test for Real Gold Using Nitric Acid


Use an Unglazed Ceramic Plate

(Warning: His technique may scratch your piece!) Rub your jewelry across a piece of unglazed ceramic (from a home improvement store). Real gold will leave a gold streak on the ceramic, while fake gold will produce a black streak.


Compare Weights

Use a small balance scale to weigh two pieces of jewelry - your jewelry to be tested and a piece of real gold jewelry of the same size. Gold is very heavy, so if two pieces of the same size and shape weigh exactly the same amount, chances are your piece is made of real gold.


Have it Inspected by a Gold or Jewelry Expert!

If you have used the methods above, you may or may not have determined your items to be gold. Don't worry. The best option for discovering the authenticity of your jewelry is to have it appraised by a professional. This can be a jeweler or someone who purchases gold regularly. Be sure to find someone trustworthy! A professional will be able to quickly test your items and give you an accurate quote for the value of the gold.

Related Article: How to Get a Jewelry Appraisal

How to Identify Gold on Howcast

Have you cleaned out your jewelry box and have a pile of rings, necklaces and more in front of you. but have no clue about the karat or if it is actually gold? There are several methods that you can use to tell if your gold jewelry is made of real gold. Keep in mind, these do-it-yourself methods are not all 100% conclusive.


All of these methods can be useful ways to see if your gold jewelry is made of real gold or fake. However, they will not give guaranteed answers or tell you the quality or carats of the piece. To be certain, bring your gold jewelry to a certified jeweler.


Visual Inspection

Look closely at the piece for a stamp or label on it somewhere identifying either the karat (24K, 22K, 12K, 10K...), fineness (.1-.999 o r.999), or percentage (.999, .916, .833, .792, 583). This would be a small marking usually on the clasp of necklaces, inside the bands of rings and on the backs of pendants. If you see anything marked 1/20, GF, GP, RGP or EGP, these are symbols for gold filled or gold plated items, which means they are not pure gold.

Don't panic if you don't see a stamp at all, gold produced before the early 1900's was rarely tagged and you may have a valuable antique on your hands. Also, older pieces may not have visible stamps because of wear or repairs that may have been previously done on the piece. On top of that, some forged pieces will still have authentic looking stamps so further testing would be recommended.

Related Post: Guide to Gold Jewelry Stamps and Marking

The terms karat, spelled with a K, and carat, spelled with a C, are different. Karat with a K describes the purity of a substance and carat with a C is a measure of a gemstone's weight.

Check for dull splotches or discoloration, especially around edges and other areas that would experience a lot of friction. If the gold is wearing off and revealing another material underneath, your jewelry is only gold plated and not real gold.

Anything under 10k isn’t considered real gold in the U.S.


Magnet Test

Check whether the object is magnetic. Gold is not magnetic, so if the object is attracted to the magnet, it is not gold. But just because the object is not magnetic does not mean it is authentic gold. However, scammers also use non-magnetic metals, which would not be attracted to the magnet, and therefore appear to be gold. So again, this is not a full proof test.


Nitric Acid

Nitric acid can tell you if your gold jewelry is real. This is the method most jewelers use. Always take all necessary precautions when handling any type of acid. Put on your gloves and glasses and take a drop of nitric acid and see if it causes a reaction. To tell if the piece is gold plated, you may have to take a file and make a scratch in the jewelry (somewhere that will not be noticeable) to test under the plating. Then, rinse with running water. If the nitric acid creates a green reaction, you are dealing with a gold plated piece or a base metal. If you see a milky color reaction, it is probably gold plated over sterling silver. What you want to see is nothing at all—real gold should not react when it comes in contact with nitric acid.

Related Post: How to Test for Real Gold Using Nitric Acid


Use an Unglazed Ceramic Plate

(Warning: His technique may scratch your piece!) Rub your jewelry across a piece of unglazed ceramic (from a home improvement store). Real gold will leave a gold streak on the ceramic, while fake gold will produce a black streak.


Compare Weights

Use a small balance scale to weigh two pieces of jewelry - your jewelry to be tested and a piece of real gold jewelry of the same size. Gold is very heavy, so if two pieces of the same size and shape weigh exactly the same amount, chances are your piece is made of real gold.


Have it Inspected by a Gold or Jewelry Expert!

If you have used the methods above, you may or may not have determined your items to be gold. Don't worry. The best option for discovering the authenticity of your jewelry is to have it appraised by a professional. This can be a jeweler or someone who purchases gold regularly. Be sure to find someone trustworthy! A professional will be able to quickly test your items and give you an accurate quote for the value of the gold.

Related Article: How to Get a Jewelry Appraisal

reade more... Résuméabuiyad