፠ How to distinguish gilding from gold?

Everyone wants to figure out whether a piece of jewelry is gold or gilded, or does not even have a hint of gold. After all, the desire to own this metal is strong in us. And no one wants to be deceived. Before you understand how to distinguish gold from gilding and different types of fakes, it is worth thinking about what you want to achieve by buying this or that gold jewelry.

It is possible that your goal is only to have a gold-appearing appearance. After all, the love for gold jewelry is ancient. We can say that it has been cultivated in us since childhood through fairy tales, feature films and documentaries. As we grow up, we ourselves begin to distinguish the social status of our interlocutor by the number and type of jewelry. And this is how we were brought up: the more gold we see, the higher we evaluate the position of our opponent.

Already in adulthood, we ourselves educate each other, encouraging us to compete in status things, including gold jewelry. And the desire to appear to have a higher status is understandable. This is what often pushes people to buy fakes at a bargain price.

Do you want to buy a gold ring or other jewelry, not only to emphasize your importance in appearance to your friends and colleagues, but also to gain self-confidence? Then, of course, it is necessary to understand the types of hallmarks on gold, and the options to distinguish where the gold is and where the gilding is. And the fact is that the jewelry is definitely not made of copper or other alloys.

Methods for determining gold and gilding

Determining where there is gold and where there is just gilding, or the absence of the precious metal even in minute quantities, is not so difficult. It is enough to use proven methods.

Before we tell you how to distinguish real gold from a fake, you should understand how it is marked. After all, if you buy a gold product in a well-known store, then you will not need to bother with checks. It will be enough to look at the labeling.

The designations accepted in Ukraine include the brand. It can be on the inside or outside of the decoration, depending on its type. The mark consists of a hallmark and a trident coat of arms. If you see such a print, and, as we have already said, you choose it in a trusted store, you can have no doubt about the authenticity of the jewelry.

However, do not forget that genuine gold jewelry can be of completely different purity. And they are also worth understanding.

The most common gold samples:

585 – first place in terms of presence on the jewelry market. Jewelers have identified an alloy containing 58.5 parts of gold per weight of the item as the most optimal option. This is the only way to ensure maximum durability and attractive appearance of gold. This hallmark is used in most jewelry around the world.
750 - second place. An alloy containing as many as 75 parts of gold is, of course, more expensive. Only such decoration cannot be considered durable. It can be made to order, and the wearer will be encouraged to wear the jewelry on special occasions. The 750 grade product is not suitable for daily wear. Accordingly, it is rarely found in specialized stores. If there are such decorations, then they are an order of magnitude smaller than the number of 585 samples.
375 - third place. The most inexpensive version of gold, which can, in principle, be considered gold and used in jewelry. Jewelry of this standard is rarely found in large stores. If there is, then in even smaller quantities than jewelry of 750 standard.

An addition to part of the gold, i.e. The ligature is an alloy of different metals. The 585 uses copper, palladium, nickel and silver. For 750, platinum is also added to the above. But in 375-carat gold jewelry the ligature contains only copper and silver.

Checking gold for authenticity

Here are some of the most common ways to check the authenticity of precious metals, which can be done independently, without the help of experts:

Visual inspection
Carefully examine the jewelry using a magnifying glass. Gold items have special markings confirming the authenticity of the jewelry. The sample of aurum or its mass in carats must be indicated. However, these days, scammers have learned to put a stamp on fakes, so this method cannot 100% guarantee the authenticity of the product.
Sound test
A very simple authentication test. You need to take the jewelry and throw it on a hard and smooth surface. For example, on the table. Real aurum sounds clear and resonant, reminiscent of crystal in sound. However, this method is not suitable for all jewelry - chains and bracelets cannot be checked this way.
Testing with vinegar
Pour a small amount of vinegar into a glass and lower the product there for 3-5 minutes. Fake jewelry will quickly take on a dull greenish tint. Real high-quality metal will not react to vinegar in any way.
Magnetic test
Take a real strong magnet that makes good contact with metal. Pass the magnet over the jewelry and see if it is attracted. If you are still attracted to the product, you can be completely sure that you have a fake in your hands. Genuine gold will never come into contact with a magnet.
Application of nitric acid
A counterfeit from a true precious metal can be determined using nitric acid. To do this, place the decoration in a clean metal container. Then, using a pipette, you need to carefully drop nitric acid. Real gold will not change its color, gilding takes on a milky tint, and ordinary metal becomes greenish. It should be noted that the test must be carried out on an inconspicuous area of the product: on the inside, on fasteners, etc.
Testing with iodine
As in the previous version, apply one drop of iodine to the inside of the jewelry. The fake one will quickly change its color to black or green, while the real aurum will remain unchanged.
Lapis pencil test
Lapis pencil is a medical product containing silver nitrate. Pre-moisten the product in water and draw a small strip. The result appears instantly - the fake “gold” immediately begins to oxidize and darken.

Jewelers will always help you evaluate the quality of gold jewelry; they identify counterfeits not only visually, but also with the help of special devices. Such verification is usually paid. But you will be absolutely sure that you are holding a piece of jewelry in your hands and not a fake.

Gilt hallmarks

When you set out to buy a gold-plated ring or earrings, you should not think that there will be no mark. Even though such jewelry will only have gold plating, it must be marked. And they do this all over the world.

The test for silver with gilding may be familiar to you from some of your jewelry. But, unfortunately, with gold-plated products not everything is as simple as with gold. After all, they are much more common among jewelers and, accordingly, in stores.

There are three most common types of hallmarks on gold-plated products:

Gold plated – the thinnest gold coating is applied using electrolysis.
Gold filled – gold plating is fused onto any metal, most often silver. It differs from the product with the first sample in a thicker layer of gold.
Gold soldered – very inexpensive products stand out with this gilding. After all, a breakdown with this designation speaks of a tin-lead inclusion.

It turns out that even if you want a gold-plated ring or something else, you will still be protected from counterfeiting if you buy the product in a specialized store. You should not think that hallmarks are placed on someone’s whim. The State Assay Office monitors manufacturers' compliance with all jewelry standards.

How much do gold and gilded jewelry cost?

Silver wedding rings or other gold-plated jewelry will not cost more than similar ones made of gold. And there is a rational explanation for this - gold is valued much higher than silver, and a high-quality gold alloy is not always used for the top layer of gold-plated jewelry.

The price of silver with gilding can be relatively high if noble metals of the highest standard are used, and the gilding is applied to the surface of the product in a thick layer. Cleanliness and thickness of the coating without inclusions are fundamental factors influencing pricing.

Methods for calculating counterfeit gold

Considering in a store what type of jewelry you want is the easiest way to distinguish gold from a fake. But if you bought jewelry from a store you've never heard of, or it was just given to you as a gift, then you need to know how else you can spot a fake.

Some proven ways to identify gold at home. They do not give a 100% guarantee, but in some cases they will eliminate doubts.

Bite the decoration. All common grades assigned to gold indicate the content of the yellow metal itself. And there is not a single common test that would make jewelry as hard as diamond. The inherent softness of gold still remains. Therefore, you can easily distinguish the marks of your teeth if the jewelry is truly gold.

The exception is a fake with the addition of lead. There will also be a mark on it.

Attach a magnet. Gold is a non-magnetic material, as is the ligature used in making jewelry. Accordingly, it is useless to apply a magnet to gold - it will not stick.

Counterfeits often use copper, lead and other metals used in the alloy. They are also not magnetic.

Dip in vinegar or alcohol. Nothing will happen to gold, but metal similar to it will darken.

There is no catch in this method. No other cheap metal can withstand household acid or rubbing alcohol.

Scratch. Should only be used as a last resort. After all, no matter what the jewelry turns out to be, you will still want to continue wearing it. Therefore, it is worth scraping where it will not be noticeable.

There is no way to hide metal under gold. If another metal is visible in the place of the scratch, then you definitely have at least a gilded piece of jewelry, and at most, the top layer is not even gilded.

Heating. A little dangerous way. It is worth arming yourself with a special tool so as not to get burned. If after this procedure there are no stains on the gold, it is genuine.

The catch may be in the sample. Nobody canceled the deception with a fake brand. After all, 750 is more expensive.

Methods by which one could check a fake if the product is plated with gold are not relevant. Few people will counterfeit it because of the cost of the product. Passing off the same copper as gold-plated jewelry is simply not profitable and happens very rarely.

With gilding, jewelry can act as a counterfeit product in gold. Then all the methods described above will work.

How to determine the value of gold items?

The initial assessment is made using the following formula: product

multiplied by the price of 1 gram of gold of a suitable standard, and multiplied by the selling price coefficient.
The last parameter on average ranges from 1.2-1.24. The cost of the product
also includes labor costs for manufacturing.

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How not to be deceived by gilding

The gold layer on the base metal is always small. Therefore, during any experiment with gilding, technical or chemical, the bottom layer will always give itself away. However, this will not show whether the metal in front of you is gold or another metal.

If you really want to understand whether your jewelry is gold-plated or just has the appropriate color, then only a jeweler can help you. In order not to spoil the color of the jewelry with reagents, most often craftsmen make an invisible puncture. This is how they calculate the thickness of the gilding. And to determine whether this coating can even be called gold, they can scrape off a little of the top layer in an inconspicuous place and separately treat this powder with chemicals.

Investments in Antiques and Collectibles.

This site was created for those who, in our unstable financial times, are trying to save and increase their capital.
Dear Potential Investors! antique bracelet, 14 karat gold diamonds, diamonds, ruby and sapphire

If you are hoping to read here recommendations for purchasing a painting by I.I. Shishkin with suddenly freed up funds, then it’s time for me to learn from you how to make money.

Here we will analyze the Antiques market with all its aspects, influences and trends through the prism of the most ordinary, average person, the average person of our day, far from an oligarch. Manager, housewife, farmer, seller, teacher, doctor and driver, engineer and military man - anyone can become an active player in the Antiques market.

So, let's look at why Antiques are so good and learn some simple tips for properly investing our money wisely.

Map of site! All sections and articles on one page.

Investments in porcelain , purchase, sale, attribution, stamp makers.

Investments in silver, expert assessment, purchase, sale, attribution, hallmarks and hallmarks of silver.

Firstly, Antiques are not always a huge investment. You can start with any amount, which is especially important for a novice investor. Try it carefully, delving into the subtleties step by step.

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Many years of experience in communicating with collectors and their heirs have shown that no one will pay more for the desired item than the collector himself. And what’s interesting is that in 95% of cases, the collection after inheritance is sold at a huge discount from the initial purchases. And this is the third thing you need to think about - don’t plan to pass on your investment purchases to your heirs, they don’t need it, the money will make them much happier. The hassle of “merging” collections is negative; no one will tremble over your exhibits; they will be carried to numerous antique shops, pawn shops, put up at online auctions and discussed on forums.

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Important fourth rule: Don’t get attached to Antiques! You don’t “fall in love” with a banknote with Franklin or Khabarovsk, do you? Be prepared to sell your masterpiece at a profit at any time, because it was for the sake of profit that you bought it. If you can’t control yourself, you are a collector, not an Investor.

Fifthly, do not try to suddenly master the knowledge of expert art historians, and even in all areas at once. Read useful literature, visit museums, go to salons and antique shops, wander through flea markets. You cannot suddenly learn something that can only be learned with years and experience. Remember, wherever you are, wherever you are told stories, the Antiques seller has one goal - to sell you an item at a profit. It is towards this goal that your desire is directed when investing in Antiques.

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Silver hallmarks , attribution, hallmark makers, silver hallmarks.

Silverware is a great gift for any occasion.

An important sixth rule: never buy something you don’t like. Even if you have read thousands of articles, heard a hundred opinions of respected experts, dozens of friends advised you to buy something, but this something “does not suit your soul” - forget about the subject. Don’t force yourself, let investing in Antiques carry a positive charge. The item will become a part of your everyday life for some time (and sometimes even for a very long time).

It’s so great to use a porcelain set or wonderful silver spoons, wear unique platinum earrings or a gold necklace, and their value and liquidity will not change in any way! An antique object is painted precisely by its age and historicism.

The most important task is not where to buy Antiques, but how to buy real Antiques and buy it at the lowest possible price. Always remember that in order to get a return on your investment, you must know where and how to sell Antiques .

Painting Investments in art, antique paintings.

Numismatics buying, selling and evaluating coins.

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Obviously, diversification is also necessary within Antiques itself, which means that you need to choose several directions: silver, jewelry, porcelain, paintings and engravings, icons and copper-cast plastic, textiles and fashion, arts and crafts, books , toys and dolls, coins, East, etc.

Antique gold necklace with emeralds and diamonds

Let me note right away that we do not touch on areas of Antiques that require special licenses for trade or even just possession; we are not interested in anything that goes beyond the scope of the law. Investment without risks and with profit! – this is the key direction.

If, after reading this article, you are seriously thinking about investing in Antiques , then carefully begin to study our recommendations in all areas.

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What is gilding-patination?

Patina. Not many people are familiar with this word, and yet this method of gilding today has begun to occupy a special place in interior design. Most often, using patina, a layer of gilding is applied to decorative inclusions such as moldings or stucco. Despite the fact that the gilding patination procedure requires very delicate and scrupulous work, the qualified craftsmen of our company cope well with it. In order to bring to life the most daring design ideas, which will delight the eye and delight guests for many years, you should contact our research and production department.

Where is it used?

Today, gold plating is used in the following areas:

jewelry making;
art (in sculpture; in painting, gilding is used not only on frames, but also directly on paintings);
Interior design;
automotive industry (for decorative purposes);
dentistry;
electronics (gold is an excellent conductor);
cosmetology.

The last area of application is the most controversial. Most often, the use of gold in cosmetology is just a cunning marketing ploy. Nevertheless, in Japan they are working on the latest technique of gilding the face. It is believed that this metal enriches the skin with oxygen, preserves collagen and helps relieve irritation.

There is even a separate direction in alternative medicine - chrysotherapy, in which gold is used to treat inflammation. From a scientific point of view, such properties of the metal have not been proven, since a full-scale study of the effect of gold on the human body has never been carried out. But the placebo effect cannot be ignored.