- 1). Examine the appearance of the jewelry or coin. If the piece is shiny, chances are it's not real gold. True gold has more of a matte appearance. Also, if it has a strong yellow tint, it's probably an imposter.
- 2). Hold the item in your hand and study its weight. Real gold feels heavier than it looks. While this can help you to weed out some lighter weight phonies such as pyrite, don't rely solely on the weight test. It's just of of several tests to run through.
- 3). Rub the jewelry or coin with a cleaning cloth made specifically for cleaning valuables. Rub it a few times in the same spot. Some fake gold coatings will come off when rubbed, leaving the spot looking scratched or even showing a different color.
- 4). Sport your jewelry for a day or two to see if it leaves a mark on your skin, such as a green line on your finger from a ring or around your neck from a necklace. While this won't help during the buying process, if a piece you already own leaves such marks, it's fake.
- 5
Use magnets to determine whether you're in the money.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Place the item of interest on a counter top and hold a strong magnet, such as an industrial shop magnet, close to it. If the item is attracted to the magnet, it's not real gold. Real gold isn't magnetic. (ref.2) - 6). Press the tip of a small needle into the surface of your item. Since gold is a very soft material, the needle should leave an impression. If there is no mark, chances are it's a different type of material.
- 7). Take your jewelry or coins to a trusted jeweler or coin shop, if you're still not sure. They typically have special tools and methods such as X-rays and acid scratch kits to determine if your item is truly gold.
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