How to Test Gold at Home? | Complete Jewelry Guide

Gold is one of the most valuable metals out there and it comes in various colors and styles. If you have gold jewelry yourself, it’s important that you know how to test gold at home to find out whether the gold is pure or not as everything gold is not necessarily real gold. It could be gold-plated, gold dipped, or even gold-filled, which is different than real gold. When you get a piece of gold jewelry it usually comes with a mark on it, telling the purity level of the gold which is measured in Karats. It could be either 10k, 14k, 18k, 22k, or 24k, depending on its purity. If there is no stamp on your gold then surely you will need to test it.

Before we begin to explain the methods of testing gold at home, let’s make a few things clear. When you get a gold item, it doesn’t need to be in the purest form, the jewelers usually mix other metals in the gold to make it more durable. Real gold in its purest form is a soft metal that can be easily bent. This is the reason you need to know what Karat gold you have in your possession.

How Do You Test Gold with Vinegar?

One way you could test if your gold is pure or not is by using vinegar. There are many ways that you could use this method, and the good thing about it is that it can no way harm your jewelry unless it is not pure gold. All you need to do is get the jewelry item you want to test and white vinegar. Place your jewelry on a table or hold it in your hand, pour some white vinegar on the metal directly (a dropper can also be used) if the metal of the jewelry changes its color, it is not pure gold and if it keeps shining then you have real gold in your hand.

You can also fill a cup or glass with white vinegar, and drop your gold in it, let it soak for 5-8 minutes, take it out and rinse with water. If the metal has changed its color even slightly, then the gold is not pure but if it keeps shining, then the gold is pure.

Use Makeup to Test Gold at Home

Another way to test your gold at home is to use a liquid foundation. It may not be as reliable as other sources when it comes to testing your gold but it is good enough to know if the gold is real or fake. Pour some of the liquid foundations on your hand, blend it in your skin and let it dry. Take your gold and rub it on the area where you have applied the foundation. If that area turns black or rubbing the gold leaves a black mark behind then it is evident that the gold is pure. But if rubbing the gold does not affect the foundation applied area, we are sorry to tell you that the gold is not real.

How Can You Tell If Something Is Gold Plated?

The most trustworthy method to test if something is gold plated or solid gold is to have an acid test done it. For the acid test, take a small piece of jewelry, or using a small needle scratch a tiny part in your gold, take a dropper given in the acid kit, fill it with acid. Now use this dropper to inject that scratch with a small drop of acid. The scratched part is likely to change its color in response to the reaction with the acid. Look carefully which color has it changed to and match it with the color card given in the acid kit. This will not only tell you if the gold was fake or real but will also help you in identifying the actual metal it is. To test your gold at home with this method you will need to get an acid testing kit that is easily available at jewelry stores and even online. The acid test is also used to determine the Karat of the gold. If you decide to use this method, please read the instruction given in the kit carefully before you begin the procedure.

Test Gold Using the Float Test

The simplest way to find out if the gold is real or not is to have a float test. It is the simplest way since only a glass of water is required to administer it. Take a cup or glass, fill it up with water, now bring the gold that you want to test. Drop it into this filled glass. If the gold floats, it is surely not real but if the gold sinks to the end of the glass then it is pure gold. The real gold will sink due to being a heavy metal.

Test Gold Using the Magnet Test

One way to test if your gold is real or not is the magnetic test. For this test, you will need a stronger than the usual magnet you have at home. Take your gold that you want to test place it on a wooden surface, Bring the magnet closer to the gold, gradually. If the gold is attracted to the magnet, it is not real gold but if the gold remains indifferent to the magnet then it is in fact real. If the gold you are testing has a clasp, only the clasp may be attracted to the magnet since in some of the jewelry items the clasps are not made of gold.