Buy Or Sell Gold At Our Pawn Shops

Gold is perhaps one of the most enduring substances since the dawn of civilization. It definitely has a lot of history dating back as far as 4,000 B.C. As a currency, it’s considered a safe-haven asset, as it always commands a high price. As a precious metal, it’s conveniently malleable and is therefore useful as jewelry and in manufacturing electronics. With how much gold is being used both as a commodity and a currency, gold has indeed become the gold standard in maintaining its value.

Because of its importance, it’s no surprise that some who covet gold attempt to forge their own versions of it. In fact, fake gold has existed almost as long as the real one has. To protect yourself from counterfeits, you need to know how to tell them apart through a couple of simple tests.

The Purity Hallmark Check

The first of many tests you can do to check the authenticity of your gold is to check for hallmarks using a magnifying glass. Most goldsmiths stamp their jewelry with how many karats of gold it contains. It’s best to get an expert’s advice when looking for hallmarks as the system of stamping karats can be a little complicated.

Different regions in the world will have varying standards in stamping hallmarks. However, this is the best way to know where your gold originated from.

The Float Test

The next in the set of tests you should do is the float test. This is one of the simplest methods of testing, and it only requires a cup or a bowl of water. Place your gold in the cup and see if it floats or not. Genuine gold will immediately sink to the bottom of the cup. This is due to the metal’s high density.

However, this is meant as a preliminary check for authenticity and must be done in conjunction with other tests. Remember, gold alloys can contain additional heavy metals that may sink in water as well.

The Discoloration Check

Unlike other metals, gold doesn’t rust or change its color that easily. If a particular “gold” item has some green/black/silver discoloration tarnishes, then the chances are that it isn’t pure gold.

What’s more, it shouldn’t leave residue on your skin when it reacts to the metal. If it’s a fake, the sweat on your hand will cause a chemical reaction. You’ll then notice your skin will have green or black residue because it reacted with the other alloy metals and not the gold itself.

The Magnet Test

Most metals have inherent magnetic properties—and gold isn’t one of them. To perform the test, you must use a powerful magnet and see if your gold is drawn to it. Gold is considered a non-ferrous metal and shouldn’t react to the magnet unless it contains iron, nickel, cobalt, and other metals.

There are also cases where a piece of jewelry or gold bullion will react slightly when subjected to a magnetic force. This means that the item is gold-plated and not solid gold! Gold-plated fakes typically are made up of different metals inside and only covered in gold.

The Bottom Line—Ask an Expert

There are many ways to test the authenticity of gold. These are just some of the safer tests you can do without damaging your jewelry. These tests work better when used all together. However, it’s still best to ask help from an expert to get a second opinion on your jewelry.

If you’re looking for a pawn shop in Henderson, KY, where you can seek help from jewelry experts, then River City Pawn is the one you can trust! You can also visit our Owensboro, Murray, Princeton, Leitchfield, and Madisonville locations. Contact us to learn more about our payday loans and instant cash offers!