Perhaps you have inherited gold jewelry or received it as a gift. You may be wondering if it is solid gold or gold plated.
(Pixabay /KRiemer)
- Solid gold. In spite of what the name implies, solid gold jewelry is rarely made exclusively of gold. Rather, it is a gold alloy that is consistent throughout the entire piece of jewelry. An alloy with low purity will contain greater amounts of alternative metals and less gold than high-purity alternatives.
- Gold plated. Gold plated jewelry has a base made of some other type of metal. The base metal is coated with a thin layer of gold.
Here are a few ways to determine if your jewelry is solid gold or gold plated:
Initial stamps. Gold plated jewelry is often stamped with initials that reveal its metal composition. Here are some common markings that you may find in an inconspicuous location on your jewelry.
- GP – gold plated
- GEP – gold electroplated
- RGP – rolled gold plate
- HGE (or HGP) – heavy gold electroplate
If your jewelry does not bear any of these markings, it may be solid gold, but don’t jump to a quick conclusion. Not all jewelry manufacturers stamp their gold plated jewelry.
Magnetism. Gold is not magnetic. If your jewelry responds to magnetic force, it probably contains some type of metal other than gold. This test isn’t foolproof, however. Because solid gold jewelry is made from alloys that contain small amounts of alternate metals, your jewelry may still respond to magnetic pull. Also, if the base metal of your gold-plated jewelry is not magnetic, it may not respond to the magnet test and give the illusion that it is solid gold. The moral here is that the magnet test is useful in conjunction with other tests, but it is not fully reliable.
Color. If a piece of jewelry is plated with 24K gold, it will take on an intensely yellow hue. Because solid gold is mixed with small amounts of other metals to make it more durable, it will not appear as yellow.
Acid test. An acid test can reveal the karat of solid gold jewelry, but it can also show whether jewelry is solid gold or gold-plated. With an acid test, a small sample of the jewelry is removed and exposed to acid to induce a color change. The resulting colors indicate which type of metal the jewelry is made of.
Scratch test. This test is risky because it requires you to cut into your jewelry piece. If you cut deep enough that you expose underlying metal, you can assume that it is plated. If it appears to be made of a uniform composition throughout, then it is probably solid gold. Both types of jewelry have advantages and disadvantages. Gold plated jewelry often looks just as attractive as the solid gold alternative and is much more affordable. Jewelry plating solutions and kits are available through Gold Plating Services.
Receiving a gift or an heirloom that is made of gold may make you feel rich and famous. But, before sharing it with others or telling them how you get the gold earrings or necklace better check whether it is solid gold or gold plated. A lot of people have been deceived by this but if you know the basic of how to distinguish the real deal, you won’t be embarrassed. So, learn from this infographic.
FAQs
If the metal doesn't change throughout the cut, the jewelry is more than likely solid gold. Gold plated jewelry will typically have a line of demarcation in the scratched area where the gold plating ends, and the base metal begins.
How to tell if jewelry is gold plated or solid? ›
You can determine whether it is solid gold by looking for a hallmark or karat stamp. The stamp indicates the percentage of pure gold in the piece. In contrast, gold plated jewellery consists of a base metal with a coat of a thin layer of gold. It can be less expensive but may wear down over time.
What are the markings on gold plated jewelry? ›
GP: This stands for “gold plated” and means that the jewelry has a thin layer of gold on top of another metal (usually copper, silver or brass). Sometimes the mark “GP” will be accompanied by the karat weight of the plating, such as “18KGP”. The percentage of gold in a gold-plated piece is usually 0.05% or less.
What is the difference between solid gold gold filled and gold plated jewelry? ›
Both gold plated and gold filled jewelry are made by applying a thin layer of gold over a base metal. Gold plated jewelry has a much thinner layer of gold than gold filled jewelry which is regulated to contain at least 5% gold.
Will gold plated jewelry stick to a magnet? ›
Some types of gold, such as gold-plated items and gold that has been alloyed with other metals, may be attracted to magnets. This is because these types of gold have a higher concentration of electrons, which makes them more susceptible to magnetic attraction.
How can I test my gold solid at home? ›
Rub your gold against a jeweler's stone.
Position a black jeweler's stone on a table. Hold your gold piece firmly in your hand. Wipe it across the stone firmly enough to leave a mark. If the mark that you've left on the stone is solid and gold in color, then the piece is pure.
How do you test gold with vinegar? ›
Carefully pour some vinegar onto the gold, or use a dropper to put a few drops onto it. If the gold changes color, then it is not pure gold. However, if the gold remains the same, or stays shining, then the gold is real.
What is the symbol for 14K gold plated? ›
Common marks for gold plated jewelry include: 14KGP — (Note: don't confuse 14KGP with just 14KP. 14KGP means 14K Gold Plate. 14KP means 14K Plumb – which is “dead on exactly” aka “plumb” solid 14K Gold) The “14” can be substituted with 10, 12, 18, 24 etc.
Is gold plated always stamped? ›
In short, no. Gold-plated jewelry can have karat stamps, but this stamp will indicate the purity of the gold plating, not of the entire piece. For example, the stamp "14K GP" means that the item is gold plated and the plating is 14-karat gold, but the piece is made of another metal.
Does gold plated gold have a hallmark? ›
Gold plated pieces are required to be hallmarked only if they use precious metal as their base metal and they fall under the required weight for an object to be hallmarked. Silver jewellery is often plated with gold. In this case, the jewellery must weigh more than 7.78 grams of silver.
The answer is yes; you can absolutely pawn gold plated jewellery, but it depends on the base metal. Pawning gold plated jewellery is really only ever worthwhile if the base metal of your item is made of a precious base metal like silver.
Does gold plated say 14K? ›
You'll often see Gold Plated jewellery expressed as a number of karats as well. E.g. '14k Gold Plated'. In this example, the number of karats (14k) refers to the very thin layer of gold that is plated over a base metal or sterling silver.
Does 14K gold plated turn green? ›
A common concern regarding gold-plated jewelry is whether or not it will turn green. The answer to this question is yes, gold-plated jewelry can turn green.
How to tell if gold is real or fake? ›
The float test works because gold is a dense metal, so it will typically sink to the bottom. On the contrary, if the piece of gold is fake, it is often made of lighter metals, so it will either float or be slower to sink.
How to tell if something is gold plated or brass? ›
Unlike the paleness of brass, gold plating is more pronounced, the color should seem very saturated. If you care for your Gold plated piece it should maintain its color and shine through the years.
Can gold plated jewelry pass an acid test? ›
High-quality gold plate can be thick enough to pass nitric acid scratch test, which only tests the surface layer. A deeper cut to the piece may yield more information about its content but will also damage it.
Does gold plated jewelry float or sink? ›
For 18k gold plated jewellery, it will still sink and not float, even up to about 14k.
What color does gold plated jewelry turn? ›
The answer to this question is yes, gold-plated jewelry can turn green. It is because the gold covering can wear off over time, revealing the metal underneath, which is often a copper alloy. When copper exposes to air and moisture for an extended period, it can oxidize and turn green.
