How to distinguish real and fake Western gold at home using 4 simple methods
Key Takeaways
- The value of gold often increases over time, making the demand for buying and owning gold continue to rise. As an asset that does not depreciate, gold is always considered a top...
The value of gold often increases over time, making the demand for buying and owning gold continue to rise. As an asset that does not depreciate, gold is always considered a top choice for sustainable accumulation. Among the types of gold, western gold is a familiar name. However, the increasing presence of fake gold has made many people worried. Let’s explore the article below to learn how to identify western gold in the simplest and most effective way!
What is Western Gold?
Before learning how to identify western gold, we need to clearly understand what western gold is. Western gold is an alloy, mixed between pure gold and other metals such as copper, silver, nickel, aluminum, etc., in certain proportions. Therefore, western gold products differ in color depending on the ratio of these metals. Although its main component is gold, western gold is harder than pure gold thanks to this combination.
Western gold comes in many types with different purities, and each type is named according to its corresponding karat number, such as 9K, 10K, 14K, 18K, etc. The letter "K" in these types of gold is short for "karat", the unit used to measure the gold content in an alloy. Specifically:
9K Gold: Contains 37.5% pure gold, commonly called 3.7-age gold.
10K Gold: Gold content is 41.7%, called 4-age gold.
14K Gold: Contains 58.3% pure gold, called 5.8-age gold.
18K Gold: Contains 75% pure gold, known as 7.5-age gold.
Current tricks and situation of counterfeiting western gold
Why are many people concerned about identifying western gold? The main reason is that counterfeiting western gold is becoming increasingly common in the market. Some common tricks include producing double-layer gold and hollow gold.
Double-layer gold is made by coating the outside with a layer that has a high gold ratio, while the inner core contains less gold.
Hollow gold is a type of gold with an empty core, filled inside with other metals to increase weight.
Fraud involving gold purity and fake western gold is not uncommon. Some goldsmiths reduce the amount of pure gold during the mixing process, causing the actual gold ratio to remain only around 50% to 55%.
In addition, some businesses also mix gold with low-quality imported gold such as Chinese gold or Lao gold. These types of gold contain many metals, are of poor quality, and have very low purity. However, when viewed with the naked eye, they are very difficult to distinguish. Fake gold often contains up to 90% metal, while pure gold accounts for only a small portion. Therefore, when purchasing, the price may be high, but the resale value is very low.
Simple ways to identify real and fake western gold at home
Gold is always considered a highly valuable asset, and gold jewelry is often more expensive than many other types of jewelry. However, the fear of buying fake gold is still something that worries many people, because they have to spend a large amount of money but may receive a product that is not as expected. Below are some ways to identify real western gold to help you distinguish it accurately and quickly.
Observe the exterior of western gold jewelry
Color is one of the factors that helps identify western gold, although this is not easy. If you observe often, you will notice that each type of western gold has a slightly different color. Real western gold usually has a certain shine, smoothness, and polish. 10K western gold often has a light yellow color slightly mixed with white, while 18K gold has a deeper yellow tone due to its higher pure gold ratio.
In terms of durability and sophistication, western gold from 10K and above usually has good durability and can withstand environmental impact thanks to a suitable metal mixture ratio. However, 10K gold and below is harder, but it breaks more easily if not used and stored properly.
Check the softness of western gold
Whether it is pure gold or western gold, this metal still has its characteristic softness. You can apply light pressure to feel a slight indentation on the surface or try biting it with your teeth. Real gold usually leaves small marks, while fake gold is often very hard and shows no sign at all.
Use a magnet to test
A magnet cannot attract gold, but it can detect metallic impurities mixed into the product. If the gold jewelry is strongly attracted by a magnet, this indicates that the product contains many impurities or is highly likely to be fake gold.
Test with fire or gold separation
Another method is heating to test. Real gold, when heated, will shrink together and not disappear, while fake gold may burn or evaporate completely. However, this method may reduce the gold content in the product and is not recommended if you do not have experience.
With the methods above, you can feel somewhat more assured when checking and choosing western gold jewelry. Carefully try the methods above to ensure that you buy quality western gold jewelry.
See more:
- The simplest way to distinguish pure gold and western gold
- How to Identify Real and Fake Gold Instantly With These 13 Tips
- The Most Accurate Guide to Distinguishing Types of Gold on the Market
The article above on Jemmia has shared how to identify western gold using 4 simple methods. If you find the article useful, share it with your friends and loved ones right away. Follow Jemmia to learn more about diamonds and gold. Besides western gold, if you love elegance and sophistication, designs such as diamond wedding rings, diamond engagement rings, diamond necklaces, diamond earrings are also perfect choices, offering both aesthetic value and lasting meaning.
