Found an old gold chain at the back of a drawer? Picked up a "gold" ring at a car boot sale and now you're not so sure? You're not alone. Loads of us end up with gold jewellery of mystery origin, whether it's inherited, secondhand, or a gift from someone who swears it's "solid gold" (it's usually not).
The good news is you don't need to book into a jeweller straight away. There are a few simple checks you can do at home first to get a decent idea of what you're working with. None of these are 100% foolproof, but together they'll give you a strong hint before you go for proper testing.
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1. Check for a Hallmark
This is the easiest place to start. Grab a magnifying glass (or your phone's zoom camera works a treat) and look for tiny stamped marks, usually on the inside of a ring band or near the clasp of a chain.
Genuine gold is usually marked with its purity, like 9k, 14k, 18k, 22k, or 375, 585, 750, 916 (the numbers refer to parts per thousand of pure gold). If you spot one of these, that's a good sign. No hallmark doesn't automatically mean it's fake, some older or handmade pieces slipped through without one, but it does mean you'll want to double check with the other methods below.
2. The Magnet Test
Real gold is not magnetic. So if you hold a strong magnet near your piece and it snaps straight to it, that's a big red flag that there's a lot more base metal in there than gold.
That said, a piece that doesn't react to a magnet isn't automatically real either, some fakes are made with non-magnetic metals like brass or stainless steel specifically to get around this test. So think of this one as a quick way to catch obvious fakes, not proof of the real thing.
3. The Float Test
Gold is dense. Properly dense. So a simple way to test it is to drop your piece into a glass of water.
- If it sinks straight to the bottom, that's consistent with real gold.
- If it floats, or hovers around, it's likely not solid gold, or it's gold plated over a lighter metal.
Easy, mess free, and you probably have a glass of water within arm's reach right now.
4. The Skin Test
Wear the piece for a few hours, ideally somewhere it'll touch your skin directly, like a ring or bracelet.
Real gold doesn't tarnish or react with your skin. If you notice a green or black mark appearing where the jewellery sits, that usually means there's a lower karat mix or a plated base metal underneath reacting with your skin's natural oils and sweat. It's not a scientific measurement of purity, but it's a handy clue.
5. The Vinegar Test
A slightly more hands on option. Place a few drops of white vinegar directly onto the item.
- Real gold won't change colour at all.
- If the metal darkens or discolours where the vinegar touched it, it's likely not genuine gold.
Give it a gentle rinse and dry afterwards either way.
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A Word on Acid Testing
You'll probably come across "acid testing" kits online too. These involve rubbing the item on a testing stone and applying nitric acid to see how it reacts. It's a proper jeweller-grade method and can be quite accurate, but it also involves handling strong acid at home, which isn't something we'd recommend without know-how and proper safety precautions. If you want that level of certainty, it's best left to a professional.
When in Doubt, Get it Checked Properly
Home tests are brilliant for a first impression, but if you're planning to sell a piece, insure it, or you just want total peace of mind, bring it to a jeweller or an assayer for a proper test. They'll be able to confirm the karat and purity with proper equipment, no guesswork involved.
And if you're on the hunt for jewellery you know is the real deal from the start, well, that's exactly what we're here for.
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Browse our full collection of jewellery here, from vintage and antique finds to contemporary silver and gold pieces, all checked and ready to wear.
