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Gold is one of the most frequently faked metals because it's glitter is extremely appealing to the inexperienced eye. Gold jewelry is quite an attractive investment option, and people tend to spend huge sums when shopping for wedding jewelry. If you are buying wedding jewelry for yourself and your beloved, it makes perfect sense to check its authenticity.

Pure gold or 24-karat gold is too soft to make hard jewelry, which is why it is mixed or alloyed with other metals to make it tougher and durable. 14k gold is quite popular in America. This means 14 parts of the total 24 parts of the metal in the jewelry is pure gold. The remaining part includes metals like copper, silver, nickel, etc. to craft fine jewelry that is hard-wearing.

Whether you are buying wedding rings for your big day or sorting out your existing jewelry, it is important to know how to test gold for its authenticity. It saves you future hassles, embarrassment, and money. Fortunately, because of a few inimitable properties of gold, identifying fake gold is possible.

Here are five ways in which you can tell real gold from its fake counterpart:

1) Look for Hallmarks

Hallmarked jewelry comes with an assurance of the Gold's content and purity. Every country has a unique way of hallmarking gold. In the U.S., it is done by specifying the karat.

Avoid buying the jewelry if the hallmark is missing. Yet, if a hallmark is mentioned, don't assume the metal to be genuine gold. For instance, a bracelet may be marked 18k, but in reality, it might be of lesser value. Always know who you are buying from. In the U.S., 14k gold is popular and nothing less than 10k can be sold or legally marked as gold jewelry.

Top brands stamp each jewelry item with their logo. Look out for fake brands and minute spelling errors and font changes in order to be safe.

2) Employ Time-Tested Techniques to Test Your Metal

Sadly, gold hallmarks are not 100% reliable when used in isolation. Along with hallmarks, you can use the below-mentioned tests to check the purity of the gold you are buying.

• Magnet Test: Unlike other metals, gold is not magnetic. Use a reasonably strong magnet and try to pick a gold coin or a piece of jewelry with it. If the jewelry gets attracted to the magnet, then it's fake gold. If there is a weak attraction, then it has a low proportion of gold.

• Ceramic Test: Drag your gold over an unglazed ceramic plate by applying slight pressure. If you see a gold mark on the plate, the gold is real. If the mark is black, it is not real gold.

• Float/Density Test: Gold is a dense metal and hence, mustn't float in water. Drop your gold ring in a glass of water and if it floats, it is mere costume jewelry. The flip-side of this test is that a hollow piece of real gold may also float. It is, therefore, advised to couple this test with the other mentioned techniques.

• Nitric Acid Test: This can cause permanent damage to your metal unless it is pure gold. However, it is quite reliable in identifying unadulterated gold. Nitric acid is known to corrode fake jewelry while not affecting gold that is pure. Make a minute scratch on the jewelry and add a drop of nitric acid into it. If the site turns green, the purity of gold is questionable.

3) Look for Wearing out and Discoloration

Use a jeweler's loupe or a magnifying glass to examine areas of discoloration and corrosion on the jewelry. Real gold will age evenly. Thus, there shouldn't be patches or darkened areas on the ornament unless it is soldered to a different metal.

4) Check Your Documentation

Check the warranty card, the certificate of authenticity, and other paperwork that come with your gold jewelry. The print should be clear and devoid of spelling or grammatical errors. These can be indicators of a fraud. A good-quality jewelry merchant will always enforce adequate care on his branding and print marketing.

5) Take Help From Jewelry Dealers

Jewelry dealers have an eye for authentic gold because of their expertise. Jewelers of America is a trade association consisting of U.S. professionals in the jewelry industry that guarantees quality products. The members of this body abide by certain ethics of the trade. Jewelry stores that observe this code have the letter "J" imprinted on their store's entrance. Seek help from these professionals for genuine advice in this regard.

I am sure you have a better understanding of establishing the genuineness of gold after reading this post. With the techniques shared herein, you can avoid being misled by unlawful practices and enjoy wedding shopping with your partner-to-be.

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