No single home test proves gold is real, but a few simple checks used together will catch most fakes. Start with the ones that cannot damage your piece.
Solid gold is usually marked with its karat or purity: 10K or 417, 14K or 585, 18K or 750, 22K or 916, 24K or 999. Marks such as GP, GF, HGE, RGP or 1/20 mean plated or filled, not solid gold. A stamp can be faked, so treat it as a strong clue rather than proof.
Gold is not magnetic. If a strong magnet pulls the body of the piece, it is not solid gold. Clasp springs are often steel, so test away from the clasp. A magnet that does not pull rules out steel and iron, but not brass or other non-magnetic fakes.
Look closely at the edges, the clasp and the underside of rings, where wear is heaviest. A different color showing through, often silver, grey or reddish, means the gold is a plating over another metal.
Cheap gold-tone jewelry often leaves a green or dark mark on skin. Real gold rarely does, although low karat gold can occasionally discolor skin because of the other metals in it.
Gold is very dense. Weigh the piece in grams, then measure its volume by the water it displaces in a graduated cylinder, and divide weight by volume. Pure gold is about 19.3 grams per cubic centimeter and 14K to 18K gold roughly 13 to 16, while silver is about 10.5 and brass about 8.5. Small pieces are hard to measure precisely, and set stones throw the result off.
Dragging gold across the unglazed bottom of a ceramic tile or plate leaves a gold-colored streak, while many fakes leave a black or grey one. This scratches your piece, so use a hidden spot or skip it for anything valuable.
Gold testing kits use acids that react differently with each karat. They are inexpensive and give a clear answer, but the acid is hazardous and the test needs a small scratch. Many jewelers will run it for you.
Electronic gold testers and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers give a fast answer without acid. XRF reads the exact metal content without marking the piece, and many gold buyers use it.
Want a quick verdict from the checks you can do now? Try the 5-question ring checker.
| Gold | Per gram | 5 grams |
|---|---|---|
| 10K | $57.45 | $287.25 |
| 14K | $80.59 | $402.97 |
| 18K | $103.33 | $516.63 |
| 22K | $126.20 | $630.98 |
Melt values as of 2026-09-28, from spot prices of gold $4,285.06, silver $64.30 and platinum $1,778.00 per troy ounce.
If the piece has stones, a maker's mark or some age, it may be worth well beyond its gold. Photograph it with GemstoneAI to identify it and estimate its value. Your first scan is free.
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Combine three checks that cannot damage it: read the stamp, try a strong magnet, and look for a different color at worn edges. If all three agree, you have a good indication, and a jeweler's test confirms it.
No. Gold is not magnetic. A piece that a magnet pulls is not solid gold, although a steel clasp spring can be magnetic even on real gold jewelry.
Yes. Stamps are easy to fake, so back a stamp up with another test such as a magnet, an acid test or an electronic tester.