Really gold or fake gold? Here is why it matters
With gold prices that hit record highs, buy more people, sell and give gold than ever before. But one question continues to come up:
How can you see if something is real gold?
It’s a valid concern. The market is flooded with gold-plated jewelry, objects under carat and counterfeit coins-many of those who convince enough to fool relaxed buyers. Online -forums like Reddit are filled with stories of people who thought they had bought pure gold only to find that they had been scammed.
Fake Gold is not always obvious. Some pieces are sealed in what looks like legitimate assay cards. Others are sold by sellers with seemingly good assessments in marketplaces such as eBay. Visual inspection alone is no longer enough.
How to test gold at home
If you hold gold jewelry or a coin and wonder if it is real, there are a few basic ways to test at home:
Magnetic test
Gold is not magnetic, so if it sticks to a magnet, it is probably false (though not all forgeries are magnetic).
Comparison of weight and size
Gold has a very specific relationship between its weight and physical measurements. By using a digital road scale and a caliper, you can check if a item’s weight and thickness match what you would expect from real gold of that type. Because gold is extremely dense, it is difficult to repeat both its weight and dimensions using less valuable materials without noticeable discrepancies.
Home specific gravity test
This method aims to test the density of the material by measuring how much water it displaces. Using a digital scale (exactly at least 0.01 g), first weigh the item and record its weight in air. Then weigh it again while fully submerged in water. The difference between the two weights allows you to calculate the specific gravity of the product by dividing the original weight by the difference.
Specific gravity = weight in air / (weight in air – weight in water)
This table shows the approximate density of ordinary gold cleaner along with other metals:
This method allows you to get a ballpark figure for the specific gravity of your objects. As long as they fall within the expected range, there is a reasonable degree of confidence in their purity. However, it is not a foolproof method-it does not catch gold-plated tungsten, internal cavities or counterfeit rods filled with other metals. It is best used as an initial check, not a final judgment.
Using a noble metal verifier
Unlike magnetic experiments -as is often indispensable -or specific gravity tests, which can be messy, fine and still leave doubt, uses a custom -built tool such as Sigma Metalytics PMV -original a quick, clean and very reliable alternative.
This device sends electromagnetic signals through the subject to measure its resistivity – a physical property that is unique to each metal. This means that it is not just testing the surface – it reads throughout the play to see if the internal composition matches what it should be.
The PMVoriginal is widely used across the precious metal industry and is compact enough for collectors and investors to use at home. This test method can be performed even through assay map, thin packaging or coin capsules – ensuring that your metals remain pristine while still verifying their purity.
How Bullionstar authenticates gold
At Bullionstar, we use tools for industrial quality and strict protocols to help ensure that gold metals and precious metals we offer meet the highest standards of authenticity. Here’s how we do:
X -ray fluorescence (XRF)
Olympus Vanta GX is a benchtop XRF analyzer designed for fast, accurate and non -destructive analysis of precious metals. Using high -energy X -rays, it determines the elementary composition of objects, confirms purity and detects any foreign metals or plating.
When gold is exposed to x -rays, microscopic particles are shifted from the surface. These particles emit secondary X -rays with wavelengths that are unique to each element. By measuring these emissions, the XRF approval identifies the exact composition of the item. This process offers precise, non-destructive verification of gold content.
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- Axon Technology ™: Improves XRF signal treatment with ultra-low-noise electronics, resulting in higher X-ray counts per year. Second and faster, more reliable results.
- Gold paving alarms: Identifies fake jewelry by detecting gold paving and dangerous elements such as lead or cadmium.
- Built -in camera: Catching images of tested items pair them with results for accurate documentation.
Sigma Preecle Metal Verifier – Pro
Sigma Metalytics PMV Pro is an advanced resistivity test unit designed specifically to provide the highest level of security for gold verification. It goes beyond surface check to assess internal consistency, measure density and confirm that rods in large format are exactly what they claim to be
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- Through readings: To detect any internal manipulation, fill metals or layered forgeries, readings must be scanned all the way through the item.
- Built -in specific gravity check: Compare weight and thickness with expected density of gold and other metals that mark everything outside the normal range.
- The external bridge -attachment: For Thru testing of large columns, deep verification of Bullion ensures high value.
Don’t take the risk – purchase from reputable dealers
Buying gold from an unknown source – whether online, in a flea market or even from a seemingly reliable seller – comes with real risk. You cannot test a coin on eBay before it is sent to you. And when it arrives, it can be too late to do something if it turns out to be false.
Even with a reliable home testing tool such as the PMVoriginal, verification occurs only once you have taken possession of the gold. It’s a great way to confirm what you received – but it doesn’t protect you from buying something fake in the first place.
Buying from a reputable dealer like Bullionstar gives you security right from the beginning.
At Bullionstar, we sources our products directly from some of the world’s most respected coins and use strict internal controls before anyone lasts when our customers.
Whether you acquire a 1 oz gold rod for prolonged savings or a gold maple leaf coin for collection, you can rely on both the quality of the metal and the strength of the process behind it.
You not only get gold; You ensure peace of mind.