At-Home Tests to Avoid—and What to Do Instead
Just because you read it on the internet, doesn’t make it true.
If you want to find out if your gold jewelry is real, the world-wide web claims to have the answers—including at-home tests that don’t work or even risk personal injury.
For example, perhaps you read about the bite test…
Because gold is a soft metal, many online sites may convince you to bite your gold pieces to certify their authenticity.
If a mark is left behind, these authors claim it could be genuine gold—but it could also be lead, as this metal responds the same way.
More importantly, this test risks breaking a tooth and can never guarantee if your gold is real or fake after all.
Or maybe you heard about the magnet test…
Because gold is a non-magnetic metal, online authors claim using a magnet can rule gold jewelry as fake.
The theory is simple: if the piece sticks or moves toward the magnet, it’s not genuine gold jewelry.
And while this sounds like a fun excuse to play magnets, this test is almost certainly inaccurate.
Finally, maybe you read about the density test…
This exhaustive test involves a whole lot of equipment, including a small scale, a glass measuring vial, and water.
The goal of this test is to measure the density of your gold piece.
See, pure 24-karat gold is about 19.3 grams per milliliter; in the world of metal, that’s pretty solid.
However, the test requires that you:
- Weigh your gold jewelry (in grams)
- Fill the measuring vial with water
- Make a note of the water level in milliliters
- Place the gold piece in the container and note the difference in the water level
- Use the following formula to determine the density of the gold piece:
Density = Mass/Volume Displacement.
If the result is around 19 grams per milliliter, these internet articles claim the gold is genuine.
The problem? Aside from the amount of equipment and time it takes to conduct the test alone, some human error and inaccuracy are unavoidable. Even if you manage to conduct the test correctly, there’s still no way to certify your piece is genuine gold.
The Only Test to Conduct at Home
Now, there is simply no way to certify whether gold is real in your own home.
You can, however, examine your piece for official markings, such as stamps indicating the fineness or karat.
Still, older pieces may be difficult to read due to wear and counterfeit gold can have very convincing markings as well.
The Only Guaranteed Solution: Bring Your Gold to a Certified Jewelry Buyer
This is the only accurate, safe, easy, and fast option.
Not only are these at-home tests often inaccurate—genuine gold has no certifiable value from home inspections and tests. So, what should you do instead?
First, read reviews and check Better Business Bureau ratings to find a jewelry buyer who received a gemological degree from a full-time certification program, ideally from a respected, recognized school like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Once you find the most reputable jewelry buyer in your area, let these professionals safely determine the value and authenticity of your gold.
Southwest Jewelry Buyers not only has an A+ BBB rating, stellar customer testimonials, and a 5-Star Yelp! rating, but we also offer free estimates from our GIA-certified gemologists.
But don’t take our word for it—our reviews speak for themselves.
Additionally, if you think it may be time to sell that gold jewelry, Southwest Jewelry Buyers provides the highest, top-dollar amount in Scottsdale and across the valley. We purchase gold of any type and quantity through a simple, straightforward process. We also offer an on-the-spot appraisal with a no obligation quote.
So don’t spend another minute on inaccurate at-home tests.