None of these checks replaces an acid or electronic test, but together they will tell you whether a piece is worth bringing in, and they take five minutes.
1. Read the hallmark
Look inside a ring band, on a clasp, or on the back of a pendant with a magnifier. Canadian and North American pieces are usually stamped in karats (10K, 14K, 18K) and European or South Asian pieces in parts per thousand (417, 585, 750, 916, 999). A stamp such as GP, GF, HGE or 1/20 12K means plated or filled, not solid. No stamp does not mean fake; older and handmade pieces are often unmarked.
2. The magnet test
Gold is not magnetic. If a strong magnet pulls the piece, the core is steel or another base metal. If it does not, the piece might be gold, but many fakes use non-magnetic metals too, so this only rules things out.
3. Skin and wear marks
Plated jewellery wears through at edges, clasps and the inside of rings, showing a different colour underneath, often copper or silver-white. Green or black marks on skin are a sign of copper or nickel alloys, though sweat and lotions can cause marks even with real low-karat gold.
4. The ceramic streak
Drag the piece across an unglazed ceramic tile (the back of a bathroom tile works). Real gold leaves a gold streak; most fakes leave a black or grey one. This scratches the item slightly, so use an inconspicuous edge.
5. Weight and density
Gold is dense, about 19.3 g/cm³ for pure gold and around 16–17 g/cm³ for 18K. If a piece feels light for its size compared with a known gold item, be suspicious. Tungsten is one of the few metals that matches gold's density, which is why professional testing still matters for bars.
6. Colour and sound
Solid gold has a warm, slightly muted colour; heavy plating can look brighter and more yellow. Gold coins ring with a long, clear tone when balanced on a fingertip and tapped. Neither test is decisive on its own.
What we do at the counter
We start with the hallmark and a magnet, then use an acid test or an electronic tester, whichever suits the piece. Acid testing takes a tiny scratch on a testing stone, not on the visible surface of your jewellery. The test is done on the counter where you can watch, and we tell you the karat we found before we weigh anything. If a piece is not gold we say so; there is no charge for testing and no obligation to sell.
See what we buy, or call (905) 514-5141 with your questions.