Gold & Silver: How To Tell If It Is Genuine

When you invest in precious metal like gold or silver, you want to be sure that you are getting the real thing! There have been many scams over the years that involve making a product look and feel like the real precious metal and in this article, we look at ways to avoid becoming the victim of a gold or silver scam.

Visual Inspection

A close inspection can tell you a lot about both gold and silver. Look for stamps and markings. Gold should be stamped and while a stamp is not a cast-iron guarantee of its purity, it does add credibility.

The Karat System

The purity of gold is measured by the karat – the higher the number, the purer the gold is. Pure gold is 24k, which means that all 24 parts of the metal are, in fact, gold. The highest purity you would find in jewellery, would be 18k; any more than that and the jewellery would be too soft. A 14k gold is often used in jewellery, while in Asia, people prefer 24k gold, even though the jewellery is soft.

Deal With A Reputable Bullion Dealer

If a person is looking to buy gold and even silver, a quick Google search will reveal the whereabouts of an established gold and silver bullion dealer. For example, you may want to check out and then buy gold Brisbane dealer City Gold Bullion has on offer. Bullion dealers such as City Gold Bullion would have spent many years building up their good reputation and they would not sell any product that is inferior or fake; there would be too much to lose.

Avoid These Markings

If you are looking at gold hallmarks or stamps, avoid the following:

• GP
• GF
• GE
• GEP
• HGP
• HEG

All of the above indicate gold plating, so while there is gold on the exterior, the entire object is not made from gold.

The Skin Test

This is a simple test that involves holding a piece of gold jewellery in your hand for at least a few minutes and if the gold is not pure, your sweat will affect the colouring of the metal, turning it into a bluey-green colour. When real gold touches human skin, there should be no discolouration; if there is discolouration, it comes from an alloy that is mixed with the gold.

Take It To A Jeweller

If you have gold jewellery and you want a professional opinion of the authenticity of the gold, ask the jeweller to inspect the piece and they can quickly determine whether or not the gold is real. Every jeweller has a reputation to uphold, and they would never offer anything that is inferior in any way, shape or form.

If you would like to get the best price for your old gold jewellery, search online for a gold bullion dealer, who would offer you the best deal. Equally, if you are planning to invest in some gold bullion, the Internet can help you to find a reputable gold bullion dealer that is within driving distance and you can take physical possession of your gold and store it somewhere safe.