2 Ways To Tell Whether Your Old Jewelry Is Gold Before Selling It To A Buyer
If you have some old jewelry in your home that you have either had for years or recently received from relatives, you may be thinking about selling the pieces for their gold content. However, even though they appear to be gold, you may not know for sure and want to know how you can tell whether they are real or not.
While a buyer will have solutions they can use to see whether the gold is real, you can use things you have laying around the house to give you a better idea as to its authenticity. Below are a couple of ways you can tell whether your old jewelry is made from real gold or not before selling it to a buyer.
1. Place Each Piece of Jewelry Near a Strong Magnet to See If It Sticks to It
One way that you can tell whether your old jewelry is really made from gold is to use a strong magnet with each piece. As you hold up each piece of jewelry near the magnet, watch carefully to see if the piece is drawn to and sticks to the magnet.
If it sticks to the magnet, it is not real gold because gold is not a magnetic metal. However, even if a piece does not stick, it could be made from gold-plated stainless steel. The only way for sure is to have the buyer test each jewelry piece.
2. Put a Drop or Two of Vinegar on the Gold Area to See If It Changes Color
Once you have narrowed down your jewelry pieces into those that are potentially made from gold, another way you can test whether or not it is real is to put a drop or two of vinegar on the gold areas. Since vinegar is an acid, it has highly corrosive properties that will change the colors of some metals.
If the gold test areas turn color, these pieces of jewelry are not made from gold because the vinegar would not affect it. However, if you find pieces that do not change color, you should have them further tested by the buyer before selling them.
While these methods can give you an idea as to whether or not your old jewelry is made from gold, they are not foolproof and could give false results. When you take any pieces that you have doubts about to a buyer, they can use solutions to not only test the authenticity of the gold but also its grade. If you have any pieces of old jewelry that you would like tested to see if you can sell them, take them to a gold buyer in your area to have them take a look at them.
Reach out to a gold buyer near you to learn more.
Share