Interested in investing in gold? Make sure you already know how to distinguish between real and fake gold, so you don’t choose the wrong one. How to tell the difference? Make sure you don’t miss the interesting reviews from the following articles.
Gold has long been a promising investment instrument because it has a stable selling value and continues to increase. Gold used as an investment is usually in gold bars or jewelry with a gold content of more than 98% or reaches 24 carats.
Unfortunately, currently, there is much fake gold on the market. This type of gold is usually mixed with brass so that the quality and carat content of gold is low. Therefore, before buying, you must know how to manually distinguish real and fake gold to get the best gold for investment.
Gold is one of the precious metals that can be used as a profitable long-term investment and will not be eroded by inflation. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the price of gold continues to increase from year to year. In 2000, the price of gold was still in the range of $6 per gram. However, in 2007 it had reached $19. Not only that, in 2010, the price of gold has reached $30 per gram, and in 2020, the price of gold has reached $76 per gram.
These data show that gold investment can bring big profits in the future. However, this high price only applies if you know how to distinguish real and fake gold by burning or other ways to get real gold. The reason is that if you choose the wrong fake gold, instead of making a profit, you can stagnate and get a big loss.
Before deciding to buy gold, it’s a good idea to first understand how to distinguish between real and fake gold below.
1. Pay attention to the Gold Physical Part
The easiest and most frequently used way to distinguish between real gold and fake gold is to pay attention to the physical characteristics of the gold you want to buy. Usually, genuine and pure gold has a stamp or mark to determine the gold content.
The gold grade uses the fineness unit (1-999 or 0.1-0.999). In addition to using fineness units, distinguishing real and fake gold in jewelry usually uses carat units such as 10k, 18k, and 24k.
Unfortunately, nowadays, a lot of gold also includes a fake gold grade stamp. Therefore, it is not enough if you only use this method. Still, you can also use other methods, including distinguishing real and fake gold with vinegar or other more accurate methods.
2. Rub Gold Using Finger
Another way that you can also use to distinguish between real and fake gold is by rubbing the surface of the gold with your finger before buying it. If the colour changes or fades after you rub on certain areas, you can be sure it is fake gold.
Real gold will not change colour when rubbed with fingers or other objects. Even real gold, when burned at low temperatures, will not change colour. This is because pure gold has a solid colour, not just the outer layer.
3. How to Distinguish Real and Fake Gold by Biting
Ever seen an Olympic athlete bite his gold medal? Yes, this method is usually used to determine whether the medal he gets is genuine or not. However, not only to check the medal’s authenticity, but some people also use this unique technique to distinguish real and fake gold necklaces by biting them.
Gold is a soft metal that is easy to shape into various jewelry. The higher the carat content, the softer the gold texture will be when bitten. Real gold will usually leave a mark if bitten. On the other hand, if the gold you bite into has a very hard texture and doesn’t leave any bite marks, the gold is likely fake.
Although it is one of the most popular ways to distinguish between real and fake gold, you cannot use this method for all types of gold. This method is usually only used to check the authenticity of gold in the form of bars, pieces or coins. As for jewelry, this method is not recommended because it can change the shape and damage the jewelry itself.
4. Try Bringing Gold to Magnet
In addition to paying attention to the colour of real and fake gold, you can also use a magnet to check the authenticity of gold. Unfortunately, gold is a precious metal that magnets cannot attract. So if you want to know if your gold is real or not, try holding a magnet close to it and see if it is attracted to it or not.
To do this, you need to prepare a magnet with sufficient strength. Next, point the magnet at the gold you want to check. If a magnet attracts it, it is most likely fake gold.
Although it is quite effective, this method cannot check the difference between genuine gold with a 100% authenticity guarantee. At this time, many other types of metals also have nonmagnetic properties. So if the gold you have is not attracted to a magnet, it’s a good idea to keep checking in other ways to make the results more valid.
5. Scratch Gold onto Ceramic or Paper
Scraping gold onto ceramic or paper can also be used to tell real gold from copper. Real gold usually won’t leave any traces or marks when scratched on paper or ceramic. At the same time, other types of metal will leave scratches.
This method is indeed powerful enough to prove the authenticity of gold compared to paying attention to the smell of real gold, which is difficult to distinguish. However, you need to know that this method has the risk of damaging the gold surface. So if you want to try this method, make sure to do it carefully so as not to damage the shape of the gold.
6. Try Dripping Acid
If you want a more professional way, you can also use acid or vinegar to test whether gold is real or fake. Test gold with this house liquid can be done by dripping nitric acid on the gold surface. If, after being dripped, there is a reaction in the form of a colour change to greenish, then you can be sure the gold is fake.
Nitric acid can change the colour of the gold surface based on the coating material used. For example, when you drop it, it changes colour to a milky colour, which means gold is coated with silver. However, if after dripping with vinegar there is no reaction, it means that the gold is real.
You can use this method to check the authenticity of the jewelry you currently have. With materials that can be found easily at home, you can determine whether the gold you have is genuine or not. Some trusted jewelry stores usually also offer a way to check genuine or fake UBS gold with this acid liquid to convince potential buyers.
7. Review the Gold Certificate Documents
A certificate backs real gold to prove its authenticity. Therefore, when you want to buy gold, make sure the certificate it has. Currently, many people deliberately make fake gold certificates that seem to show that the gold is real. If you don’t research it, it’s not impossible that this can fool you.
How to distinguish real and fake white gold through this certificate is quite easy to do. To find out if a gold certificate is real or fake, place it under ultraviolet light. On the original certificate, there will be a colourful minor line like the one on the banknote. There is also a green block in each certificate detail description. Don’t forget to also make sure that the watermark logo of the certificate printing company is genuine.
8. Gold Density Check
One of the best ways to tell if gold is real or not is to check its density. Gold is a metal that has a very high density. Almost no other metal can match the density of gold. So the higher the density of the metal, the purer the content of the precious metal will be.
Steps to Check Authenticity of Gold
How to check the authenticity of gold using this method is easier. Follow these steps.
- Prepare a measuring cup filled with water
- Insert gold by hanging it using a thread
- See if there is a difference in the water before and after the gold is added.
- To do this, you can use the density calculation formula, which is mass divided by volume. If the result is close to 19 grams per millilitre, you can be sure it is real gold. Compared to the authenticity test of real gold if it is burned, this method is more accurate.
Gold Density Number
As a guide, here are the gold density numbers by carat:
- 14k gold = 12.9 – 14.6 grams/milliliter
- 18k yellow = 15.2 – 15-9 gram/ml
- 18k white = 14.7 – 16.9 gram/ml
- 22k = 17.7 – 17.8 grams/ml
Although it looks easy, this method requires good foresight to measure the density of gold correctly. If you do not do it carefully, the results may be inaccurate. However, compared to checking only the original gold code, this method has more valid and accurate results to ensure the authenticity of the gold.
9. Check Directly to the Gold Shop
If you have done all the ways to distinguish between real and fake gold above but are still unsure of the results, checking directly to a gold shop can be the best solution. This method is more practical while getting more accurate results.
To check, you only need to come to the nearest gold shop that provides gold authenticity testing services. Then the shopkeepers will check using the special tools they have. No need to wait long because the results will come out in just a few minutes.
In addition to the 9 ways above, many other ways can distinguish between real and fake gold. Most recently, there is currently a CertiEye application that can be used to check the authenticity of gold specifically for Antam gold buyers. Besides being practical, this method can also ensure that the gold you buy is genuine by scanning the barcode listed on each gold bar product from Antam.
You need to be aware, and now it’s not only fake gold. However, many people sometimes still find it difficult to distinguish between gold and brass. This is because gold and brass have the same colour, so it isn’t easy to distinguish. So it’s good if you intend to buy gold; make sure you also know how to distinguish real gold and brass rings to avoid losses.
How to tell the difference between real gold and brass
Several ways can be used to distinguish real gold and brass, including:
1. Real Gold Has a Sharper Gloss Than Brass
One way to tell real gold from brass is to pay attention to its lustre. Real gold is usually shinier than brass. While brass has a darker and duller colour when compared to gold.
2. Rubbing with Ceramic
Another way that you can also use to distinguish real gold and brass is by rubbing it on the ceramic. Real gold will leave a golden mark on the ceramic surface, while brass will leave a blackish mark on the ceramic surface.
3. Gold Does Not React To Acids
Besides being able to be used as a way to distinguish real and fake gold, you can also use acid liquid to distinguish gold and brass. Real gold does not react when dropped with an acidic liquid, while brass, when exposed to an acidic liquid, will react with small bubbles appearing.
4. Gold Has a Much More Expensive Price Than Brass
How to distinguish gold and brass, which you can then pay attention to from the price offered. Gold has a much higher price when compared to brass. Currently, the price of pure gold has reached the level of Rp. 900,000 per gram. While brass has a much lower price, which is around Rp. 500,000 for one kilogram. So if you are offered gold at a price far from the standard price, you have to be careful because it could be fake gold or brass.
Gold investment can indeed bring big profits. No wonder more and more people are now choosing gold as a long-term investment option. However, before buying, make sure to buy real gold from a trusted place such as Antam or a financial institution that offers gold investment. To be more sure, don’t hesitate to use an actual gold check application such as CertiEye to check the authenticity of Antam’s gold.
That’s an interesting review about how to check the authenticity of gold that you need to know. By buying real gold, you can get big profits because the price of real gold tends to always increase from year to year.
