How to Tell If Your Jewellery Is Real Gold at Home (4 Easy Tests)

Whether you've just inherited a jewellery box full of vintage pieces, found an old chain in a drawer, or bought a ring at a local market in Spain, the first question is always the same: is this real gold?

Professional testing is the only way to determine exact purity and value, but there are a few quick, safe tests you can do right now from the comfort of your home to get a good idea. Here are four easy ways to check if your jewellery is the real deal.

1. The hallmark test (the visual inspection)

The fastest way to identify gold is to look for a hallmark — a tiny stamp usually found on the inside of a ring, the clasp of a necklace, or the post of an earring. You may need a magnifying glass or your phone's camera zoomed in to see it.

In Spain and across Europe, gold is typically stamped with numbers representing its purity (parts per thousand):

• 750 — 750/1000 parts gold, i.e. 18-karat gold. The standard for high-quality Spanish jewellery.
• 585 — 14-karat gold.
• 375 — 9-karat gold.

2. The magnet test

This is one of the easiest tests you can do at home. You'll need a relatively strong magnet — a heavy-duty fridge magnet or a neodymium magnet works best.

Hold the magnet up to your jewellery. Real gold is not magnetic. If the piece leaps toward the magnet or sticks to it, it's likely made of iron or nickel (or it's gold-plated over a base metal).

Note: sometimes the clasp of a real gold necklace has a tiny steel spring inside, so the clasp may be slightly magnetic — but the chain itself never should be.

3. The float test

Gold is an incredibly dense, heavy metal. Fill a glass or bowl with water and drop your jewellery in.

• Real gold sinks to the bottom quickly and firmly.
• If the item floats, hovers, or sinks very slowly, it's likely a fake or a very light base metal.

And real gold won't rust or discolour when exposed to water — another quick clue.

4. The ceramic scratch test

For this test you need an unglazed piece of ceramic — like the unglazed bottom of a ceramic plate or mug. Gently drag your jewellery across the surface.

• A black streak means it is not real gold.
• A gold or yellow streak means there's a very high chance you're holding genuine gold.

Be very gentle — this test can leave marks on your piece if you press too hard.

Why home tests are only the first step

The magnet and water tests are fun, but they aren't foolproof. Many counterfeiters use heavy, non-magnetic base metals and cover them in a thick layer of gold plating. To the naked eye — and to a magnet — these fakes can look identical to the real thing.

To find out what your jewellery is actually made of, you need professional technology.

The 100% accurate way to test your gold

At OroSeguro we don't rely on magnets or scratch tests that damage your items. We use advanced XRF (X-ray fluorescence) spectrometers — professional lab equipment that scans your jewellery in seconds and tells us the exact elemental breakdown of the metal, whether it's 18k gold, platinum, or palladium, without leaving a single scratch on your valuables.

Want to know for sure, and find out exactly how much your gold is worth today?

You don't need to visit a physical store. Request a free, fully insured OroSeguro selling pack. Send us your items safely via post and our experts will test them in our secure lab, then give you a firm, no-obligation cash offer based on today's highest market prices.