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Title says it all. How can you tell if gold is real or if it is fake gold, aka, fool's gold?
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May 17, 2017 17:20
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| # ? Apr 20, 2024 04:00 |
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Bite it and see if it bends.
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May 17, 2017 17:25
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Density is going to be your best bet. use a small graduated cylinder to measure displacement and a gram or milligram scale to weigh it.
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May 17, 2017 18:05
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Regular or purestrain?
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May 17, 2017 18:43
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Do you have access to a chromatograph?
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May 17, 2017 20:17
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Send it to me and I'll have a look
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May 17, 2017 20:20
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Splash some strong sulphuric acid on it. If it's gold, it won't turn funky colours and melt.
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May 17, 2017 22:25
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Drop it into some aqua regia.
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May 17, 2017 22:25
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Iron pyrite doesn't really look like gold. Not least because pyrite forms crystals whereas gold does not. Also if you eat it and it comes out the other end looking basically the same and doesn't poison you it might be gold.
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May 17, 2017 22:52
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Weigh it.
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May 17, 2017 23:26
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GWBBQ posted:Density is going to be your best bet. use a small graduated cylinder to measure displacement and a gram or milligram scale to weigh it. eureka!
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May 18, 2017 19:11
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If it really matters, go to a gold shop. Why do you ask in the first place; out of curiosity or are you looking to sell an heirloom? If the latter, just hit up a gold shop. Density an (assumed) small item at home sounds very difficult with water, due to surface tension. You'd have to use a very free-flowing liquid (uhm Diesel fuel?). Or just buy an XRF spectrometer, only about $20,000 
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May 19, 2017 00:04
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tumor looking batty posted:Title says it all. How can you tell if gold is real or if it is fake gold, aka, fool's gold? Pyrite is hard, crystalline, and brittle. Gold, on the other hand, is a soft metal. Aside from coloration they're basically nothing alike. If you're trying to tell real gold jewelry from fake gold jewelry or something, I'd say just to take it to a jeweler. The density test doesn't work if the item as non-gold elements in it(gemstones, other metals, etc), and density testing small things can be a real pain in the rear end anyways due to the surface tension of the water and the fact that earrings and fine chains and such have relatively small displacements. Easier just to take it to a jeweler and let a professional test it.
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May 19, 2017 00:32
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Pilsner posted:Or just buy an XRF spectrometer, only about $20,000
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May 19, 2017 02:32
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quote:Or just buy an XRF spectrometer, only about $20,000 This entire thing looks insanely China, from the Fisher Price gun to the Totally Real Picture™ of their offices.
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May 19, 2017 04:58
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A legit handheld XRF unit from like Bruker or Olympus costs about the same but this one probably doubles as free birth control so its a p good deal.
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May 19, 2017 07:28
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Frankly I was surprised that something on China-Alibaba was $20k, I've seem them on more legit Western websites for 25-30k, just couldn't find an example of Google when posting. Also, they all look a bit like oversized toy guns. And are probably all made in China anyway.
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May 19, 2017 14:49
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How does a high street jeweller test if gold is real or not?
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May 20, 2017 00:10
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On a Sunday before sunrise, between the 10th of July and the 20th of August, when the moon is in the Sign of the Lion, thou shalt go unto the place where thou shalt know either by interrogation of the Intelligences, or otherwise, that there is a treasure; there thou shalt describe a Circle of sufficient size with the Sword of Magical Art wherein to open up the earth, as the nature of the ground will allow; thrice during the day shalt thou cense it with the incense proper for the day, after which being clothed in the raiment proper for the Operation thou shalt suspend in some way by a machine immediately above the opening a lamp, whose oil should be mingled with the fat of a man who has died in the month of July, and the wick being made from the cloth wherein he has been buried. Having kindled this with fresh fire, thou shalt fortify the workmen with a girdle of the skin of a goat newly slain, whereon shall be written with the blood of the dead man from whom thou shalt have taken the fat these words and characters (see Figure 10) --  -- and thou shalt set them to work in safety, warning them not to be at all disturbed at the Spectres which they will see, but to work away boldly. In case they cannot finish the work in a single day, every time they shall have to leave it thou shalt cause them to put a covering of wood over the opening, and above the covering about six inches of earth; and thus shalt thou continue unto the end, being all the time present in the raiment of the Art, and with the Magic Sword, during the operation. After which thou shalt repeat this prayer: quote:ADONAI, ELOHIM, EL, EHEIEH ASHER EHEIEH, Prince of Princes, Existence of Existences, have mercy upon me, and cast Thine eyes upon Thy Servant (N.), who invokes Thee most devoutedly, and supplicates Thee by Thy Holy and tremendous Name Tetragrammaton to be propitious, and to order Thine Angels and Spirits to come and take up their abode in this place; O ye Angels and Spirits of the Stars, O all ye Angels and Elementary Spirits, O all ye Spirits present before the Face of God, I the Minister and faithful Servant of the Most High conjure ye, let God Himself, the Existence of Existences, conjure ye to come and be present at this Operation, I, the Servant of God, most humbly entreat ye. Amen. Having then caused the workmen to fill in the hole, thou shalt license the Spirits to depart, thanking them for the favour they have shown unto thee, and saying:-- quote:O ye good and happy Spirits, we thank ye for the benefits which we have just received from your liberal bounty; depart ye in peace to govern the Element which God hath destined for your habitation. Amen.
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May 20, 2017 12:24
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Mostly you need to examine the op and the timing. For example, black baby goku driving multiple people up the wall about kaluha being vodka was pure gold. You trying to do the exact same thing in multiple threads 5 minutes later is fake gold.
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May 20, 2017 15:00
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on those pawn shop shows where they look at a necklace or something through a loupe, what are they looking for/at? is it just to look cool?
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May 23, 2017 15:46
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ladron posted:on those pawn shop shows where they look at a necklace or something through a loupe, what are they looking for/at? is it just to look cool? They're probably looking at the stamp.
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May 23, 2017 16:08
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Lima posted:They're probably looking at the stamp. aha, thank you
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May 24, 2017 15:12
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Gold Test kits exist. Take it to a jeweler or gold/silver buyer, they will have one.
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May 28, 2017 12:32
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You can also try rubbing it on a government employee and see if it makes them burst into flames.
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May 28, 2017 19:20
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Gotta be careful that the 'gold' you are buying isn't just a thin layer of gold over some lame rear end metal like Copper or whatever has a similar density. Just bite it OP to be sure.
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May 31, 2017 16:06
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A quick first test is to put a small magnet to it. If it is magnetic it isn't gold (or silver). Even a lovely refrigerator magnet will work in a pinch.
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Jun 3, 2017 13:35
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Scratch/acid test, water displacement test, weigh it. There's a machine called the Sigma Metalytics tester that runs for around a grand which is great, I use it for anything I come across.
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Jun 4, 2017 22:49
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meat police posted:Scratch/acid test, water displacement test, weigh it. There's a machine called the Sigma Metalytics tester that runs for around a grand which is great, I use it for anything I come across. I watched a YouTube video on the acid test and it seems that rubbing the gold would damage it - how bad is the effect? Seems that it's a fairly destructive way of testing something that could be an antique.
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Jun 5, 2017 00:28
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spog posted:I watched a YouTube video on the acid test and it seems that rubbing the gold would damage it - how bad is the effect? Seems that it's a fairly destructive way of testing something that could be an antique. I don't think it's too terrible but it's still something I wouldn't want to use on antiques, coinage, or jewelry I plan to keep. I would just use that method on generic gold or silver bullion.
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Jun 5, 2017 01:12
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What kind of gold, exactly? Jewelry is stamped to tell you what it's made of: 10K to 24K for gold, "Ster" or 925 for sterling silver. Gold and silver aren't attracted to magnets, so that's an easy start. Anything marked "gold-plated" or "gold-filled" is fake, and will also be magnetic. If it discolors or irritates your skin, it may be fake; however, some people are allergic to some of the other metals used in gold alloys, especially nickel, particularly in 10K jewelry. Real gold is soft and malleable, even 10K. Easiest way will be to take it to a jeweler. A lot of them have little hand-held devices to test gold and gemstones.
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Jun 12, 2017 21:50
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