How Does One Identify Real Gold?

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On 1/16/2004 2:38:13 AM TooMuchInformation wrote:

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So, all of this reading and learning about diamonds and colored stones has got me wondering.

When appraising some jewelry, how does one determine the type of metal used on a ring? I mean, if you look at the rings that I have, they're all stamped with ??K or '750', '333', etc., but how can one tell that this is *real* gold, and that the purity is actually the same as what is stated on the peice?

What about with silver, platinum, etc?
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You can't really do it without some specialized testing that no jeweler will permit you to perform on his or her stock until you've bought it. There are electronic gold testers, but unfortunately they can't generally distinguish between plated and solid gold. One of the appraisers can elaborate on exactly what you do--I know what I've read but I've never done it myself.

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On 1/16/2004 1:15:17 PM TooMuchInformation wrote:

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Well, it originally meant that there was way too much information available for my consuption when I was purchasing an engagement ring, but now, yeah, it probably means that I ask too many questions.

People always tease me, because I can never take things for face value, and people say I think into things WAY too much and make things way too complicated. I think they're just simplifying things. :D
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Actually, it was a legitmate question. "Underkarating" of gold (e.g. selling gold that's less pure than it's marked) is a bigger problem than most consumers realize. There have been some big scandals in recent years:

http://www.jvclegal.org/t_r_florida.html

Ana "The greatest experts are only as good as the sum total of what they have seen." [Souren Melikian]