Before you sell, insure or pass on jewellery, it helps to know whether it is solid gold, plated or something else. Here's how to check, starting with the easiest clues.
1. Look for a stamp (hallmark)
Most gold jewellery is stamped inside a ring band, on a clasp or on a small tag near the clasp. A magnifying glass or your phone's zoom helps.
| Stamp | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 375 or 9ct / 9K | 9 carat (37.5% gold) |
| 417 or 10K | 10 carat (41.7% gold) |
| 585 or 14ct / 14K | 14 carat (58.5% gold) |
| 750 or 18ct / 18K | 18 carat (75% gold) |
| 916 or 22ct / 22K | 22 carat (91.6% gold) |
| 999 or 24ct / 24K | Pure (24 carat) gold |
Stamps that usually mean not solid gold
- GP, HGE, HGP or EP: gold plated or electroplated
- RGP or rolled gold: a thin layer of gold over base metal
- GF or gold filled: a thicker gold layer, but still not solid
- 925 or sterling: silver, sometimes with gold plating on top
- "9ct bonded" or "9ct gold on silver": a gold layer over another metal
A stamp is a strong clue, not proof. Stamps can be worn away, and some fakes carry false stamps. Unstamped items, especially older or handmade pieces, can still be real gold.
2. Simple home checks
- Magnet test: gold isn't magnetic. If a strong magnet grabs the item, it's mostly base metal. Clasps often contain steel springs, so test the main part. A non-magnetic result doesn't prove an item is gold.
- Wear test: check edges and high points under good light. A different-coloured metal showing through suggests plating.
- Skin test: green or black marks on skin often point to base metals, though some low-carat gold can do this too.
3. Tests to avoid at home
- Scratch tests on tiles: these can permanently mark your jewellery and are hard to read.
- Acid kits: these can damage pieces and give misleading results if used incorrectly.
- Biting, bleach or vinegar tests: these are unreliable and can cause damage.
4. How professionals test gold
Professional buyers use a combination of hallmark inspection, precision scales and testing equipment. At Mail Your Gold we use an XRF analyser. It reads the metal composition without cutting, scratching or using acid, so you get a clear purity result for each item in your itemised offer.
Not sure what you have?
Broken, unstamped or mixed items can still be assessed. See selling broken gold, check what gold we buy, or estimate a value on our gold prices page.
Call 0469 838 242 or email admin@mailyourgold.com.au.