If you're wondering whether your gold is real, the most reliable way to find out is to take it to a certified jeweler and have it tested. How to Tell if Your Gold Jewelry Is Fake Called fool's gold for a reason, pyrite has some of the characteristics of real gold, except when you scratch it with a fingernail or pointed item, it falls apart. If you pan for gold as a hobby, it's easy to mistake pyrite for real gold. These tests are easy and can be done right at the comforts of your own home. If you've ever wondered whether a gold piece is real gold or some other type of metal, you can find out without taking it to a jeweler or pawn shop. There are several ways to test items for gold … Collectors of gold know that this precious metal has unique properties that can be identified through careful examination. However, these tests are not 100% guaranteed since there might be jewelries that are designed to pass these gold tests to effectively fool people. Real gold, even gold flakes, no matter its size, is heavy. On a recent trip to Sutter's Mill in Coloma, CA, we got a chance first hand to discover actual gold and learn how to tell the difference between the real deal and tricky fool's gold. If you want to figure out whether you have a real diamond in your hands, you can test it easily, in your home. How to Tell if Gold Jewellery Is Real. Many people have gold lying around that they are not sure about because they do not know how to tell is something is real gold or some other metal. Compare the piece in question to a similarly sized piece that you’re sure is real gold. This differs from gold plating or cladding, in which an extremely thin layer of gold is applied to the outside of an otherwise wholly base-metal object. A diamond expert has the proper experience and equipment to confirm if a diamond is real or fake. "There's gold in them there hills!" You can learn to identify genuine gold and avoid being misled through devious practices. Using equipment and ingredients you already have, you can test the authenticity of gold with a very simple test conducted in your own kitchen. If those alluring display racks on Canal Street have taught us anything, it's that all that glitters is certainly not gold. An Easy Way to Tell if Your Gold Jewelry Is Fake Jeff Rossen shows us an easy at-home trick for seeing if your gold jewelry is real or fake. Without zooming in, it can be tough to tell the difference, especially when the sun is shining and the water makes everything glisten. Pure gold is called 24 karat, while gold that is 75 percent gold is 18 karat, 50 percent gold is 12 karat and 42 percent gold is 10 karat. Since gold is much heavier than almost all other metals, you’ll be able to tell if your item is real if it weighs about the same amount as the authentic piece you’re comparing it to. >>MORE: The Best Place to Buy a Real Diamond Engagement Ring. There are a few tests involved in how to tell if gold is real. By American standards, fake gold is anything less than 10 Karats/Carats. Material with less than 10 karat gold is not considered to be gold in the United States. Protect your assets and be certain that the gold you buy matches the published claim. But for items that have been passed down for generations, given as gifts, or purchased through independent retailers, knowing how to tell if gold is real … There are some simple steps to help you tell the difference between real gold and cheap imitations. Buying gold can be a great long-term investment, as long as you are buying real gold. All of these are considered real or genuine. How To Tell If Gold Is Real with Five Simple Gold Tests Since your old scrap gold is worth quite a bit on today’s gold-hungry market it is very important to know how to tell real gold. If you’ve been given a ring, earrings, a bracelet or anything encrusted with a diamond it can be hard to tell if the diamond is real or not.