How to spot fake or plated gold jewellery at the counter
Short answer: visual signs can raise doubts, but only a proper test settles whether an item is real gold and of what fineness. Treat every warning sign as a reason to test, never as proof either way.
Signs worth a closer look
- Worn edges. Plating wears first on edges, clasps and the inside of rings, showing a different metal underneath.
- Hallmarks that do not fit. Missing, blurred or inconsistent stamps, or marks such as GP, GF or HGE, which indicate gold plating or gold filling, not solid gold.
- Magnet pull. Gold is not magnetic. A clear pull means other metals are present. No pull does not prove gold.
- Weight. Gold is dense. An item that feels light for its size deserves suspicion.
- Colour. An unusually bright or uneven colour can point to plating.
What a sign does not prove
A correct-looking hallmark can be faked, and a genuine old item can be worn. Signs tell you where to look; they do not tell you the fineness.
Test it
Use an acid test, an electronic tester or an XRF analyser, and test in a place where plating would be thinnest. For heavy or high-value items, use two methods.
Weigh only the gold
Once the fineness is confirmed, weigh the gold parts only. Stones, steel springs and other metals are not part of the value.
Keep a record
Write down the test method and result next to the loan. If the item comes back into question later, the record shows what was checked and how.
How PawnMeter helps
After testing, the clerk enters the gold weight and the confirmed karat. PawnMeter calculates the metal value from the official reference price of the day and applies the shop's own percentage.
PawnMeter: Type the item. PawnMeter shows the resale price and a suggested loan, calculated only from what comparable items really sold for. When there is not enough data, it says so instead of guessing.
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