How to Tell If Gold Is Real in Los Angeles
Wondering whether your jewelry is solid gold or just plated? Here is how to tell if gold is real from its stamps and a few safe at-home checks, and where in Los Angeles to get a free, no-obligation answer.
How to Identify Real Gold in Los Angeles
The most dependable way to learn how to tell if gold is real is to put it in front of people who handle gold every working day. South Bay Coin has examined, tested and bought gold for Los Angeles and South Bay families since 1980, and at our Lawndale counter we read the karat stamp, check it against the metal, and give you a plain answer in a few minutes.
That second step is the one most guides skip. Solid gold, gold filled and gold plate can look identical from across a room, yet one is precious metal all the way through and the others are a layer over brass, copper or steel. A "14K" or "585" stamp is the first clue, but a stamp is only a claim somebody punched into the metal, and counterfeit marks turn up on imported chains all the time. So we confirm every piece with a non-destructive XRF analyzer that reports gold content without filing, scratching or marking your item.
Many of the at-home tips that circulate online are also wrong in ways that cost people money. Real gold can turn skin green. A magnet can grab a genuine gold necklace by its clasp spring. Unmarked gold is often completely real. The sections below explain what each clue actually proves, so you can sort a drawer at home with realistic expectations before you drive anywhere.
Whether you inherited a ring, found an unmarked chain, or want to know what you own before you decide to sell your gold, you can walk in for a private, no-pressure evaluation. We also check gold coins and bullion, dental gold and mixed lots, and we explain what every mark on the piece means.
Where to Check If Gold Is Real Near Me in Lawndale
South Bay Coin
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Sat: 10 AM - 3 PM
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What Do the Stamps on Real Gold Mean?
The fastest first check is the karat stamp. Marks are tiny and tucked into discreet spots: inside a ring band, on the tongue of a clasp, on an earring post, or across the back of a pendant. A jeweler's loupe or a zoomed phone camera makes them far easier to read. On solid gold you will see a karat number such as 10K, 14K, 18K, 21K, 22K or 24K, sometimes written 14KT, or with KP for karat plumb, meaning the gold content is at least the full karat stated.
Many pieces use the European fineness system instead, a three-digit number for parts of gold per thousand. 375 is 9K, 417 is 10K, 585 is 14K, 750 is 18K, 875 is 21K, 916 is 22K and 999 is 24K. You may also see AU, the chemical symbol for gold, in front of the number. White gold and rose gold are still real gold whenever a karat or fineness mark is present.
Just as important are the marks that mean a piece is not solid gold. GP (gold plated), GEP or GE (gold electroplate), HGE or HGP (heavy gold electroplate) and RGP (rolled gold plate) all describe a thin layer over base metal. GF means gold filled, as in "1/20 14K GF", a thicker bonded layer that is still not solid. A 925 stamp on a gold-colored piece means gold over sterling silver, often sold as vermeil, and we value it as sterling silver.
Two cautions. United States law does not require gold jewelry to be stamped at all, so a missing mark is common on handmade, repaired, resized and older pieces and proves nothing either way. And a stamp can be faked as easily as a logo, which is why a mark starts the conversation rather than ending it.
How to Tell If Gold Is Real at Home
No stamp, or a stamp you do not trust? Three free checks narrow things down, as long as you know what each one can and cannot prove. The magnet test is the easiest. Gold is not magnetic, so a strong rare-earth magnet (not a fridge magnet) should not pull on a solid piece. Hold it against the links or the band rather than the clasp, since spring-ring clasps often hide a small steel spring even on real gold. A pull proves a base-metal core. No pull proves nothing, because brass, copper and aluminum ignore magnets too.
The weight check comes next. Gold is very dense, so a solid piece feels heavy for its size, and a large, showy chain or bangle that feels light deserves a second look. Hollow chains and hollow hoops are the exception: they are real gold and still feel light, so weight suggests rather than decides.
Wear is the most honest home clue. Plating is extremely thin, so on high-friction spots like ring edges, clasp tips and the undersides of links, a plated piece often shows a different color peeking through, while solid gold is the same color all the way down.
Skin color is the clue people trust most and should trust least. Pure gold does not react with skin, but 10K and 14K gold contain a large share of copper and silver, which can react with sweat, lotion and chlorine and leave a green or dark mark. Makeup can leave a dark smudge under genuine gold too. Skip acid kits, scratch tests and biting, which can damage the piece and still leave you guessing.
Real Gold We Test and Buy for Cash
Bring any of these and we will read the marks, confirm purity with our analyzer and tell you exactly what you have. Selling is always optional.
Test and Sell Gold Jewelry
Chains, rings, bracelets, earrings and pendants in any karat, including resized or repaired pieces whose stamps were lost. We tell you which pieces are solid and which are not.
Sell Gold Coins & Bullion
Gold Eagles, Krugerrands, Maple Leafs, bars and ingots in any size. We separate genuine bullion from plated lookalikes before any offer is made.
Sell Scrap & Dental Gold
Broken chains, single earrings, crowns and bridges. Condition does not matter when the metal is solid gold, and a broken piece tests exactly like an intact one.
Test Estate & Unmarked Gold
Inherited and antique pieces, white gold, rose gold, foreign marks and worn stamps. Older and handmade gold is often completely real even when nothing on it says so.
How to Confirm Real Gold and Sell It in Three Steps
Text a Photo of the Gold Stamp
Walk into our Lawndale showroom at 16916 Hawthorne Blvd with no appointment, or text a sharp close-up of the stamp and a photo of the whole piece to (310) 363-2697 first.
Get a Free Non-Destructive Gold Test
We read the marks under magnification and confirm purity with our XRF analyzer in front of you. Nothing is filed, scratched or marked in the process.
Learn If Your Gold Is Real, Then Decide
We tell you whether each piece is solid gold, gold filled or plated, and what its stamps mean. If you choose to sell, we make an offer on the spot.
At-Home Gold Tests vs. Pawn Shops vs. South Bay Coin
At-home checks are a useful first screen, and a pawn counter can give a quick read. Here is what each option can actually confirm about a piece before you rely on its answer.
| Feature | South Bay Coin | Magnet & Skin Checks | At-Home Acid Kit | Pawn Shops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Names the karat, 10K through 24K | Yes | No | Approximate | Sometimes |
| Leaves no mark on the piece | Yes | Yes | No | Varies |
| Separates solid, filled and plated gold | Yes | Partial | Partial | Sometimes |
| Explains what each stamp means | Yes | No | No | Sometimes |
| Free to use | Yes | Yes | No | Varies |
| 45+ year track record | Yes | No | No | Varies |
Gold Buyer Reviews From Los Angeles Customers
Questions About How to Tell If Gold Is Real
How to tell if gold is real?
The quickest way to learn how to tell if gold is real is to start with the stamp: a karat number like 10K or 14K, or a fineness number like 585 or 750. Then try a strong magnet away from the clasp and check worn edges for a different color. A non-destructive test gives the definite answer.
What do the 585 and 750 stamps mean on gold?
They are fineness marks showing gold content in parts per thousand. 585 means 58.5 percent gold, the standard mark for 14K. 750 means 75 percent gold, the same as 18K. Other common marks are 375 for 9K, 417 for 10K, 875 for 21K, 916 for 22K and 999 for 24K pure gold.
What stamps are on real gold?
Solid gold usually carries a karat mark (10K, 14K, 18K, 21K, 22K or 24K) or a fineness number (375, 417, 585, 750, 875, 916 or 999). You may also see KP for karat plumb, AU before the number, and a maker's mark beside it. GP, GF, HGE or RGP mean plated or filled, not solid gold.
Does a magnet stick to real gold?
No. Gold is not magnetic, so a strong magnet should not pull on a solid piece. Test the links or the band rather than the clasp, because many real gold clasps contain a small steel spring. A pull means a base-metal core, but no pull proves nothing, since brass and copper ignore magnets too.
Does real gold turn your skin green?
It can. Pure gold does not react with skin, but 10K and 14K gold contain copper and silver, which can react with sweat, lotion or chlorine and leave a green or dark mark. Makeup can also smudge dark under genuine gold. A mark on your skin is worth noting, but it does not prove a piece is fake.
What does GP or GF mean on gold?
GP means gold plated, a very thin gold layer over base metal. GF means gold filled, a thicker bonded layer, often marked like 1/20 14K GF, that is still not solid gold. Related marks include GEP and GE (electroplate), HGE or HGP (heavy electroplate) and RGP (rolled gold plate). None of them means solid gold.
Is 10K gold real gold?
Yes. 10K gold is real, solid gold made of 41.7 percent pure gold alloyed with harder metals, which is why it is so common in durable everyday jewelry. It is usually stamped 10K or 417. It is simply a lower purity than 14K or 18K, not a plated or imitation metal.
How to tell if gold is real or plated?
Read the stamp first: a karat or fineness mark suggests solid gold, while GP, GEP, HGE or GF means plated or filled. Then check high-wear spots like ring edges and clasp tips, where plating wears through to a different color. If you are still unsure how to tell if gold is real or plated, have it tested without damage.
Can gold be fake even if it is stamped 14K?
Yes. Counterfeiters stamp 14K and 18K on plated and base-metal pieces, especially imported chains sold online, so a hallmark is a useful first clue but never final proof. Be wary of a crisp stamp on a piece that feels light for its size or shows a different color at worn edges. Professional testing settles it.
Where can I check if my gold is real in Los Angeles?
South Bay Coin, 16916 Hawthorne Blvd in Lawndale, checks gold for customers across Los Angeles County. We read the stamps and confirm purity with a non-destructive XRF analyzer while you watch, free and with no obligation to sell. Walk in Monday to Friday 10 AM to 5 PM or Saturday 10 AM to 3 PM.
Find Out If Your Gold Is Real in Lawndale
Bring your pieces to our Lawndale showroom for a private, no-obligation gold check, or text a clear photo of the stamps to get started.
