How to Tell If Your Gold Is Real
Wondering whether your jewelry is solid gold or just plated? Learn the exact karat stamps and at-home tests that reveal real gold, or bring your pieces to our Lawndale showroom for expert, no-obligation testing.
Where to Identify Real Gold in Los Angeles
If you want to know how to tell if your gold is real, the most dependable answer in Los Angeles is to have it examined by people who handle it every day. South Bay Coin has tested and authenticated gold for South Bay families since 1980, and our appraisers can read a karat stamp, spot a fake mark, and confirm purity in minutes.
The reason matters: solid gold and gold plate can look nearly identical, yet they are completely different metals worth completely different amounts. A "14K" or "585" stamp is the first clue, but counterfeit stamps exist, so a mark alone is never final proof. We confirm every piece with a non-destructive XRF analyzer that reads the exact gold content without filing, scratching, or harming your item.
Whether you inherited a ring, found an unmarked chain, or simply 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 test gold coins, dental gold, and mixed lots, and we explain exactly what your stamps mean and why.
Bring Your Gold to Our Lawndale Showroom
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Gold Karat Stamps and Hallmarks to Look For
The fastest way to identify real gold is to find its karat stamp. Marks are tiny and tucked into discreet spots: the inside of a ring band, the clasp of a necklace, the post of an earring, or the back of a pendant. A jeweler's loupe makes them far easier to read. On solid gold you will see a karat number like 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, or 24K (sometimes written 14KT or with KP for "karat plumb," meaning the purity is exact).
Many pieces use the European fineness system instead, a three-digit number for parts per thousand. 375 is 9K, 417 is 10K, 585 is 14K, 750 is 18K, 916 is 22K, and 999 is 24K (pure gold). You may also see AU (the chemical symbol for gold) before the number. White gold and rose gold are still real gold as long as a karat or fineness mark is present.
Just as important is knowing the marks that mean it is not solid gold. GP (gold plated), GEP or GE (gold electroplated), HGE or HGP (heavy gold electroplate), and RGP (rolled gold plate) all describe a thin gold layer over base metal. GF means gold filled (for example "1/20 14K GF"), a thicker layer but still not solid. A "925" stamp on a gold-colored piece points to vermeil (gold over silver). A counterfeit stamp is exactly why a final test matters.
At-Home Tests to Tell If Gold Is Real
No stamp, or a stamp you do not trust? A few simple checks narrow things down before you visit an expert. The magnet test is the easiest: real gold is not magnetic, so if a strong magnet pulls toward your piece, it is not solid gold. Remember this test only rules gold out, since many fake metals are also non-magnetic.
The skin test is a telling everyday clue. Solid gold does not react with your skin, so a piece that leaves a green or black mark on your finger or neck is almost certainly plated or a copper-based alloy rather than solid gold. A weight check helps too: gold is very dense and feels noticeably heavy for its size, so a piece that feels surprisingly light is worth questioning.
Another clue is wear. Because plating is extremely thin, high-friction areas like ring edges and clasp backs often show a different colored base metal peeking through on plated pieces, while solid gold is the same color throughout. Avoid acid kits and scratch tests at home, as both can permanently damage your piece. For a definitive answer, our XRF analyzer reads exact karat purity without a scratch.
Gold We Test and Buy
Bring any of these and we will read the hallmarks, confirm purity with our analyzer, and tell you exactly what you have, with no obligation to sell.
Gold Jewelry
Chains, rings, bracelets, earrings, and pendants in any karat, including unmarked pieces we can test for you.
Gold Coins & Bullion
Gold Eagles, Krugerrands, Maple Leafs, bars, and ingots. We separate solid bullion from plated lookalikes.
Scrap & Dental Gold
Broken chains, single earrings, dental crowns and bridges. Condition does not matter when it is solid gold.
Estate & Unmarked Gold
Inherited and antique pieces, white gold, rose gold, and items with worn or missing stamps that need testing.
How Professional Gold Testing Works
Visit or Text a Photo
Walk into our Lawndale showroom at 16916 Hawthorne Blvd, no appointment needed, or text clear photos of the stamps to (310) 363-2697.
Non-Destructive Testing
We read the marks under a loupe and verify exact karat purity with our XRF analyzer. Nothing is filed, scratched, or harmed in the process.
Know Exactly What You Have
We explain whether it is solid gold, gold filled, or plated, and what the stamps mean. If you choose to sell, we make an offer on the spot.
Verifying Gold: At-Home vs. Professional Testing
At-home tests are a useful first screen, but only professional analysis confirms exact karat purity without risking damage to your piece.
| South Bay Coin | Magnet / Skin Test | At-Home Acid Kit | Pawn Shops | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confirms exact karat (10K-24K) | Approximate | Sometimes | ||
| No scratching or damage | Varies | |||
| Tells solid gold from plated or filled | Partial | Sometimes | ||
| Reliable on jewelry & small items | Partial | Varies | ||
| Certified appraiser on-site | Varies | |||
| 45+ year track record | Varies |
What Our Customers Say
Common Questions About Identifying Real Gold
Start by looking for a karat stamp such as 10K, 14K, 18K, or a fineness number like 585 or 750 in a discreet spot like a clasp or ring interior. Then confirm with simple tests: real gold is not magnetic, does not turn skin green, and feels heavy. For certainty, have it checked with a professional XRF analyzer.
These are European fineness marks showing purity in parts per thousand. 585 means 58.5% pure gold, which is the same as 14K. 750 means 75% pure gold, the same as 18K. Other common fineness marks include 375 for 9K, 417 for 10K, 916 for 22K, and 999 for 24K pure gold.
Solid gold carries a karat mark (10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, or 24K) or a fineness number (375, 417, 585, 750, 916, or 999). You may also see KP for karat plumb or AU before the number. A maker's mark often appears alongside it. Stamps like GP, GF, or HGE indicate plated or filled, not solid gold.
No. Real gold is not magnetic, so if a strong magnet sticks or pulls toward your piece, it is not solid gold. Keep in mind the magnet test only rules gold out, since many fake metals like brass and copper are also non-magnetic. Always pair it with another test.
No. Solid gold does not react with your skin or cause discoloration. Green or black marks come from base metals like copper reacting with sweat, which is a telltale sign the piece is plated, gold filled, or a base-metal alloy rather than solid gold, no matter what the seller claimed.
GP means gold plated, a thin gold layer over base metal. GF means gold filled, a thicker bonded layer (often marked like 1/20 14K GF) but still not solid gold. Related marks include GEP and GE (electroplated), HGE or HGP (heavy electroplate), and RGP (rolled gold plate). None of these are solid gold.
Yes. 10K gold is real gold, made of 41.7% pure gold mixed with stronger alloy metals. It is the lowest karat that can legally be sold as gold in the United States, which is why it is common in durable everyday jewelry. It is solid gold, just a lower purity than 14K or 18K.
Check the stamp first: a karat or fineness mark means solid, while GP, GEP, HGE, or GF means plated or filled. Then inspect high-wear spots like ring edges and clasps, where plating wears through to show a different base metal underneath. Solid gold is the same color throughout. A professional XRF test confirms it instantly.
Yes. Counterfeiters routinely stamp fake 14K or 18K marks on plated and base-metal pieces, so a hallmark is a useful first clue but never final proof. Watch for crisp karat stamps on suspiciously light items or pieces that turn your skin green. The only sure way to confirm purity is professional testing.
South Bay Coin in Lawndale tests gold for clients across Los Angeles County. Our appraisers read karat stamps and confirm exact purity with a non-destructive XRF analyzer, no scratching or filing required. Walk in during business hours or text photos to (310) 363-2697, with no obligation to sell.
Not Sure If Your Gold Is Real?
Bring your pieces to our Lawndale showroom for a private, no-obligation evaluation, or text us a photo of the stamps to get started.