TOP 4 best ways - how to weigh gold at home without scales: how to determine the weight of jewelry in grams

Description of the noble metal. How can you determine its purity?

Gold is an element of group 11 with atomic number 79 of the periodic table. This metal was the first to be discovered by man due to its unusual attractive color. Jewelry from it began to be created in Ancient Egypt, India, and China. Solar metal is mentioned in ancient myths, the Bible, and sacred scriptures. This material is very plastic; from 1 gram you can stretch a wire up to 2 km long.

Now the precious metal is used to create dishes, clothing, furniture, jewelry, and interior items; it is a product for investment and savings. Pure gold without impurities does not exist in nature.

After extraction, it is purified, but 0.01% of other components still remain.

Gold, native
To assess the purity of the composition, world measurement systems were introduced: metric, carat. The first expresses the ratio of grams of pure metal per kilogram of product. The karat system reflects the number of parts of gold per 24 parts of the alloy. Relationship between world systems:

Dependence of the weight of a gold product on its purity. Percentage calculation

Objects of the same volume can have different weights, since it also depends on density. Each sample of gold has a certain density and, accordingly, its specific gravity. Table with the density of different samples:

Gold nuggets
The sample is placed next to the stamp in accordance with GOST, compliance with which is controlled by the Assay Office. The numbers indicate the gold content: 750 sample contains 75% of the base metal, and 585 - 58.5%. Jewelers do not disclose the percentage of ligatures.

750 gold chain

Caratage and the formula for calculating it

Among Western jewelers and scrap buyers of precious metals, the term “caratage” is common, denoted when marking products or bars with a large letter “K”. It should immediately be noted that it should not be confused with logging - a term that has a place among those who extract gold or lead in mines, mines, and quarries. Pure gold has a specific gravity of 24 carats. If you pay attention to the marking, it will be designated as “24K”. The categories of this metal are divided in the tables of buyers and jewelers from 8K to 24K, or from the smallest specific gravity to the largest.

Caratage for pure gold can also be expressed in decimal form and will be 0.999 purity. In this case, it is calculated by a simple formula, where the division of the actual caratage in pure gold is applicable. For an additional example, you can name another value, for example, in “14K”, which in decimal measurement is 0.583 (according to the formula: 14/24 = 0.583). For the same lead, this formula cannot be used.

There is a small exception, namely a feature associated with the most common gold markings. For 14k gold, the table below uses the 14K (14 karat) marking. However, the example above states that 14K gold is actually 0.583 purity. Nevertheless, the 585 standard is also marked with 14 carats. The same applies to 417 (10K) and 917 (22K). The rest of the list is self-explanatory: the sample number is in the left column of the table and the corresponding caratage is in the right.

Ratio of different official international samples

TOP 4 ways to weigh gold at home without scales

There are several ways. The most accurate way is to contact a specialist. However, there are ways to weigh gold at home without special instruments:

Compare with decorating the same sample using a glass of water

Place a product whose weight is known inside a glass filled to the brim. The water displaced from the glass is its volume. Do the same with another object whose weight we need to know. Knowing the volume of two jewelry, you can compare their weight, but errors will be possible.

Let's repeat the law from physics. Method errors

For this method, you need to know the sample or density. You need to place a glass filled to the brim with water inside the pan and immerse the valuable item. Water equal to its volume will flow out. It is easy to measure the volume using an insulin syringe. Using a simple formula, we obtain the desired value.

The method has an error, since the density cannot always be known accurately, and not all of the water can be collected.

"Libra" of Asian traders

Soviet store scales worked on this principle: 2 plates and weights. Instead of weights, it is convenient to use coins, the weight of which can be found on the Internet. You need to take a hard stick, thread, 2 identical small containers and coins.

How to weigh gold?

Weighing gold is not as easy as it seems. This is because gold in the form of coins, bars and jewelry is almost never completely pure. Pure gold is a soft and easily damaged metal, so it is mixed with other metals to add hardness and strength. However, weighing gold is not difficult if you know how to calculate the actual gold content of a gold coin or gold jewelry. This technique is applicable to products purchased abroad, since according to Russian standards, the gold purity (the percentage of pure gold in the product) is indicated on the product’s stamp.

1. Let's establish the percentage of gold in a gold bar (or coin). The bars must have a stamp indicating this information. As for coins, you will have to refer to the detailed description of the specific coin, which can be found in any catalog that offers these coins. Once you know the percentage of gold in a coin, weigh it using a precision scale and then calculate the actual gold content. For example, you have gold Krugerrands: the percentage of gold in them, according to the established standard, should be twenty-two carats (91.67%). If you weigh ten gold Krugerrands, you will know that they weigh 100 grams. Simply multiply this value by 91.67 percent. The result is: you have 91.67 grams of gold.

2. Let's learn how to weigh and calculate the weight of gold jewelry in pennyweight. The percentage of actual gold content in jewelry is expressed in karats, ranging from zero karat (zero gold content) to 24 karats (pure gold). Since gold jewelry usually comes in very small sizes, foreign jewelers use a unit of mass called the “pennyweight.” One pennyweight is equal to 1/20 ounce of gold.

3. Determine the amount of gold in the jewelry. The first thing to do is to find a hallmark. It can be very small, so you will probably need a magnifying glass to read it. If you are using a calculator, convert the value to decimal by dividing the carat number by twenty-four. For example, for eighteen karat gold, divide eighteen by twenty-four to get 0.750 (the actual gold content of the piece is seventy-five percent).

4. Consider gold jewelry being weighed using a precision scale, as with gold bars. Multiply the result by the percentage of gold content in the product (see point 3). Using the example from point 3: if a piece of jewelry weighs ten grams, you multiply 0.75 (the decimal equivalent of eighteen carats) by ten to get 7.5 grams or 0.3 ounces of gold.

5. Let's express the actual weight of gold contained in the jewelry in pennyweight. One ounce is equal to twenty pennyweights, so simply multiply the weight by twenty. In the example with point 4, 0.3 ounces, multiplied by twenty and we get six pennyweight.

How to determine and calculate the amount of gold

You can calculate the quantity by sample, which means how many parts of gold are there per 1000 parts of the product: 750 sample consists of 750 parts of the base metal and 250 alloy. Pure metal is soft and ductile, so impurities are not bad. They make the product stronger and more varied in color. To determine the presence of a noble metal, you can resort to proven methods:

• Bring a magnet to the product: real gold will be poorly attracted, metal will be great.
• A drop of vinegar: a real high-quality product should not react.
• Rub on unfired ceramic tiles: cheaper metal will leave dark marks on the tiles.
• Rub the product with a damp lapis pencil: the fake will turn black, but the gold will retain its original appearance.

Gold bars

Calculating the amount of gold in home decoration without knowing the standard is quite problematic. However, this can be done if gold chloride or a set of acids is available.

You need to apply the reagent to the decoration and watch the process:

• after 2 seconds the product has not darkened - the sample is not less than 583;
• darkened after 5-10 minutes - sample less than 583;
• the product immediately became colored - there was no gold or very little.

How to determine the authenticity of gold at home

In order to solve the question of how to test gold for authenticity at home, it should be noted that it is better to do this procedure in a laboratory or jewelry salon. However, in everyday situations, it is much easier to use some folk recipes.

Using a magnet

Testing with a magnet involves seeing if the jewelry sticks to it. As a rule, gold, which does not have impurities, is not magnetized, but the fact that the jewelry is stuck to a magnet may indicate a large number of different metals in its composition.

Check in bread

Gold can be checked for authenticity using bread:

• you need to take black bread and mash its crumb;
• put a gold decoration in this part of the bread and leave it for several days, after putting it in a place inaccessible to light and cool;
• After the allotted time, you can evaluate the result; if the metal has acquired a green tint, this may indicate that it contains many impurities that should not be present in genuine gold.

Touchstone

Siliceous shale is considered the safest and most effective method. You need to use it like this:

• on the surface of this block you need to draw a line with a needle, which is present in the set and is a kind of standard;
• next to the first line you need to make the second one a testable sample;
• then treat these strips with a special solution and evaluate their appearance;
• genuine gold gives an identical appearance to the test sample.

Method for checking the sound of products

• you need to throw gold onto a hard surface;
• the clear sound of crystal will indicate that this is an original;
• Unfortunately, it is impossible to check chains or bracelets using this method.

"Bite" method

The oldest method involves testing the strength of a gold product. It is based on the fact that genuine metal will certainly be damaged if you bite it. Today, you no longer need to bite jewelry; you can simply scratch the surface of the product with a sharp device. If you get a fake, the scratch will reveal a dark base.

Testing gold with vinegar

You can test gold with vinegar. Do it like this:

• immerse the decoration in a container filled with this substance;
• leave for a short period;
• If the product darkens or changes color, then it is genuine gold.

lapis pencil

You can buy a lapis pencil at the pharmacy, which can also help in testing gold at home for authenticity. It should be used as follows:

• gold needs to be moistened with water;
• put a dot on it using this pencil;
• real gold will not change its appearance.

Let's take a closer look at the gold jewelry

You can determine whether your jewelry is gold or not in clear weather, using the help of the sun. Genuine metal will have the same appearance and shine both in the sun and in the shade. Whereas impurities of other metals will give the product faded shades.

Category: question-answer

How to determine the weight of a gold ring if there are no scales?

Expert opinion

Grishanov Mikhail Petrovich

Jeweler, director of the Grishanov and Co. workshop

You can determine it in different ways, one of them is to go to a jeweler. However, there are 4 ways to help determine the weight of jewelry yourself: compare it with another product of the same standard, using a glass of water, use the experience of Asian traders, or a homemade device using a spacer and a ruler.

Will the weight of gold be accurate on a kitchen scale?

Expert opinion

Pribrezhny Gennady Valentinovich

Jeweler 6th category

Professional jewelers use electronic scales with small errors. Home kitchen ones cannot boast of such accuracy, although they are more accurate than floor-mounted ones.

Teaspoon and tablespoon for flour

When you don’t have scales, a regular spoon will help you measure out a small amount of flour. The product must not be sifted; measure immediately from the package.

1. Scoop up the flour with a teaspoon, shake lightly from side to side, but so that the slide does not fall, you just need to shake off the excess. All that's left is 10 grams. That is, if you need to take 50 grams of flour, then add 5 heaped spoons.
2. It's easier to use a standard tablespoon. Rake the flour in a heap, shake lightly, all that remains is 25 grams. If you need 50 grams, then put two.

Reviews:

I wanted to know how expensive the ring the young man gave me was. I took your advice and was pleasantly surprised. I weighed it using a ruler. I remembered my physics lessons, very interesting. I didn’t even know it was possible to spot a fake so easily.

Maria T. g, Moscow

Nikita German, Dmitrov

When I needed money to buy myself a new iPhone, I decided to take my jewelry to a pawnshop. I decided to play it safe and find out the weight. I was afraid that they would deceive me and pay less. Buying special scales is not profitable, but these tips came in handy. I checked it in different ways for accuracy and went to take it. You can't fool me!) I bought the phone.

Excellent advice, some of them were taught by my father in childhood. He is an archaeologist and knows everything about precious metals.

Nikita R., Norilsk

How to check white gold for authenticity

Methods for identifying the authenticity of classic products and those made of white metal are somewhat different.

How do you know if white gold is real?

• The most effective way is to go to a pawnshop, where they carry out assay analysis.
• In addition, you can use a lapis pencil, which you need to draw a line on the moistened product. Real metal will remain pure.
• Traces of iodine applied to accessories that immediately evaporate may indicate that this is real metal.
• Separately, it should be noted that white gold, which was passed over a blank sheet of paper, will not leave any traces.