Recently, in parallel with the decrease in the amount of gold mined, the jewelry market not only has not been declining, but is constantly growing. There can only be one reason - they are passing off fake gold as real gold. There are many metals and alloys that resemble gold in appearance and, when properly processed, are quite difficult to distinguish. The most common of them is brass. In order not to fall for scammers, you need to know how to distinguish gold from brass.
Now the types of deception are becoming more and more sophisticated. Since the first thing the buyer will pay attention to will be a sample of the product, the following method is used. For example, a gold chain is sent to the assay office for testing, and after the sample is set, some of the links in it are replaced with a different alloy. Or only the lock and a few links are made of gold.
Brass bracelets
In this case, the hallmark will appear on the product, but it will not be able to guarantee its quality. In addition, a brass product may be coated with a thick layer of metal, in which case the assay office will not be able to accurately determine whether the product is entirely made of gold.
Properties of brass and its difference from gold. How brass is disguised as a noble metal
At a quick glance at gold and brass products, it may seem that they are made of the same metal. In fact, upon closer inspection, the difference between the materials will be visible. To do this, you need to pay attention to the main parameters, find out the composition, density, etc. Brass is an alloy of copper with zinc and several alloying components. Zinc is considered essential. The metal comes in two types: two-component and multi-component. Its physical and chemical characteristics:
- density - 8.5-8.7 kg/cm3;
- the metal is not ferromagnetic (but there are exceptions when a ferromagnetic substance is added to the composition during production);
- temperature at which the metal melts: 880-950°C;
- color - yellow with a golden tint;
- high degree of plasticity;
- untreated metal oxidizes upon contact with oxygen;
- corrosion resistance.
Brass exhibits different properties, which are determined by the content of alloying components. The type of products made from such metal depends on this. The main type of raw material for brass production is copper. In terms of strength, such a metal is inferior to many: bronze, but not gold (the latter is softer).
Due to its properties, brass is used in the manufacture of decorative items.
Two rings made of brass
When compared with gold, many differences are noted. But you can only learn about them by taking a closer look at the characteristics. Differences of gold:
- higher temperature at which the metal melts and density;
- bright shine: in comparison, brass also shines, often subdued, but this characteristic manifests itself in different ways, depending on the composition.
There are quite a lot of similar properties between metals, which explains the high risk of buying a fake, since brass can easily be disguised as gold; tricks are used for this:
- a certain number of components are used in production, thanks to them the finished product acquires external characteristics that make brass look like a noble metal;
- applying a decorative coating, for which the gilding technique is used; the brass is first polished.
Features of interaction
Gold is a very elegant and unique metal. It is acid resistant, high density, soft, malleable and inert. If pure gold of the highest standard is brought to a magnet, the bar will not be attracted because it has anti-magnetic properties. The same thing happens with silver and bismuth. A magnet not only does not attract such types of metals, but also repels them.
Absolutely pure gold cannot be found in jewelry products. In this form, the metal is very ductile and fragile, so it is not suitable for long-term wear as decoration. The jewelry industry found a way out and began to make an alloy of metals.
Compounds of gold with the following metals make jewelry more durable:
- silver;
- zinc;
- palladium;
- platinum;
- copper;
- nickel.
Are alloys with gold magnetic?
The magnetic field attracts the following types of heavy metals:
- steel;
- iron;
- cadmium;
- cobalt;
- nickel;
- gadolinium.
From this we can conclude that gold itself is not magnetic. Only jewelry made from the metals listed above, which may have gold plating, are attracted to the magnet.
You can find out the composition of a piece of jewelry by an engraved sample.
Sometimes people come across reviews that only the fastening mechanism of the product is magnetic. This is due to the carbon steel from which the fastener is made. If the base of the product is not magnetic, you can safely purchase it for yourself.
TOP 10 ways to distinguish gold from brass at home
They consider different possibilities to determine what metal an object is made of:
- perform an inspection: check the external characteristics (evaluate the appearance of the product, sound upon impact, etc.);
- they use methods to determine that it is brass or gold that is being considered;
- They use available means to ensure that the choice is correct.
Brass and gold ring
Ways to check brass jewelry by eye and sound
Before purchasing, it is not always possible to test with chemicals or use another method to determine the authenticity of a gold product. In this case, you should rely on indirect signs and some characteristics that are characteristic of the precious metal.
Availability of stamp and sample
Different types of equipment are used to mark jewelry:
- hallmark: placed on the product, confirms that the metal belongs to one group or another (common options for gold: 583, 585, 750), the shape is always rectangular;
- name book - contains information about the manufacturer;
- jeweler's mark or manufacturer's logo imprint.
If you need to determine how to distinguish gold from brass, you should learn how assaying is performed. This type of mark is placed on certain areas of products:
- rings - inner surface;
- earrings - clasp or stem (stud earrings);
- bracelets, like earrings, are punched from the inside;
- decorations with an English lock - on one of the elements of the locking mechanism;
- the clock is inside, on the lid.
In addition, the precious metal is hallmarked in a special way: the mark is clear, of the correct shape, and the numbers are clearly visible. Fakes often lack these signs.
In this case, the test is performed carelessly.
Sample on a gold ring
Cost of decoration
If the seller provided a real product and an appropriate price, then you can notice a huge difference between jewelry made of precious and non-precious metal. If the external signs are the same, you can focus on the cost. If the seller tries to pass off brass items as precious, setting the same price with identical characteristics of both types of jewelry, the buyer has little chance of purchasing a quality item. It is necessary to pay attention to indirect factors.
Throw decoration on glass
When dropped onto a glass surface or into a glass, a gold ring or earring makes a unique sound. It can only be compared to the sound of crystal. Brass will sound different due to the properties of the components, structure, and density of the material. You can conduct a small experiment - throw a brass object onto a glass display case. This action should be given the appearance of an accident so as not to arouse suspicion among store personnel. By the sound you can determine which metal the ring/earring belongs to.
Important! The method of determining the quality of jewelry by sound is only suitable for small items.
Dental check
The method was often used earlier, when the gold content in products was higher. As a result, softer products were produced. They were tested “to the teeth”, and characteristic traces remained. Today, jewelry is distinguished by higher hardness. This is due to the introduction of various alloying components into the composition. Accordingly, it is, of course, possible to try objects made of precious metals, but there is no guarantee that this method will give results.
For this reason it is used as an auxiliary measure.
Gold chloride reaction test
In everyday life, you can use a special product - gold chloride. But a small bottle is quite expensive. This means that it is advisable to purchase this product if you often have to deal with precious metals.
Special product - gold chloride
When the substance is applied to brass, the components react, which leads to a change in the appearance of the product. However, the precious metal behaves differently. If you apply gold chloride to such jewelry, there will be no changes in the appearance and properties of the item.
Product shades
From the hue you can only get a vague idea of the properties of the metal, since the color of gold is always different: it changes from light yellow to rich, almost red. It depends on the composition - the type of components. But still, there is always a bright shine on gold products. It does not always appear on brass jewelry. The combination of these two factors allows us to assess the quality of the item during external inspection.
Radical testing methods at home
If you are not sure whether the purchased product is truly gold, it is suggested that you consider more complex technologies. But not all of them are safe for the product being tested; there is a risk of damaging the item. In addition, they are used primarily in production areas and laboratories. There are no necessary equipment at home.
To distinguish between brass and gold, methods of remelting, exposure to aggressive environments, etc. are considered.
Crucible method
Containers are used for melting metal products. They are used for the purposes of combustion, weighing, homogenization, among others. Crucibles come in a variety of shapes and are made of refractory materials. Such containers are an integral part of laboratory equipment.
Crucible melting produces liquid metal, which is used to make other items.
In this case, the determining factors are the physicochemical properties of the material, in particular, the temperature at which the metal melts. This parameter determines the type of product: for gold this indicator is higher than for brass.
Crucibles for melting gold
Needle trick
The method is used to determine the sample of metal: it is necessary to draw stripes with needles of different samples (2 samples are enough), and a touchstone is placed between them. Acid is then applied to these areas. They are carried out with pass-through paper, which helps to change the color of the materials. In this way, the sample belongs to one of the metals.
If the item is fake (made of brass), then there will be no result or it will be significantly different from the expected one, which will confirm the assumption of a fake.
There is another method based on the use of a needle. It is used for small gold. Lines are drawn on the touchstone using samples. They will be of different colors: pale, brighter. This depends on the properties of the particles of gold or other metal left by the samples. By appearance, they determine whether the product belongs to a particular type of metal. This method makes it possible to find out the approximate content of alloying components, since the color of the finished item depends on the composition.
Nitric acid
A drop of nitric acid is applied to different products. If the metal does not change appearance upon contact, we can say that it is gold. Brass takes on a green tint when acid is applied.
Nitric acid (HNO3)
Tools at hand for testing
Simpler methods are also used to verify the authenticity of jewelry, but they can only act as auxiliary ones. The reason is the use of improvised means that act as reagents and catalysts.
Ceramic tile
It is necessary to find a sample of unglazed facing material. The secret is that when a gold piece is passed over ceramics without additives, it will leave a stripe of the same color as the metal.
Experiment with foundation
The method is based on the reaction of a cosmetic product with gold. You must first apply foundation to your skin. Then a product that raises doubts is passed over this area. Gold leaves a gray streak under these conditions. Brass leaves no marks.
Iodine test
When liquid products are used, it sometimes takes some time for the reaction to develop. But in the end, you can verify the authenticity of the purchased jewelry or, conversely, think about its quality: gold turns brown after contact with iodine, the external properties of brass will not change.
Iodine test
Vinegar test
Instructions:
- Prepare a container from a neutral material: ceramics, plastic.
- Add vinegar, then observe the reaction. Gold will not interact with this substance, stains will not appear on the product, and the general characteristics will be preserved. In comparison, brass can darken.
Black bread
Gold is not subject to oxidation (in its pure form), but modern metal most often contains a significant proportion of alloying components, so there is no 100% guarantee of the reliability of this method. But you can study the theory: if you put gold jewelry in bread pulp, it will retain its original color, but brass, on the contrary, can be seriously damaged (dark spots will appear).
lapis pencil
The product is sold at the pharmacy. It serves as a catalyst for reactions with components in metals. If you run it over a pre-moistened gold chain, nothing will happen; this metal will retain its original appearance.
Lapis pencil for testing gold
Magnetic reaction
The method is based on comparing products according to their magnetic properties. Brass is most often not ferromagnetic, but it can acquire the desired properties if a component with characteristic properties is introduced into the composition.
Gold does not react at all to an external magnetic field.
Sunbathing
Pay attention to the properties of metals under certain conditions. One way is to expose brass and gold to sunlight. In the first case, the intensity of the shine will be different - in the shade the metal is less bright than in the sun.
Gold, on the other hand, performs the same regardless of environmental conditions.
Archimedes' Law
The weight of metal products is taken into account. For example, gold is much heavier than brass. If you immerse a product in water, then, according to Archimedes’ law, a force equal to the weight of the water that was displaced will act on the body immersed in the liquid. When such an experiment is carried out, it will be found that gold sinks due to its weight, but brass does not. It is possible to independently perform simple calculations and determine the mass of the product.
Ceramics to the rescue
There are a huge number of ways to distinguish gold from a fake at home, but now we will talk about the simplest. Take an unglazed ceramic dish and run the gold piece over it using light pressure. Be careful when doing this, as the decoration can be easily scratched. Now look at the result of your actions: if the stripe left by the product is black, then this is a real fake. Gold leaves a yellow line in this test.
Useful uses of brass in electronics
Brass is not a noble metal, but is a sought-after alloy. Parts of various mechanisms are made from it. Products made from brass:
- pipes for appliances;
- foil;
- sheets;
- bushings;
- wire;
- rods;
- tape, etc.
Brass is used in the installation of radio components, and is also used in radio instrument making (hardware, gears, and printed circuits are made). Moreover, the material is sent for re-melting, after which it can be reused.
Use of brass alloys in electronics
Magnet check
For the next method, how to distinguish gold from fake at home, you will need a small magnet. Just don’t think that the one that decorates your refrigerator will do. The magnet must be real, heavy and hard. Only this one interacts well with all metals. Bring a gold item to a magnet, and if they are attracted, it means that this is a fake. But sometimes a component is added to jewelry that is attracted by a magnet. In this case, you can confuse real jewelry with a fake. So this method is not the most correct, so it is worth trying other verification methods.
Jeweler's recommendations on how not to buy a fake
Molokanov N.M.
Jeweler, 26 years of experience in jewelry production.
Ask a Question
First of all, you should pay attention to the price. If it is low, then do not consider the purchase option. When the cost remains the same regardless of the composition of the material, you can inspect it and touch it. In most cases, the properties of the product are carefully studied. Brass is lighter than gold due to its low density.
Nitric acid
This chemical solution will easily help identify a fake. How to distinguish gold from counterfeit using it? For the experiment, we will need a small metal dish in which we will place the decoration. Now we drop the solution onto the item from a pipette and observe the reaction: if the decoration has changed color and acquired a greenish tint, then you are dealing with the most ordinary metal. Gilding in this test will take on a milky hue, and only real gold will not change color. Today this is the most reliable way to detect fake metal! But it cannot be said that nitric acid is present in every home, so it is worth learning about other testing methods.
How to check white gold for authenticity?
The best and relatively inexpensive way to distinguish white gold from a skillfully made counterfeit made from a low-quality silver alloy is the potassium dichromate reagent, better known since Soviet times as chrompic. You can buy it at any specialized store, and one bottle is guaranteed to be enough for several dozen tests.
The test algorithm consists of five steps:
- Prepare the glassware on which you will conduct the test.
- Degrease the decoration using ethyl alcohol and a dry paper towel.
- Apply 1-2 drops of Chrompic to the back of the product and wait a few seconds.
- If a red spot appears, you have silver below 925 standard. On a gold surface, the color of the chemical practically does not change, or becomes greenish.
Important: Chrompik is an extremely toxic and carcinogenic reagent. When it evaporates, it emits a pungent “smoke” with a specific odor, which causes severe burns to the respiratory tract. When working with the composition, follow all safety rules - ventilated area, thick rubber gloves, breathing respirator.
Second gold
In conditions of the economic crisis, many people purchase products from the so-called second gold. What it is? It is an alloy of Randoli and brass. Thanks to its attractive appearance, the material perfectly imitates gold, which is confirmed by the photo. Only a jeweler can distinguish an alloy from a real precious metal. Products made from this material are practically resistant to oxidation and rust.
Second gold has the following advantages:
- Attractive appearance that lasts for a long period.
- Does not require special care.
- Allows you to look fashionable and expensive without spending a lot of money.
Women really like the second gold. After all, purchasing products does not require a lot of money, and the result is amazing.
Biological moment
Often after having their ears pierced, women tend to immediately put on gold earrings. But if there are none, you can replace them with randoli earrings. Thanks to the special composition, products made from second gold are hypoallergenic. That is, when wearing earrings made of second gold, you don’t have to worry that your earlobes will swell and suppuration will appear. Gold jewelry does not cause negative side effects.
An experienced specialist will tell you more about the composition of the Randol alloy, as well as the methods of its use in the video.
