Introduction
People generally pay a hefty amount and invest in jewelry. Apart from it being just an ornament used to enhance beauty, status, or position, it is also a good source of investment as the price keeps on increasing.
You will find jewelry items suited for every occasion and need. Jewelry items such as an evil eye bracelet and evil eye necklace are meant for the special purpose of keeping one safe against evil intentions and energy. Similarly, if you are in a relationship and want to take a step ahead, you can opt for promise rings. To deal with mental stress and anxieties, wearing an anxiety ring is expected to bring about some relief. Hence, this is an example of how a piece of jewelry can have several other purposes.
But, with the increase in imitation jewelry, there is always a concern about identifying real and fake jewelry. If you are looking for ways to identify fake jewelry, this article will help. Read below for tips regarding spotting real and fake jewelry while making a purchase.
6 Tips To Identify Real And Fake Jewelry
1. Check The Hallmark Of The Jewelry
The hallmark signs on jewelry items are meant for guaranteeing purity and authenticity. Some countries like the UK make it compulsory for sellers to provide hallmarking on various jewelry items made out of gold, silver, platinum, and others. If you are buying either gold or silver jewelry in a country like India, you should look for a BIS hallmark sign. Similarly, if you are buying jewelry from some other country, always make sure to check the hallmarking sign to stay away from fake jewelry scams.
2. Do The Magnet Test
To identify fake jewelry, one of the easiest tips is to try the magnet test. If any jewelry item has high iron content, it is natural that it attracts. But precious metals such as gold are not at all magnetic. Silver can be slightly magnetic, but mostly it isn’t. Similarly, pure platinum or diamonds are also not magnetic. Hence, upon purchasing any jewelry item, conduct a magnet test and if it attracts, it is fake. Though a magnet test is likely to identify fake jewelry pieces, it should not be the only way to test the purity of gold, silver, or platinum jewelry. You still need to use other methods to check the purity and authenticity of any jewelry items before purchasing.
3. Try To Choose A Well Known Brand
Investing in expensive jewelry items is not easy for everyone. With the increased market of imitation jewelry, you might likely fall for the scams. To avoid any such scams, always choose a brand that is reliable and in the market for many years. Choosing registered companies to avail jewelry is always a safe option as compared to availing it from local sellers.
When you buy expensive jewelry items from a reputed brand, you will be provided with certificates to prove their purity or reliability. Hence, always check the documentation after you make a purchase.
4. “All That Glitters Is Not Gold”
Like the famous saying, “All that glitters is not gold”, every piece of object that shines and glitters does not ensure its purity. Particularly while purchasing jewelry made with gemstones, you might be fooled by the way it shines and how perfect it looks. But, real gemstones such as diamonds have certain imperfections that make them more unique. Fake gemstones are made with glass and plastics and hence they look impeccable. Therefore, be alert while buying jewelry as there is a high chance that fake jewelry might produce more shine and glitters than the real one.
5. Try The Skin Test
If you have already bought gold jewelry and have a doubt regarding its purity, you can do the skin test at home. Be it a necklace or a bracelet, if it is made with pure gold, there is no way that it stains. But, if you see skin discolor upon wearing the jewelry, then it is fake. If your skin turns slightly green upon the jewelry coming in contact with your sweat, you need to consult the seller. Also, real gold won’t have any impact on your skin such as irritation unless you have an allergy. Therefore, if your skin irritates, you might want to check on the purity of the jewelry item.
6. Vinegar Test
Trying a vinegar test on your gold jewelry if you suspect it to be fake is another easy method to conduct. All you require is some vinegar on a glass. If the jewelry item upon coming in contact with the vinegar changes its color, it is fake. Real gold won’t change its color. This is how you can quickly test the purity of any gold jewelry at home. For best results, you can soak the gold jewelry for some time in vinegar.
Final Words
This article has provided you with 6 important tips to identify whether your jewelry is real or fake. At times when jewelry prices are increasing, encountering a scam is the worst feeling ever. If you ever feel or suspect a jewelry item is fake, use the methods mentioned above to be sure.
