Canberra Gold Guide
How to Tell If Gold Is RealStamps, Simple Checks and Fakes
You’ve found some gold and you’d love to know if it’s real before you get your hopes up. Here’s how to tell if gold is real: how to read the stamps, a few checks you can do at home, and how to get a sure answer for free.
Start With the Stamp
Most real gold carries a tiny stamp. On rings, look inside the band. On chains and bracelets, look on the clasp or a small tag near it. Your phone’s camera can zoom in for you.
The number shows how much of the piece is pure gold:
- 3759ct
- 41710ct
- 58514ct
- 75018ct
- 91622ct
- 99924ct
Stamps That Mean Plated or Filled
Gold Plated
A thin coat of gold over another metal.
Gold Filled
A layer of gold bonded to another metal.
Rolled Gold Plate
A thin sheet of gold over another metal.
Heavy Gold Electroplate
Gold plated on with electricity.
These pieces hold very little gold. A piece stamped 925 is sterling silver, even if it’s gold in colour.
No Stamp Doesn’t Mean Fake
Old pieces, handmade pieces and jewellery from overseas often have no stamp. Stamps also wear away over time, or get lost when a ring is resized.
A missing stamp just means the piece needs a test. It’s quick, it’s free, and it’s done in front of you.
Simple Checks You Can Do at Home
The Magnet Check
Real gold isn’t magnetic. If a magnet grabs your piece, it’s not solid gold. Many fakes aren’t magnetic either, so this only rules things out.
Look at the Edges
Check edges and clasps for wear. Another colour showing through the gold means plating.
Feel the Weight
Gold is heavy for its size. A big piece that feels very light may be hollow, or may not be gold.
These checks can rule things out. Only a proper test can tell you for sure.
Get a Sure Answer for Free
The fastest way to know is to have it tested. At Vivid Jewels, every piece is tested and weighed in front of you, free and with no obligation.
You’ll see the results in a spreadsheet you can take home. If you like the price, you’re paid on the spot. If not, you’re free to walk away. See how it works on the sell gold in Canberra page.
Real Gold, Real Stones?
Stones need checking too. A real gold ring can hold a glass stone, and an old ring from a drawer can hold a real Diamond.
Every stone is checked by a gemstone expert, and you’ll be told what it is. Read is your Diamond or gemstone worth anything?
Find Out If Your Gold Is Real in Three Steps
- 1Book a Free QuoteCall or send the form. It’s free, private and there’s no obligation.
- 2Watch It TestedEvery piece is tested and weighed in front of you, and the numbers go into a spreadsheet you can take home.
- 3You DecideLike the price? You’re paid on the spot. Want to think it over? Come back any time at that day’s gold price.
Your Canberra Gold Buyer
A Jeweller Who Looks Closer
You deserve to know exactly what you’re selling. At Vivid Jewels, a jeweller and gemstone expert checks every stamp, every stone and every maker’s mark, so nothing of value slips through. Every piece is tested and weighed in front of you, and you see how the offer is worked out.
We pay extra for the gems most gold buyers ignore.
Vivid Jewels also sources rare gemstones and makes custom jewellery. See how it works.
Keep Reading
What Is My Gold Worth?
Why jewellery sells below the bullion price, and what makes a piece worth more.
Read the guide
Start at the Canberra Gold Guide for everything about selling gold.
Ready When You Are
Find Out What Your Gold Is Worth
Book a free, no-obligation quote in Canberra. Sit down, take your time, and see exactly how your offer is worked out. If you like the price, you’re paid on the spot.
See how it all works on the sell gold in Canberra page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 375 mean on gold?
375 means 9ct gold. The piece is 37.5% pure gold.
What does 750 mean on gold?
750 means 18ct gold, which is 75% pure gold.
What does 585 mean on gold?
585 means 14ct gold, which is 58.5% pure gold.
What does 916 mean on gold?
916 means 22ct gold, which is 91.6% pure gold.
What does 417 mean on gold?
417 means 10ct gold, which is 41.7% pure gold.
What does 925 mean on jewellery?
925 means sterling silver. A piece stamped 925 can be plated in gold, but it holds very little gold.
What does GF or HGE mean on gold?
GF means gold filled and HGE means heavy gold electroplate. Both mean a thin layer of gold over another metal.
My gold has no stamp. Is it fake?
Not always. Old, handmade and overseas pieces often have no stamp, and stamps can wear away. A test shows what it is.
Can a magnet tell if gold is real?
If a magnet grabs your piece, it isn’t solid gold. A magnet can’t prove a piece is real though, because many fakes aren’t magnetic.
Where can I get gold tested in Canberra?
At Vivid Jewels, by appointment in Canberra. Testing is free, it’s done in front of you, and there’s no obligation to sell. See how it works on the sell gold in Canberra page.
Do you check if stones are real?
Yes. Every Diamond and gemstone is checked by a gemstone expert.
If I don’t sell now, do I get the same price when I come back?
The price is set by the gold price on the day you sell. When you come back, we just change the day’s gold price and the whole list updates.
Got gold sitting in a drawer? Here’s how to sell gold in Canberra, or start with the Canberra Gold Guide.
