Plated and filled items can look like solid gold. Here are the simple checks that help, why none is conclusive on its own, and when to get a proper test.
Short answer: check the stamp, weigh the piece and compare its size and weight with what solid gold would give, and look for wear showing a different metal underneath. No home test is conclusive, so have valuable or doubtful items tested by a dealer or assay lab.
Solid gold items are usually stamped with a karat or fineness number such as 18K or 750. Marks such as GP, GEP or HGE indicate plating or filling. A stamp can be faked, so treat it as a clue rather than proof.
Gold is very dense, about 19.32 g/cm³, so a solid gold piece feels heavy for its size. If a piece is lighter than its size suggests, it may be plated over a cheaper metal. Remember that a few other metals, such as tungsten, have a similar density, which is why weight alone is not enough. See density.
On plated items, wear at edges, corners or high-contact points may show a different colour underneath. Solid gold is the same colour all the way through.
Magnets only catch the crudest fakes, because gold is not magnetic and neither are many substitutes. Scratch and acid tests can damage an item. For valuable pieces, use a dealer or assay lab, who can test without harming it.
Record the weight, markings and photos of anything you buy, and buy from reputable sellers. Our guides on spotting counterfeit coins and authenticating a gold bar go further.
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