It is very easy to confuse real gold fashion accessories with the gold-plated ones. Why is this so? It is so because they both have the same “gold” colour. They may seem alike but in reality, they are totally miles apart. In this article, I will highlight the differences between real gold fashion accessories and unreal or gold-plated ones and how to identify the former so you don’t get robbed of your hard-earned money.
So how do you know real gold jewelry?
The 750 signature/ inscription
One of the most significant signs to identify real gold fashion accessories is the “750” number inscription. For your gold chains, look for that number on the clasp of your bracelets and necklaces. If you find it there, then you have real gold jewelry. If you do not, you have a just gold-plated accessory. For rings, look for that number in the inner circle of your ring. For men’s gold bangle bracelets, search through the inner curve of the bangle. Fake gold or gold-plated items do not have this number on them.
Shininess
Gold-plated accessories, most times, have this dull gold colour- they don’t shine. On the other hand, real gold fashion accessories as necklaces, bracelets and rings not only shine but glitter. The latter make bolder statements because of this glitteringness.
Value
While gold-plated rings, bracelets, necklaces etc are relatively cheap because they are made with a metal layered with a small proportion of pure gold, real gold fashion accessories could be quite expensive because they are made of at least 42% gold alloyed with a type of metal. The higher the gold percentage, the higher the value of your jewelry in the gold market. An 18-Karat real gold jewelry which has 75% of gold of course, has a higher value than a 14-Karat gold jewelry that is made of 58% gold.
Renewability
Just like sterling silver accessories, real gold fashion accessories are easily renewable. With just toothpaste gel, a soft toothbrush, detergent and water, you can get rid of dirt and scratches and make them all new again. In How to Preserve your Gold Chains from Depreciating I discussed in detail how to renew your real gold jewelry.
Durability
Unlike real gold jewelry, a fake gold accessory is easily destructible. What do I mean? Like I mentioned earlier, they are a metal thinly layered with a tiny proportion of pure gold. Any deep scratch on the surface of a fake gold jewelry could expose a dark, ugly metal beneath the cover making it look damaged and unattractive. Gold fashion accessories, on the other hand, are durable- they don’t get damaged easily and could last for decades.
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