How to Tell If Gold Is Real
Stamps, wear, and a magnet tell you a lot about gold jewelry, and fool's gold has its own tells. Upload a photo of the piece and its markings and our free AI reads them in seconds.
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How to Identify Is My Gold Real?
Check these features before you rely on any single one — the combination is what confirms the ID.
Look on the clasp, inside a ring, or on a post for a stamp. 10K or 417, 14K or 585, 18K or 750, 22K or 916, and 24K or 999 indicate solid gold of that purity. A loupe and a photo help read tiny stamps.
GP, GE, or GEP (gold plated or electroplated), HGE or HGP (heavy gold electroplate), RGP (rolled gold plate), and GF or '1/20 14K GF' (gold filled) all mean a thin gold layer over base metal, not solid gold. Vermeil is gold over sterling and is often stamped 925.
Gold isn't magnetic. If a strong magnet snaps firmly onto the piece (not just the clasp spring), it's mostly base metal. If it doesn't stick, that's a good sign but not proof, since brass, copper, and aluminum aren't magnetic either.
Check high-wear spots: edges, clasps, and the underside of rings. If a different color shows through, like silver, copper, or grey, the piece is plated. Real solid gold looks the same color all the way through.
Green or black marks on your skin suggest copper or base metal, though lower-karat gold (10K) can occasionally discolor skin too. Solid 14K and higher rarely does.
Stamps can be faked. Before selling or buying valuable gold, have a jeweler confirm it with an acid test, electronic gold tester, or XRF analyzer, which takes minutes and is often free.
Real Gold and Its Look-Alikes
Solid Gold (10K–24K)
Karat or fineness stamp, not magnetic, same color at worn edges, heavy for its size. Higher karat is a deeper, warmer yellow and softer.
Gold Filled (GF)
A thick layer of gold bonded to brass, stamped like '1/20 14K GF'. Wears well for years and has some gold value, but far less than solid gold.
Gold Plated (GP, HGE, RGP)
A very thin gold layer over base metal that wears through at edges and clasps. Very little gold value.
Brass or 'Gold Tone'
Unstamped yellow metal that tarnishes brown or green and may turn skin green. No gold content.
Pyrite (Fool's Gold)
For nuggets and rocks: brassy, cube-shaped crystals that are brittle and leave a greenish-black streak on unglazed ceramic. Real gold is soft, bends, and leaves a gold streak.
Mica and Chalcopyrite
Glittering flakes in river sand or rock. Mica is flaky and light and floats in a gold pan; chalcopyrite is brassy with green tarnish and a dark streak.
Want to identify the whole piece, a coin, or a marking? Our free picture identifier identifies jewelry, coins, hallmarks, and anything else from one photo.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
Our identification guides are researched from the authorities below and reviewed by the IdentifyThis team. AI photo identification is a helpful starting point — for anything involving safety (venomous species, edibility, or medical symptoms), always confirm with a qualified expert before acting.
- Gemological Institute of America — Gem & crystal identification
- FTC — Jewelry Guides: how gold, gems & pearls must be described
- Smithsonian — Insect & animal biology
Reviewed by the IdentifyThis team · Last updated August 2026