The Ceramic Scratch Test for Gold Damages Your Jewelry
Rubbing jewelry on unglazed tile grinds metal off it, and a gold streak can come from plating alone. What the streak shows, and tests that leave no mark.
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Is it real?
Short answers about stamps, gold tests, and old clasps, with the sources at the bottom.
How to Date Old Jewelry by Its Clasp
C-clasps, trombone catches, safety catches, spring rings, screw-backs, lobster claws: what each clasp says about a piece’s age, with sources.
Does a 925 Stamp Mean It’s Real Silver?
925 means the maker claims sterling silver, 92.5% pure. Anyone can buy the punch, so here are four quick checks before you trust it.
Does Real Gold Sink in Water? So Does Brass
Real gold sinks in water, and so does brass. Why the float test can't catch fake gold, and the scale-and-water test that can.
14K GF, GP, HGE: What the Letters After a Gold Stamp Mean
A 14K stamp followed by GF, GP, HGE, or RGP is not solid gold. What each set of letters means, how little gold is there, and how to spot it.