How to Check If Gold Is Real With a Lighter
Gold has maintained its position as a precious metal over the years. It remains a safe haven for investors who know its value. That metal in your possession could become a financial lifeline but are you sure that it is real? It can be shocking to learn that you have been keeping fake gold all along. It is important to note that there is a significant increase in the number of gold dealers, both buyers and sellers. The vast number creates an opportunity for scammers as well. It means that you must tread carefully to avoid losing your precious metal which can be exchanged in a twinkle of an eye. The good news is that you can avoid getting ripped off by using a household item – lighter. Read on to learn more about the tricks you can use to confirm if indeed the gold is real.
To begin with, you new to know the basics of gold and what a real one one is. Newbies in the industry don’t know what defines fake or real gold and this is where scammers come in to take advantage. By the industry standards, fake gold is any item with less than 41.7% gold content – about 10 karats. You can learn more about that composition and how it translates to value in this website. The value is determined by the Gold Per Gram Calculator. Gold value depreciates rapidly when it reads below 41.7%. Sometimes the gold isn’t real but some dealers have tricks to lie about its content. One of the common tricks they use is gold washing where they can claim that washed pieces are the real deal.
The other common trick unscrupulous sellers use is gold plating. It is surprising that people still believe that gold plating can this technique counts as authentic gold. It is also worth noting that some dealers use the trick of pyrite application. Pyrite is commonly referred to as “fool’s gold” around the world. It is easier to know fake gold because pyrite leaves discoloration when exposed to the atmosphere.
Testing gold is a global industry because there is too much money riding on whether what you claim to be gold is actually real. Many people think that they need sophisticated machines and laboratories to check if gold is real. All you need is a lighter. Before you embark on the process of testing gold at home, ensure that you have the right weapon – lighter. A recommend lighter is a butane lighter filled with actual lighter fluid.
Ensure that you hang the gold somewhere on the wall because it can get hot and burn your hands. As you direct the flame on the metal, observe the changes in the color because real gold should turn lighter. It should turn lighter in colour after heating for at least 60 seconds if the gold is real. For more information and insights into gold and silver industry, read more here.