When it comes to buying gold jewelry, ensuring its authenticity is crucial. With 14k gold jewelry, you want to know that what you’re wearing is truly real gold and not a counterfeit. At Moncrieff Jewelry, we offer video-certified 14k Italian gold jewelry for women, men, and kids, so our customers can feel confident that they’re purchasing genuine pieces.
In this blog, we’ll guide you through how to tell if your 14k gold jewelry is real, helping you avoid common pitfalls and feel secure in your investment.
1. Look for the Hallmark Stamp
One of the easiest ways to check the authenticity of your 14k gold jewelry is by looking for a hallmark stamp. Most genuine gold jewelry will have a stamp indicating the purity of the gold. For 14k gold, you should see markings like "14K", "585", or "14KT" etched into the piece. The number "585" refers to the gold's purity, meaning it is 58.5% gold.
At Moncrieff Jewelry, each piece of our 14k gold jewelry comes stamped with a hallmark, guaranteeing its purity.
2. Test with a Magnet
Gold is not magnetic, so if your 14k gold jewelry is attracted to a magnet, it’s likely not real gold. Keep in mind that this test may not work on gold jewelry with mixed alloys like stainless steel or iron. However, a strong magnet should not pull your 14k gold piece. If it does, you might want to further investigate its authenticity.
With our video-certified process at Moncrieff Jewelry, we test every piece to ensure it’s authentic 14k gold, and we capture this process in a video sent to you for added peace of mind.
3. Perform a Scratch Test
The scratch test involves lightly scraping the surface of your jewelry with a ceramic plate or an unglazed piece of porcelain. If it leaves a gold streak, your jewelry is likely genuine. However, if you see a black mark, this indicates your jewelry is not real gold.
We don’t recommend performing this test at home, as it can damage your jewelry. Instead, trust the experts at Moncrieff Jewelry, where we perform non-invasive tests as part of our video-certified gold verification process.
4. Check for Discoloration
14k gold jewelry should maintain its color without tarnishing. If you notice areas where the gold has worn away, revealing a different metal underneath, it could indicate that your jewelry is only gold-plated or made from a lower-quality metal. Authentic 14k gold should have a consistent gold color throughout.
At Moncrieff Jewelry, we ensure that every piece of 14k gold we sell is real, solid gold and not just gold-plated.
5. Acid Test for Gold
The acid test is another method used to verify the purity of gold. This test uses a special acid solution that reacts differently to metals based on their composition. When placed on 14k gold, the acid will not cause any discoloration or fading, indicating that the gold is genuine.
At Moncrieff Jewelry, we perform a professional acid test as part of our video certification process, so you can see firsthand that your jewelry is made from real 14k gold.
6. Weight and Density Check
Real 14k gold is heavier than other metals commonly used in counterfeit jewelry, such as brass or copper. If your piece feels surprisingly light, it could be a sign that it’s not real gold. A jeweler can also measure the density of the gold to confirm its authenticity.
When you buy from Moncrieff Jewelry, you’ll know that each piece has passed strict authenticity checks, and you can see these tests in the video certification we provide with your purchase.
7. Trust a Reputable Jeweler
The most reliable way to ensure your 14k gold jewelry is real is to purchase it from a trusted source. At Moncrieff Jewelry, we specialize in certified real 14k Italian gold jewelry, and we stand by the authenticity of every piece we sell. Our unique video certification process gives you complete transparency, showing you the actual testing of your jewelry in real time before it ships to you.
With nationwide shipping across the USA, you can shop confidently with us, knowing that every piece has been rigorously tested and authenticated.
Why Choose Moncrieff Jewelry?
- Video Certification: We provide a unique video-certified process, where you can watch your exact piece of jewelry being tested for authenticity.
- Real 14k Italian Gold: Our jewelry is made from real, certified 14k Italian gold, available in a wide range of styles for women, men, and kids.
- Nationwide Shipping: We offer fast and secure shipping across the USA, so you can enjoy the beauty of authentic gold jewelry no matter where you are.