Owning beautiful pieces of jewelry is undoubtedly a pleasure. Whether you keep them as items to be admired in your jewelry box or wear them for special occasions, jewelry of any kind is loved by many.
However, to the naked eye, just about all pieces of jewelry look very good and real. Many of them have unique designs and look really nice when you wear them. Unfortunately, the market for fake goods is booming, so it is easy for jewelry lovers to get caught up in a snare, purchasing a piece that may not be worth the price they pay.
So, if you want to protect yourself from buying such items, it is wise to learn a few simple tricks that show the difference between real and fake jewelry. Here are five expert tips to help you spot fake jewelry.
Weigh your jewelry
To check if your jewelry is real, you should weigh it. While this may sound silly, the truth is the weight of jewelry can tell you a lot about its authenticity.
For example, if you are looking at luxury pearls and they seem rather heavy in your hand, then they are most likely real. To double-check their credibility, you can try to bite the pearls and notice whether they creak like sand. If they don’t, then they are artificial pearls.
Solid glass beads are an exception to the weight test because they usually weigh more than natural or cultured pearls.
Check the hallmark and branding
Checking the hallmark is probably the easiest way to see whether your jewelry is real or not. Every real piece of jewelry should have a hallmark or stamp indicating that the material is real. This is generally used for all types of jewelry materials including gold, silver, and platinum.
Besides the hallmark, you need to ensure that the branding of your piece is correct. For example, if you are looking at luxury pieces, you should compare the branding to other items you may own to see whether the fonts match and if there are any slight discrepancies that you wouldn’t expect.
Look at the quality of workmanship
When you are shopping for jewelry, it is wise to examine the quality of the workmanship in items you are interested in. Check to see whether the jewelry piece is strong enough to withstand normal wear and tear and if the clasps open and close easily.
The thing is fake jewelry breaks easily, its color fades faster, stones fall out, and usually lose their shine and luster quickly. This is mainly because sellers use veneers to make pot metal look like real gold or silver as well as glue to secure stones rather than prongs.
Do the acid testing
Another expert tip to help you spot fake jewelry is to use an acid test. While this requires you to be extra careful as the acid can damage and burn anything it touches, it is still a great way to find out whether your pieces are real.
For example, for a scratch test, what you need to do is rub the item on a small area of the stone and then place a drop of acid on it. If the piece turns brown, it isn’t real gold. On the other hand, if it doesn’t change color even after you apply higher levels of acids, then the jewelry is real.
Know your sellers
There is no question about it—every reputable seller of jewelry needs to know the business inside and out. So, when you are buying luxury goods, it is important that you ask all the right questions to see whether they are knowledgeable at all.
For example, start by asking the jeweler about their credentials to see if they are trustworthy. If you are interested in buying a gemstone or diamond-encrusted jewelry, ask the seller about the main qualities and properties that particular piece has.
Lastly, don’t forget to ask about the jewelry’s warranty and return policy of the goods.
Final thoughts
Once you learn how to recognize the signs of fake jewelry, it will be much easier for you to make a smart purchase. All you have to do is pay attention to several important details such as the jewelry’s hallmarks and branding, unusual coloring, and weight to see whether what you are buying is worth the price.
For more help, refer to our post and follow our expert tips to help you spot fake jewelry.
