In my previous article entitled 'How To Find 'Almost' Free Gold - Beginners Guide' I taught you how to recognize gold by the common gold marks found in The U.S. and Europe. I also taught you the way to gauge your find. This 'Advanced Guide' could be the rest of the story. First I address the markings and indications an item is just not gold. I discuss the properties of gold besides markings which indicate that an item is really gold at least might most likely be gold and could be worth buying finest price. I will briefly explain what white gold, rose gold and other gold alloys are and the way much they may be worth. I will finish my article with a section on how to actually test for gold and karat content. This information will enhance your profitability and give you the entire list of tools you need to become a the best gold finder.
The first thing to do with gold toned items which aren't gold or otherwise not
sale force automation valuable as a result of intrinsic artistic merit would be to avoid them such as the plague. Your mistakes costs you money or at best lessen your gold finding income. So we should become aware of the markings in jewelry or any other physical indications which say 'hey! this is just not gold'.
It Glitters But It's Not Gold
Take your magnifying glass and appear closely whatsoever markings present. If it says '18K HGE' it isn't gold. 'HGE' represents Heavy Gold Electroplate. It usually isn't even heavily electroplated as well as the gold color has decided to disappear on the more worn out areas of an item. Even if it were heavily electroplated, it is not worth some cents in gold content. The same is valid for '14K GE' which obviously represents 14K Gold Electroplate. These are the easy ones to reduce. Save your cash.
Next we look in an old pocket watch which gleams that rich yellow color we simply wish to see. However, on closer inspection it's the marking '1/10 12K GF'. This means that this wrist watch is not 12K gold but rather 1/10th 12K gold by weight. Almost each of the 12K gold is a very thick plating. Generally I sell 10th GF on Ebay approximately $5 and ounce. Some people do strip the gold plating off and refine it. To make money using this method you must build a high priced and somewhat dangerous refining operation. '1/20 12K GF' is the same except it only has half the gold content as 1/10 GF. You can and really should skip the buy on these things unless they come free or near free and may sell large amounts from it on Ebay. Most gold buyers won't buy gold filled whatsoever. Many Cross pens are produced with 10K, 12K, 14K and also 18K Gold Filled barrels. A variation on this marking is '20/14K' which may be the just like '1/20 14K GF'
The marking 'RGP' in different karat is basically the just like gold filled. It is a tiny layer of gold which has a thick layer of copper sandwiched between the two thin layers of gold. Avoid this if you are looking for solid gold pieces which you can sell.
Finally, avoid all new looking goods that are marked nevertheless the mark is just partially readable. Avoid gold looking items from Avon, Monet, Triffary (not Tiffany) and also other specialists in good looking costume jewelry. They rarely make genuine gold items and when they actually do make sure they are, they may be clearly marked 14K or 10K without any other initials. Avoid, a minimum of for now, anything marked Hong Kong, Taiwan, China or Korea. They just don't make solid gold items.
Properties Of Gold
Many items manufactured from gold haven't any mark at all. This is on account of excessive wear that has rubbed from the marking, shortening rings sometimes omits the objective and older pieces were not marked in many cases. The most notable example is 22K Oriental and Indian gold. You may see no mark even on the heavy bracelet worth big money or the potential could possibly be in Chinese that's no help for me or probably you. In these cases the properties of gold can assist you to decide whether or not to buy or otherwise. Of course in case you have a gold testing kit you're another step in front of everybody else.
High karat gold is an extremely aerobics, far heavier than lead, brass, copper or silver. Platinum may be the only metal which can be heavier than gold yet it's also two times as valuable worth over $1,200 per troy ounce these days. The heft of gold is a good indication that whatever you have is high karat gold. The low karat gold 8K, 9K and 10K weigh less since they may be mostly copper along with the weight may not be a fantastic clue. 14K is right in the middle and it is generally heavy enough that may help you determine that could be gold. A caution is always that some gold backpacks are manufactured hollow, like earrings and several bracelets so unless they may be clearly marked avoid them.
Another property of gold is its malleability and softness. Gold might be hammered to at least one atom thickness and is the only substance this can be done to. The result is gold leaf which can almost float in a very high wind. A 22K ring might be bent by only just a little finger pressure. Bracelets and earrings are great for displaying this property. They bend then might be easily unbent. Be careful here in order to use them or if it doesn't belong to you as it might not exactly bend back to a similar shape. Think of lead solder wire. This bends in the same way easily as high karat gold.
The idea that gold never tarnishes or oxidizes is another telltale property. If you see major toning on an item that isn't grease or other external dirt and which might be wiped away with your fingers or even a tissue, then most likely you do not have gold. Many times people find jewelry that's gold plated silver. This is called vermeil and may be purchased only when the silver weight makes it worth the cost.
Gold is a good conductor of heat and electricity and in not magnetic. As a conductor gold is better than copper. Gold is even better than silver, that also surpasses copper being a conductor. That is why gold is employed a great deal in advanced devices. It isn't magnetic though. A wise gold finder will usually bring magnet with your ex. While iron, steel and pure nickel are fascinated by a magnet both gold and silver coins are certainly not. One should are aware that in certain chains with snap lock clasps, there are small steel springs to push the clasp to seal. This spring is magnetic nevertheless the remaining portion of the chain mustn't be. Copper, brass, bronze and in many cases some steel alloys are also not magnetic so this just isn't a definitive test. It is a good indicator though when used with other indicators.
Gold includes a distinctive, high pitched ring when bumped against another gold piece or against glass. This is something that you will recognize with time. It does take experience so that you can use this knowledge.
Finally some people say they are able to smell gold. I can't but a lot of gold finders swear by it. If you can smell it you can make big money just sniffing around.
The Color Of Gold
Medium to low karat gold will come in many colors. Pure gold is just a rich gold tone, which many Americans and Europeans don't favor, yet it's hot within the Orient and India. We are more accustomed to going to a 14K alloy of 58.5% gold and 41.5% copper and nickel mix or copper and silver mix. However, gold comes in many colors at 10K, 14K and in many cases 18K. White gold may be the most common variation and rather than copper, manufactures work with a gold and nickel or zinc mixed with nickel to find the white color. Rose gold can be a pure combination of gold and copper and includes a 'reddish tint'. There can also be green gold and different shades of gold colored gold which is determined by the alloy blended with the gold.
There is merely one overriding factor with color to the gold finder. 14K of the color contains the equivalent gold as 14K from a other color and is also worth a similar cost.
Gold Testing
The most accurate method to test for gold as well as fineness is using a gold testing kit. This kit has a touchstone, which appears like a smaller, rectangular slab of slate (but is not slate) and many bottles of nitric acid. It may also include a set of gold tipped needles to test you acid's accuracy. I suggest buying 10K, 14K, 18K and 22K acids. To test for gold take your items and rub in with a small area of the touchstone until a thin line about 1/8 inch by ?? appears. Then take your acid and hang one drop around the line. If the acid eats through the line leaving a gap inside the line or perhaps a spot very faded, then it's whether lower karat gold or otherwise gold in any respect. Use a lower karat acid to determine if your former is true.
If I find unmarked gold I check it out with 14K acid first. If it fades I use 10K acid. If that fades and you have silver testing acid you can use that mainly because it will also test for 9K gold. If it stands up to 14K acid then try 18K acid onto it. If it won't fade you know you have at the very least 18K gold. Try the 22K acid next. One warning: Stainless steel will frequently not fade under some gold acids. However it leaves a silvery, white line when rubbed and sound much scratchier than gold would sound.
If you receive any acid on your skin, tend not to panic but quickly wash it well with water. Better yet use soapy water and make some baking soda handy since this neutralizes acid which can fall on your own desk or floor.
Some jewelry supply stores sell electronic gold testers for about $150 a pop. These devices should measure gold purity by electronic or heat conductibility. This sounds great and of course it's safer than using acids. The problem is that they do not seem to be very accurate. I have seen 1/10 GF items test as solid gold. I have also seen solid gold objects which are dirty or greasy test as not being gold. White gold alloys do not appear to have exactly the same conductivity as yellow gold.
Save your money and learn how to use the acids. You have heard the expression 'that is the acid test' meaning the definitive test. Now you already know where this expression emanates from.
In Conclusion
Don't get discouraged if you purchase something and it is just not gold. Chalk it for the price of working and learning the ins and outs of gold finding. With experience you will make fewer mistakes and make better money. I am correct 97% of the time when I buy gold. Your batting average may turn over to be even better than mine given some patience and experience.
You have every one of the knowledge you should be an effective gold finder. Go out there and discover gold!
