How to Tell if a Gold Chain is Real

Gold chains and necklaces are opulent, bold fashion pieces that make an impression. Part of that is because they have an iconic style, and part of that is because people assume they are very expensive, even if that isn’t always the case.

The prestige of gold is in its purity and its rarity. Pure gold is a rare material, and gold chains that are made of real gold are expensive. However, fake gold chains are available at much lower prices and they look almost the same.

If you need to tell the difference between fake gold and the real thing, there are a couple of tests that anyone can perform at home to put the question to rest.

Gold chains come in all thicknesses, styles, and sizes but there are three basic types of gold chains:

Gold plated chains are not solid gold on the inside. Instead, they are brass, copper, or silver chains that are painted with a thin layer of gold on the exterior. The gold plating on most fashion jewelry is extremely thin, making up less than 1% of the total mass of the chain. Washing, rubbing, and scrubbing can wear away at this thin layer and expose metals that can irritate and discolor your skin. 

Gold-filled chains are made from brass or silver chains that are coated with gold plating that is melted into the base metal so that the two fuse together. More gold is required for this mechanical process. In some countries, it is illegal to call a chain "gold filled" unless gold makes up at least 5% of the total mass of the chain.

Solid gold chains are made of gold, inside and out. Because gold is so much more expensive than similar metals like copper or silver, a solid gold chain is much more expensive than a gold-plated or gold-filled chain. 

The purer a piece of gold is, the more valuable it is, but jewelry is rarely made with 100% pure gold. It is always mixed with other metal alloys. 

Perfectly pure, 24 karat gold just isn't very durable or manageable. It has an orange coloration, it is extremely soft and easy to scratch, and it doesn't make good jewelry. Mixing gold with metal alloys in small quantities helps to harden it and make it shine with that characteristic gold look. However, these impurities do lower the gold's purity and its value by diluting the pure gold with "lesser" metals. 

The purity of gold is measured in karats. These are not to be confused with carats, used for diamonds, engagement rings, etc. 24 karats are the maximum possible, pure gold. Anything less than 10 karats is not considered gold at all, for solid gold jewelry.

14 karat gold is 14 parts pure gold to 10 parts metal alloys. 18 karat gold is 18 parts pure gold to 6 parts metal alloys. 22 karat gold is 22 parts pure gold and 2 parts metal alloys, and so on.

The short answer is: no, not really. 

It might be possible to notice tarnishing on the chain due to contact with skin, or skin irritation from contact with a fake gold chain. Either of those would be pretty clear indications that the chain is not solid gold. However, unless the obvious signs are present there isn't much anyone can do to visually determine whether a chain is gold-plated, gold-filled, or solid gold. 

Not in the way that most people mean when they say "real."

Gold plated and gold-filled chains are gold on the outside but are primarily brass, copper, or silver on the inside which means they are not "really" gold.

Gold plated chains are fashion jewelry. They can create a beautiful gold look that is affordable for most people. Gold-plated jewelry is not faking anything or pretending to be solid gold, but some people can confuse it for the real thing and feel deceived. Gold plating is about the look, not the price tag. 

First, you can check the jeweler's engraving to see if there is a karat number visible. An engraving is a likely sign that the chain is real, but it is not enough to be sure because anyone can engrave anything. 

If you want to know for sure whether a gold chain is real, solid gold you need to do a test. Here are some household experiments you can do that will show you whether or not you're dealing with solid gold.

Gold is much heavier than water, but some other metals that are used as base materials for gold-plated or gold-filled jewelry will float in water.

Fill a glass with water and drop the chain into it. If it settles at the bottom easily, it is likely solid gold. If it takes a while to sink to the bottom or floats at the surface of the water, it is gold-plated or gold-filled rather than solid gold.

Gold will not respond to a magnet. It is magnetically inert. The metal alloys that are mixed with solid gold and the base metals used for gold plated and gold-filled chains are magnetized and will be attracted to a magnet. Therefore, the more responsive a gold chain is to a magnet, the less likely it is to be genuine solid gold.

The magnet has to be strong for this test to be accurate. A fridge magnet won't do the job. 

A powerful magnet will immediately attract a chain that is gold plated, while it won't do much of anything to a piece of 24 karat gold.

Solid gold of high purity will not tarnish or turn skin green. Gold plating and gold-filled chains, on the other hand, are composed of 95% non-gold metal alloys that can easily tarnish or affect your skin.

Rubbing and holding a gold chain against your skin is one way to test to see if it is genuine solid gold. If it is, the gold will hold its shine and not tarnish, while also not causing discoloration or an allergic reaction.

This test can only be accurately performed if the chain is knicked or scratched, but you can try to scratch it yourself. Gold is very malleable and will scratch easily. If the chain is solid gold, the test won’t hurt it. 

Performing this test requires some safety procedures, as nitric acid can be dangerous to handle. However, it is a reliable test. 

Nitric acid immediately turns fake jewelry green and can start to eat away at a knick or scratch, deepening it. If the chain is gold plated or gold filled and scratched, administering a careful drop of nitric acid will cause the affected area to discolor and begin to peel away.

On the other hand, if a chain is made of solid gold the scratch won't be affected. Nitric acid doesn't affect gold, only the other metal alloys mixed with it and surrounding it.

Gold-plated and gold-filled chains aren’t “real” gold because they aren’t completely gold on the inside. You can tell the difference between a real gold chain and a piece of fashion jewelry by doing some simple tests like dropping it in water, rubbing it on your skin, or holding it next to a magnet. If you want a reliable test, you can scratch it and drop nitric acid on the scratch. If it bubbles, the chain is fake.