Gold has been a symbol of wealth and status throughout history, it’s lustrous and vibrant appearance creating allure and it’s rarity creating its high demand. In its pure form, gold is still used to this day not just as a private investment to individuals, but also as a back up to modern forms of currency, with many central banks having stores of gold as a monetary reserve.

With that being said, it comes as no surprise that fake gold bullion products flood the bullion market, due to it holding such a high asking price. This is a problem that not only private investors face, but also larger scale corporations and banks. This makes it so important to be able to spot fake gold bullion in different ways, in this articles we will explore the different ways to do that at home, as well as how and where to purchase genuine gold bullion.

What is Fake Gold?

Fake gold id defined as a product that is sold as genuine gold but is actually a different, cheaper metal, this can come in many different forms, such as a completely different metal that looks like gold, or is plated in a layer of gold, or gold that has a lower purity than stated, such as 9kt gold being sold as 18kt gold.

Fake Gold can refer to:

• Items with a gold plating
• Gold with purity too low to be marked as genuine
• An item marketed as gold but is another cheaper metal

Differences Between Real Gold and Fake Gold:

At a glance, fake gold and real gold can look very similar and almost indistinguishable to the untrained eye. However there are some different features that real gold has that can’t be replicated by cheaper metal:

• Real gold does not discolour or tarnish: if the item looks discoloured in places where the item would be touched or worn, or it has discoloured anywhere, it requires further testing as gold is known for its bright yellow appearance.
• Real gold is dense and weighty: if the item feels too light for how it looks, further testing is required.
• Gold is a non-magnetic material : if your gold attracts a strong magnet, chances are it is counterfeit and further testing would be required.
• Gold over a certain weight and described as being made with gold has a legally recognised hallmark. This law is set out in the Hallmarking Act 1973.

Although these are all features of gold, they can all also be replicated in fake items, especially with advances in technology. Its important to note that gold counterfeits aren’t just the really obvious examples, with dodgy hallmarks and off colours. With the ever-advancing technology available, gold counterfeits can be replicated exactly, and the only way to be sure is to have them looked at by a professional.

At Home Tests to Determine Whether Gold is Real or Fake:

Inspect the gold for signs of wear and discolouration:

• Part of golds allure is its bright yellow, lustrous appearance. This is difficult to replicate in metals that aren’t gold, so what is usually done is a layer of real gold is placed over a metal that replicates gold in weight or feel. A genuine gold bar should appear to be bright yellow and shiny, and this should be consistent throughout its cross section when it is cut in half.
• Furthermore, real gold does not tarnish, change colour or oxidize, so any inconsistencies in colour should raise alarms and should be subject to further testing.

Magnet Test:

• Gold is a non-magnetic material, so if you place a strong magnet on its service, it will not attract. If it does, then it is almost certainly fake.
• Lots of the metals used to fake gold are magnetic, such as iron or steel.
• It is important to note that no all of the metals used to counterfeit gold are magnetic, so this method should not be relied upon alone.

Acid testing:

Acid testing is an easy and cost efficient way to test your gold at home. Acid kits can be purchased online, and are good for roughly estimating not just for whether something is gold, but also for different purities on the karat scale.

It works by performing a small chemical reaction using nitric acid on either the surface of the gold product or on a small filing from it, which is preferable as it causes a lot less damage than other forms of testing. The kits also come with an indicator sheet to show what the different potential results from the test mean.

When using acid testing kits, be sure to read the instructions that come with them, as misuse can cause damage to both you and the gold, as a corrosive acid is used.

As with all methods of testing at home, acid testing should not be fully relied upon as it is not a 100% accurate method, use it in conjunction with other methods for a more accurate estimation.

Mint Marks and Hallmarks:

As with all forms of bullion, gold bars are required to bare the marks of its producer, its purity, weight and official assay hallmark.

These are the first things to look for, as they tell you lots of important information about your bar, and any inconsistencies can raise alarm bells.

However with ever growing technological advancements, these are now being copied almost exactly, so stamps and hallmarks, whilst important to take note of, should not be relied upon completely. Pair this method with others mentioned in this list for more accuracy when determining real or fake gold.

Purchasing From a Bullion Dealer:

As always, the only way to be certain that your gold is real, is by buying exclusively buying from a reputable and established bullion dealer.

At SMP we only offer 100% authentic bullion products for your investment, backed up by the fact that we are authorised distributors of Metalor and Umicore products, stocking their full ranges of gold and silver products, as well as using LBMA-certified grain to manufacture our own brand of gold and silver bullion.

View our full pricing lists here.