If you are in the market for gold jewelry, there are a few things you need to remember to make sure you are getting a real gold item and not a fake. While U.S. law says that nothing less than 10 karats can be sold as gold, it is not always easy to tell what is gold just by looking at an item. Here's what to ask:

• Look for a stamp that tells you the gold's karat amount. The stamp will be on the inside of a ring's band or on the clasp of a necklace or bracelet, generally.
• You get what you pay for; so only buy from a jeweler that is reputable.
• Check to see if the jewelry store has a quality assurance program. Many stores test their jewelry to insure its purity.
• Look for a trademark if your jewelry item has a logo or brand name attached to it.
• If the piece doesn't look well-made, walk away. Sometimes, you can judge a book by its cover.
• If you want to erase all doubts, for as little as $20 you can get your gold jewelry tested by a quality assurance lab. By x-raying the piece they can tell you if your gold is real. You can also ask a different jeweler to do an acid test on your gold.

Never try to perform a chemical test, such as chlorine or bleach, on your gold yourself. Both can do damage to soldering, cause breaking and/or discolor gold.

With gold prices at an all time high, now is your chance to get top dollar for any old or damaged gold and jewelry you own. Whether it is gold coins, sterling silver or estate jewelry, Sell Gold will give you cash for a range of jewelry and precious metal items.

Back To the Reference Index

Sell Gold at SellGold.com