The Ultimate Guide to
Using A Lighter To Check if Gold Is Real
For centuries now, gold is still the most stable and valuable asset you can think of in terms of precious metals. It remains a safe haven for investors who know its value. That metal in your possession could become a financial lifeline but are you sure that it is real? Many people keep these metals only to be surprised when they decide to sell them. The number of gold dealers keeps rising by the day. It goes without mentioning that scammers have also found loopholes in the industry and are ready to pound on unsuspecting individuals. It means that you must tread carefully to avoid losing your precious metal which can be exchanged in a twinkle of an eye. However, you can stay informed by using a lighter. Read on to learn more about the tricks you can use to confirm if indeed the gold is real.
You cannot authenticate gold if you don’t know how a real one actually looks. Newbies in the industry don’t know what defines fake or real gold and this is where scammers come in to take advantage. By the industry standards, fake gold is any item with less than 41.7% gold content – about 10 karats. You can learn more about that composition and how it translates to value in this website. The value is determined by the Gold Per Gram Calculator. The moment its content gets below 10 karats, it begins to depreciate. Note that there are common fake gold tricks that sellers will use to lie to you that this product is worth more that it is. Although it is not always a scam, some jewelers have a habit of passing off washed pieces as the real deal.
The other common trick unscrupulous sellers use is gold plating. It is one of the oldest tricks and it is surprising that many people are yet to know about it. It is also worth noting that some dealers use the trick of pyrite application. Pyrite is commonly referred to as “fool’s gold” around the world. If pyrite is exposed to the atmosphere, it leaves discoloration which confirms that indeed it is fake gold.
Gold testing is an industry on its own because there is a lot of money involved in confirming the authenticity of the product. In fact, you don’t need sophisticated machines or chemistry labs because you can use what is easily accessible. All you need is a lighter. First, ensure that you choose your weapon carefully because not any other old lighter will do. A butane lighter with actual lighter fluid is ideal and it should produce tall flame.
To avoid burns and injuries, hang the gold using a nail on the wall. As you direct the flame on the metal, observe the changes in the color because real gold should turn lighter. It should turn lighter in colour after heating for at least 60 seconds if the gold is real. In this site, you will learn more about gold and other precious metals.