How to Tell If Your Jewelry Is Solid Gold: 4 Simple Ways to Know

Solid gold jewelry is timeless, but knowing whether a piece is truly solid gold isn’t always so simple. Whether you’ve inherited a vintage piece, found a treasure at a flea market, or just want to double-check a purchase, it’s good to know a few easy ways to spot the real thing.

At Nova Lita, we work exclusively with solid gold — often vintage and recycled — and every piece is tested for purity before it reaches you. Since you might not always have the tools a jeweler may have to test gold, here’s a few things you can look for when checking your own jewelry at home.

1. Look for a Stamp (But Know It's Not Everything)

A lot of solid gold jewelry, although not all, will have a hallmark stamp, usually somewhere discreet such as the inside of a ring band, a chain clasp, or the back of a pendant. Common gold stamps to look for are:

• 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, 24K (karat markings)

• 585 (for 14k gold — 58.5% pure)

• 750 (for 18k gold — 75% pure)

• 916 (for 22k gold — 91.6% pure)

• 999 (for 24k pure gold)

You might also find markings which indicate the piece is not solid gold:

• "GF" or "GP" (Gold-Filled or Gold-Plated)

• "HGE" (Heavy Gold Electroplate)

• "1/20 14K GF" (gold-filled, where 1/20th of the weight is 14k gold)
  

If your jewelry is missing a stamp, it doesn't mean that it's not solid gold. Older or vintage pieces, delicate and small pieces, those created with recycled gold, and many handcrafted pieces, may not have a stamp at all.

At Nova Lita, we love working with vintage and recycled gold — and while many of our pieces carry a hallmark, others may be left unstamped. However, we exclusively work with solid gold, which we test and guarantee on every piece of jewelry we design and sell.

2. Try the Magnet Test

Real gold is not magnetic. If you bring a strong magnet near your jewelry, solid gold should not react at all.

If the piece sticks to the magnet or pulls even slightly, it likely contains other metals. Common magnetic metals include:

• Nickel, Iron, Cobalt, Steel

What does that mean?

If a piece is magnetic, it’s either not real gold, gold-plated, or made with a core of base metals. Some high-quality jewelry does use small magnetic clasps (especially modern pieces), but the main body should never react.

3. Watch for Skin Reactions

You may have heard that "fake gold turns your skin green", and there’s truth to that.

Why does this happen?

When metals like copper, nickel, or brass oxidize (react with sweat, lotions, or air), they can leave green, black, or gray marks on your skin. So if your jewelry is leaving a mark when you wear it, you should take it to a professional to get it tested. 

Note: Even real gold jewelry alloyed with small amounts of nickel or copper (like 10k or 14k) could potentially cause reactions in people with sensitive skin — but it won't create green or black tarnishing like cheap gold-plated jewelry can.

4. Get a Professional Appraisal

The most reliable way to confirm if your jewelry is real gold is by having it tested professionally. Jewelers can use:

• Acid tests - Different acids react differently based on karat purity so they can immediately and quickly see if the gold is solid. This is actually an option you can do at home too, kits usually are around $30, and you can learn how to use them from YouTube!

• Electronic gold testers

• X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis for highly accurate results

At Nova Lita, we test every piece we create or source to ensure it's solid gold whether it's brand-new, vintage, or crafted from recycled materials. That way, you can shop with total confidence, knowing your piece is made to last a lifetime.

Final Thoughts

Real solid gold has a beauty and value that lasts for generations. When you invest in solid gold jewelry, you’re choosing pieces that can last a lifetime, and be passed down for generations!