Avoid areas that are close to gems. You don’t want to damage your diamond with bleach!
Wear rubber gloves when handling bleach. Try not to breathe in the fumes, and be careful not to get it in your eyes on your bare skin. [1] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
It’s possible that your jewelry contains real gold, even if it changes color. For example, 10K yellow gold contains over 41% real gold, with silver and copper mixed in. The silver and copper could react with the bleach, discoloring the metal.
Most gold jewelry has other metals mixed into it, since pure 24K gold is too soft for jewelry. [3] X Research source
If your gold is real but has any other metals mixed in, the bleach could still discolor or damage it, just as it would if the gold was fake.
Use a neodymium magnet if you have one. These are incredibly strong and will attract any metal that’s even slightly magnetic. Just keep them away from credit cards, smartphones, and other electronic devices, since the magnetic field can damage these items. [6] X Research source Hematite, a grayish-black stone that’s highly magnetic, is sometimes used in jewelry alongside gold. Your gold jewelry may stick to a magnet if it’s made with hematite stones. [7] X Research source
Other metals are soft too, so this test can’t prove conclusively that your gold is pure. Remember, your jewelry can still contain real gold even if it’s not 100% pure 24K gold.
Use caution when working with an open flame. Metals heat up very quickly, so you could easily burn yourself if your gold gets too hot. Pure gold may appear slightly brighter when heated, but the color returns to normal after it cools.
Brass, which sometimes looks like gold, will not be affected by vinegar. Try additional tests, such as an at-home acid test kit, to determine if your jewelry is brass or gold.
Each home test will come with its own instructions. Make sure to read and follow the instructions carefully when testing your gold. This method is also called the “touchstone” method. It’s used by real industry professionals—including the Gemological Institute of America, an agency that certifies the value of gems and precious metals used in jewelry.
A jewelry appraiser is generally more trustworthy than a jewelry buyer, like a pawn shop or jewelry store. An appraiser is not buying your jewelry and is only paid for their analysis, whereas a buyer has an incentive to underestimate your jewelry’s value so that they can resell it to someone else at a higher price.
