Gold

Long time ago, I worked in a pawnshop and I learned how to appraised gold.

Here are the things I learned in no particular order.

• 21/24 = .875
• there are no pure jewelries, only bars
• 14k, 16k, 18k, 21k, 22k and 24k doesn’t react to acid
• 10k and 12k react (becomes sunog) almost immediately
• 14k doesn’t react to acid but when ashed it becomes sunog
• 21k, 22k and 24k produce tiny particles when scratched
• 22k and 24k resist when scratched
• if markings says 21k, but is actually 24k, make it 21k
• the higher the karat, the higher the malleability
• gold:
  • doesn’t react to magnet
  • doesn’t rust
  • doesn’t smell
  • doesn’t float
  • does’t fade
• use toothpaste to clean gold
• 999 usually have adjustable design
• pinoy made 16k (orig) usually have baht or paracale design
• 18k is yellowish
• pinoy made 16k (orig) is greenish
• 21k and 22k are reddish
• when pinoy made 16k (orig) is scratched, it produces greenish (avocado) particles that are blocky
• jewelries from Japan, UAE, Saudi etc. is quality controlled thus above standard
• when in doubt, the rule of a thumb is decline
• 18k below are sturdy hence best for daily use
• trained eye can easily distinguish 18k, 21k, 22k and 24k trough its design, texture, color and malleability
• while using the lense, don’t squint the other eye