Plated jewellery looks like gold and is often sold as “gold” in ordinary conversation, but it contains a tiny fraction of the metal – usually far too little to be worth recovering. Knowing the difference before you set off saves a wasted trip.
Read the mark
The abbreviations are the quickest guide:
- GP – gold plated. A thin layer over a base metal.
- GF or RG – gold filled or rolled gold. A thicker layer bonded to base metal. More gold than plating, but still not solid.
- GEP – gold electroplated.
- HGE – heavy gold electroplate.
- 1/20 12K – a rolled gold notation, meaning one twentieth of the weight is 12 carat gold.
A mark reading 9ct, 375, 750 or similar on its own, with no letters after it, indicates solid gold throughout.
Look at the wear points
Plating wears through where a piece is handled most – the underside of a ring, the edge of a clasp, the back of a pendant. If a different colour metal shows through, usually white, grey or coppery, the item is plated. Solid gold is the same colour all the way through, so wear simply makes it thinner.
Weight and feel
Gold is heavy. A solid gold chain feels substantial for its size, while a plated one of the same dimensions feels light. This is a rough guide rather than proof, but it is a useful first check.
A magnet tells you something, but not everything
Gold is not magnetic. If a piece is attracted to a magnet, it has a significant ferrous content and is not solid gold. A piece that is not attracted has passed only the most basic test – plenty of non-precious metals are also non-magnetic.
When in doubt, have it tested
Testing is quick and non-destructive in most cases, and any reputable buyer will do it while you wait. It is the only way to be certain with unmarked items.
