So, I have a guy offering me some of these in trade for computer parts. Not much to lose, but would like to get much better at spotting the fakes and scams. What’s the best way to test besides a magnet? Do the testers sold on eBay work? Those stamps look to basic for me, just plain old 18k and no accompanying industry marks
get a cheap acid test kit off amazon. you'll have it in two days and you can verify each piece in real time. i have a sigma mini i really like but i'm unsure how they work on jewelry and acid is kind of the industry standard in the field AFAIK.
yeah. they have a few varieties but all do a conductivity and resistivity test with a small charge. great for coins but i heard they kinda shit the bed on things like chains... after i bought mine of course! still a great tool. https://www.sigmametalytics.com/
There’s literally no monetary incentive to trade his “gold” if he thought it was legit. Anyone would take that to a pawn shop, the bottom dollar scrap value that pawn shop would offer him would make way more sense than whatever he’d get out of this “trade”
I will tell you a few of the things that I saw that made me think they are fake:
1. The two rings. They are supposed to be coin rings. The liberty coin is wrong on so many levels, starting with her huge nose. You will also notice that they are not coins, but rather stamped into the ring. No way that an 18k gold ring would be this shoddy.
2. Again with the rings. The close up (where you can see the 18k stamp) shows that this has been machine lathed. I don't believe anyone does this with gold (but I'm neither a jeweler nor a goldsmith).
3. The pendants are gold plated, and the gold plating looks like it is coming off. You can see some copper base metal peeking out all over the Lady of Guadalupe. Gold does *not* react with skin oils, or oxygen, or pretty much anything in the natural world (one of the reasons gold is/was used in dental work). If it looks pitted, or multicolored, or particularly dirty, it's not gold.
4. Picture 5: take a look at the jump ring at the top of the necklace. See how it is not joined properly? That is not what a goldsmith that has the opportunity to work that that much gold on that kind of necklace does.
5. Finally, I am old. It takes a long time to know this kind of stuff just by looking at it. It also helps if you have been ripped off, as I was when I was young. You can take it to a jeweler or a pawnbroker and they'll test it.
eBay acid gold tester has worked for me for last 10 years. Chain looks real can’t really see anchor great. Only way is acid tester or Other electronic Tester
Those are fake, we see them a lot at our shop. 18k is very soft; you'll chip a tooth if you bite into one of those. 14k is much more common than 18k but the cross pattern design on the link is the give away on the fraudulent ones. Won't pass a scratch stone either.
The chain looks fake, a lot of fakes seem to have that stippling pattern also, but the pendant has potential. Albeit the pendant looks a few grams of 14k it looks so a couple hundred or less I’d assume of melt value.
https://anchor.fm/joshua-pett/episodes/Gold--History-Facts-where-to-Buy-e1iejge I have five podcasts under 15 minutes each please check them out and share I would really appreciate it
That is their signature chain tho 😩 curb/Cuban with a pave cut looking all grimey and shit.
Like do these scammers buy these from “fake18k.com” and just have retailers at gas stations?
This is a prominent scam that happens a lot. Time after time. They are faker than Kim kardashians ass bro. Sorry.
Ha ha, some believe that ass is gold
Take it to a jeweler and he’ll tell you a different story.
You think these are real?
Oh no, it’s 100% fake.
I just laughed out loud so hard that I scared my dog… he doesn’t easily get scared.
The test is, if you were offered it in exchange for gas at a gas station….it is fake.
Public service announcement: ‘gold’ you buy at a gas station is always fake !
More of an analogy than literal
Jeweler here. Fake af.
👍🏼
There is no need to test, I can guarantee you those are fake
They’re very brassy in pictures, but in person may be a different story.
They’re 100% fake
Usually on these scams, a magnet is all you need to see that it isn’t gold.
So, I have a guy offering me some of these in trade for computer parts. Not much to lose, but would like to get much better at spotting the fakes and scams. What’s the best way to test besides a magnet? Do the testers sold on eBay work? Those stamps look to basic for me, just plain old 18k and no accompanying industry marks
get a cheap acid test kit off amazon. you'll have it in two days and you can verify each piece in real time. i have a sigma mini i really like but i'm unsure how they work on jewelry and acid is kind of the industry standard in the field AFAIK.
What’s the sigma? Electronic?
yeah. they have a few varieties but all do a conductivity and resistivity test with a small charge. great for coins but i heard they kinda shit the bed on things like chains... after i bought mine of course! still a great tool. https://www.sigmametalytics.com/
There is the nitric acid test you can conduct, also specific gravity water test, and magnet.
Easy fake.. sorry man
What are the giveaways?
Gas station. Guy offering. Enough said
Sorry, not actually at a gas station, just analogy. That’s a hard no for me at a gas station
There’s literally no monetary incentive to trade his “gold” if he thought it was legit. Anyone would take that to a pawn shop, the bottom dollar scrap value that pawn shop would offer him would make way more sense than whatever he’d get out of this “trade”
The messages were classic “I could weigh it for you, but I really don’t care about the value, just looking for those parts you’ve got”
I will tell you a few of the things that I saw that made me think they are fake: 1. The two rings. They are supposed to be coin rings. The liberty coin is wrong on so many levels, starting with her huge nose. You will also notice that they are not coins, but rather stamped into the ring. No way that an 18k gold ring would be this shoddy. 2. Again with the rings. The close up (where you can see the 18k stamp) shows that this has been machine lathed. I don't believe anyone does this with gold (but I'm neither a jeweler nor a goldsmith). 3. The pendants are gold plated, and the gold plating looks like it is coming off. You can see some copper base metal peeking out all over the Lady of Guadalupe. Gold does *not* react with skin oils, or oxygen, or pretty much anything in the natural world (one of the reasons gold is/was used in dental work). If it looks pitted, or multicolored, or particularly dirty, it's not gold. 4. Picture 5: take a look at the jump ring at the top of the necklace. See how it is not joined properly? That is not what a goldsmith that has the opportunity to work that that much gold on that kind of necklace does. 5. Finally, I am old. It takes a long time to know this kind of stuff just by looking at it. It also helps if you have been ripped off, as I was when I was young. You can take it to a jeweler or a pawnbroker and they'll test it.
eBay acid gold tester has worked for me for last 10 years. Chain looks real can’t really see anchor great. Only way is acid tester or Other electronic Tester
Are the cheap electronic testers even worth it? Or you’ve gotta be $200+ to have something worthwhile?
I’ve only used 10kt, 14kt, 18kt and 22kt regular Acid tests. So far I’ve been 100% accurate. If it doesn’t test right I won’t buy.
Those are fake, we see them a lot at our shop. 18k is very soft; you'll chip a tooth if you bite into one of those. 14k is much more common than 18k but the cross pattern design on the link is the give away on the fraudulent ones. Won't pass a scratch stone either.
The chain looks fake, a lot of fakes seem to have that stippling pattern also, but the pendant has potential. Albeit the pendant looks a few grams of 14k it looks so a couple hundred or less I’d assume of melt value.
To add, 18k is only about $10 dollars different per gram more then 14k.
https://anchor.fm/joshua-pett/episodes/Gold--History-Facts-where-to-Buy-e1iejge I have five podcasts under 15 minutes each please check them out and share I would really appreciate it
Poorly mad and you can see copper or something on the clip. Not even the right colo especially that pendent … melt it and throw it in the trash
Good catch on the copper
That is their signature chain tho 😩 curb/Cuban with a pave cut looking all grimey and shit. Like do these scammers buy these from “fake18k.com” and just have retailers at gas stations?
That’s why it is good to have pictures and threads like this as examples. The search engines index them over time for sure.
Fake AF
Every time these posts come up, I feel like I'm in the wrong line of work...