Real Gold vs Artificial Jewellery: How to Tell the Difference at Home

The fastest reliable check is the hallmark stamp: genuine gold in India carries a BIS hallmark with karat purity (like 22K916), while artificial and plated jewellery has no such stamp. Beyond that, a few simple at-home tests can support what the hallmark tells you — though none of them replace a professional appraisal for high-value purchases.

1. Check for a Hallmark

In India, BIS-hallmarked gold carries a stamp showing the BIS logo, purity grade (e.g. 916 for 22K), and a unique identification number. Artificial and gold-plated jewellery never carries this mark. If a seller claims a piece is "real gold" but there's no hallmark, treat that as a red flag.

2. The Magnet Test

Gold is not magnetic. If a piece is strongly attracted to a magnet, it's not solid gold — it likely has a base metal core like iron or steel with a gold-coloured coating. Note: this test can rule pieces out, but a non-magnetic result alone doesn't confirm gold, since brass and copper aren't magnetic either.

3. The Visual Wear Check

Look closely at high-contact points — clasps, ring undersides, earring posts. If you see a different colour peeking through (silvery or reddish-brass), that's plating wearing off a base metal, meaning the piece is plated, not solid gold.

4. The Water Float Test (Low-Confidence, Use With Caution)

Real gold is dense and sinks quickly in water without floating or forming bubbles on the surface. This test is not conclusive on its own — many other metals also sink — but a piece that floats is almost certainly not solid gold.

5. Skin Discoloration

If jewellery leaves a dark or greenish mark on your skin after wear, it usually indicates a base metal reacting with skin oils and moisture — something that doesn't happen with genuine gold, though it can happen with both artificial and some plated pieces.

When to See a Professional

For anything above everyday-value jewellery, or before reselling a piece, a jeweller can confirm purity with an acid test or electronic gold tester in minutes. At-home checks are useful for everyday shopping decisions, not for verifying investment-grade pieces.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does gold-plated jewellery ever carry a hallmark?

No — hallmarking in India applies only to gold jewellery meeting BIS purity standards, not to plated or artificial pieces.

Can artificial jewellery look identical to real gold?

Visually, yes, especially when new. The differences show up over time in wear, weight, and skin reaction — not always at first glance.

Is it fair for a seller to call gold-plated jewellery "gold jewellery"?

Reputable sellers will always specify "gold-plated," "gold vermeil," or "solid gold" clearly — ambiguous listings are worth double-checking before buying.

Does weight tell you anything about whether jewellery is real gold?

Real gold feels notably heavier than similarly sized plated or artificial pieces, since gold is a dense metal — but this isn't a reliable standalone test without something to compare it to.

AuraZ lists the exact material for every piece — explore our pendant sets to see clearly labelled gold-plated jewellery done right.