With the stock market and crypto market crashing, I'm diversifying into gold.
Just kidding, I'm going to be buying a gold ring (popping the question) and want to ensure that the stamped quality is accurate (24k, 18k, 14k etc.)
Would appreciate any insight into shopping for gold/jewellery.
Bite and if it leaves a mark, it means high quality.
On a serious note. No one actually knows the quality of the gold ring itself unlike the diamond which a good ring maker will show you the serial number that is engraved in the diamond that corresponds to the GIA certificate. Best advise is to use a reputable maker/retailer for a piece of mind.
Gold is easily and non-destructively tested, so I'm not sure who told you it can't be checked.
If you want to do this at home, and you have access to drug dealers scales and an accurately marked graduated cylinder, you can measure the weight and volume of the gold, and compare the calculated density to 9ct/18ct/24ct sample density. This is likely to allow you to confirm 24ct or 9ct, but you would have to be very precise and know the alloy material to be able to confirm, say 14ct vs 18ct. It would allow you to immediately recognise gold plate rather than 'solid' gold.
A pawn shop or jeweller will be able to test it for you, either chemically by scraping off a tiny sliver, or using an electronic tester to measure resistance.
You are right, you can if you want to. If you are serious enough and have access to a super accurate scale as well as a cylinder that is small enough for you to measure such a tiny change in volume, you can measure density for sure. Most people like myself would just go to a reputable retailer and trust that the quality of the ring is as stated.
Sure, me too.
But if OP is looking at some vintage jewellery piece or something, it helps to know it is easily tested.
The higher the Ks the softer the metal
And yes the more pure is the piece of gold
However it has nothing to do with quality!
Its purely horses for courses.
Pure Gold is beautiful and rare. It is also however relatively soft.
In order to make jewellery that is hard and durable we must mix Gold with other metals such as Silver & Copper.
A gold ring for example needs to be very durable hence made from 10K gold.
So the bite test is not as silly as it sounds
See here for more information
https://www.myirishjeweler.com/au/guides/jewelry-education/w…
Get a metal detector and if it goes off on the gold settings it's probably gold so long as it's a gold color.
What?!
science
Go through a trusted jeweller would be a start. Jogia did a good job though it has been some years since my purchase.
If she says yes, it's 24k l
If she says maybe, it's 18K
If she says no and gives you a cuddle, it's 9K
If she says no and does a runner, then my friend you've been sold an eBay special.
Tiffany’s & co.
Not sure how many more fares you need to evade, but your get a brand name too, if that matters.
PS. Don’t buy from your friend.
Do not go to Tiffany
Overpriced crap. You get a tiny diamond that is laughable for the price
But they do put on a nice breakfast.
Genuinely, just go to a reputable jeweller, preferably one that you've been referred to personally.
Depending on what you're after, it may be worth your while have it made rather than buying off the shelf.
I bought a $2 engagement ring from aliexpress(aliexpress.com) as a travel "decoy" - (I was paranoid about getting mugged or something) - it got so many more compliments from my wife's friends than the real white gold/diamond/ruby ring we had made.
FFS
honestly - get a nice looking ring from aliexpress. say it is gold. your partner won't know. you can tell them if you want - what's more important to them ? the $$ring co$t or spending their life with you?
you save a shit ton of cash that could be used for something practical.
Possible ticking time bomb if you keep it secret though!
It’s important everybody is on the same page with the $2 ring.
I’ve been looking at this too, as my wife’s cheap engagement ring is looking quite shabby after 35 years and I’ve been writing Gold Solitaire Ring on our shopping lists to cheer her up.
At the $1000- $2000 range of rings in the high street, you don’t really know what you are getting. They do state the gold purity (karat), and you can trust this – Trading Standards would be on to them if it wasn’t, as it is easily tested with non-destructive handheld XRF analyzers which work by measuring the fluorescent (or secondary) X-rays emitted from a sample when excited by a primary X-ray source http://www.adelaidegoldbuyers.com.au/gold-silver-jewellery-t…
But at this price range in the high street, the real issue is that you don’t know what quality gemstone you are getting. Diamonds are graded by Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat. High street jewellers state the Carat (size), but they don’t tell you the other parameters and don’t offer certificates. Your unpractised eye may be able to detect Colour but you won’t have any idea at all about the other factors that can vary the price for a 1 carat diamond from $500 up to $25,000. Is it a natural mined diamond or a manmade diamond created in a laboratory? The manmade diamonds are indistinguishable from “real” diamond but are half the price. Is it actually a diamond at all? Gemstones like cubic zirconia and moissanite look very similar to diamonds to the untrained eye.
At this price range, I think the answer is to get a ring custom-made, if you want to know exactly the quality of gold and gemstone you are paying for.
Some online jewellers offering this type of service are https://diamondexchange.com.au/collections/round-cut-diamond…
and https://www.jogiadiamonds.com.au/diamonds/diamond_search.php
They offer independent certificates for their diamonds, and some of them have physical stores where you can actually look at the gemstone you are planning to buy.
We’ve been into a few high street shops in the shopping malls – my excuse for getting out is to say that I’ve gone “ring blind”. (Guys, this is great trick, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve said I’ve gone washing machine blind or carpet blind, I even went blind blind once).
To progress this, I’ve ordered five cubic zirconia rings in different carat sizes from Aliexpress so she can get an idea of what size stone she wants (half a carat up to 2 carat). Aliexpress do some really pretty rings from $9 up to $15, a couple of examples here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003390338691.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002425805703.html
I might get lucky if she decides that she likes one of the Aliexpress rings and wants to keep it. Otherwise we can get a similar ring custom-made by one of the online jewellers.
Just a few final comments:
You will need to know what size her ring finger is.
Do not buy from gumtree or ebay or cash converters, even if they offer a certificate - it is too easy to offer a substitute or fake ring.
Let us know if she says yes.
Don't buy from shady dealers and don't try to get a good deal :P
Haven't thought of buying gold but if I'd buy some I'd probably be willing to pay slightly higher than market price and purchase from reputable source.
Does she have any allergies?
14ct is on the low side and if she has allergies this may show up
More than 18 is too soft.
18 is the sweet spot
I got mine for my fiance made in Israel by an amazing jewelers. DM me if you want details.
Make sure to size her finger
Depends which dark alley you buy from. If you purchase through proper channels, then the MARK should be correct
Check the stamp. That mark has specification requirements legally binding for the manufacturer.
However, I would still be buying from a reputable source. If you are to buy at auctions, they usually have authentication documents. Buying at a pawnshop, gumtree or elsewhere is a risk. However you can learn to test quite easily.
Having said that I bought a ring on a FB group site On a gamble. The seller had stated she was not sure if the stamp was legitimate. It is stamped 14k but it is not. It appears to come from Asia as there is definite Chinese influence in the design. Turns out the seller had tested it and knew it wasn't. A retailer could not get away with selling a ring like that as that stamp has legal requirements.
Cut it in two and test both pieces.