Simple Ways to Test Gold with Vinegar: 8 Steps (with Pictures) (2024)

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1Applying the Vinegar

2Cleaning Up

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Co-authored byJerry Ehrenwaldand Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 6, 2024Fact Checked

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Gold is a very beautiful metal that can be found in jewelry, coins, watches and more. You may have just bought a new piece and want to see if it’s real, or test the genuineness of an old family heirloom. Testing gold with vinegar is a simple method to see if your gold is real, and by using white vinegar and an eyedropper, you can conduct this test yourself at home while keeping your gold pieces safe.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Applying the Vinegar

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  1. 1

    Fill an eyedropper with white vinegar. White vinegar is the most acidic vinegar, so it works the best for testing gold. It is also clear-colored, so it will show a color change the best. You’ll want to use an eyedropper to pour your vinegar so that you can control the amount that you put on your gold piece. Fill the eyedropper about halfway, or enough for a couple of drops.[1]

    • You can buy eyedroppers at most drug stores or online.
    • If your gold piece is particularly large, you can use a measuring cup to pour vinegar on it instead.
    • White vinegar is also very good for cleaning household appliances, so you can keep any that you have left over for another use.
  2. 2

    Clean your gold with a cloth or rag to remove dirt or debris. Your gold piece should be clean so that your test results are clear and you don’t have anything else discoloring the vinegar. You can use a wet or dry paper towel or a glasses cleaning cloth to gently wash your gold piece.[2]

    • Real gold is soft and can get marks or indents left in it, so use caution while cleaning your gold.

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  3. 3

    Use an eyedropper to put 2 or 3 drops of vinegar on your gold. You can set your gold piece in a bowl or on a plate to collect any vinegar that runs off of it. You only need to put a couple of drops of vinegar on your gold, or enough where the vinegar can stay in contact with it for a couple of minutes.[3]

    • You don’t need to soak the gold in the vinegar. Simply letting the vinegar touch your gold piece is enough to test it.
  4. 4

    Let the vinegar sit for 15 minutes. The acid in the vinegar takes a couple of minutes to react with gold and other substances. Keep the vinegar sitting on your gold piece for at least 15 minutes, just to make sure it has gotten enough time to react.[4]

  5. 5

    Watch the gold for color changes like black or green to see if it is fake. If your gold piece turns black or green when the vinegar is on it, or if it starts to smoke or fizzle at all when the vinegar touches it, it is most likely not real gold. If your gold piece does not change colors and does not fizzle or react to the vinegar in any way, it is probably real.[5]

    • The acid in white vinegar breaks down many chemicals, but it won’t break down gold.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Cleaning Up

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  1. 1

    Run your gold under cool water to remove the vinegar. You probably don’t want your gold to smell like vinegar forever, so you can run your piece under cool water for a few minutes, or until the vinegar smell is not noticeable anymore. You can also spray it with a water bottle if you are worried about losing your gold down the drain.[6]

    • If you do run a piece of jewelry under a tap and it is small, you should put a stopper in your drain so that there is no chance of losing it.
  2. 2

    Pat your gold dry with a cloth or towel. After you’ve rinsed off your gold piece, you can gently pat it dry. Use a paper towel or a non-abrasive cloth to make sure that you don’t mark up your gold. Making sure that your piece is dry helps to keep it from tarnishing.[7]

  3. 3

    Pour your used vinegar down the drain. Even if your gold piece turned colors and there is residue in it, you can pour any vinegar that you used down your kitchen or bathroom sink. Vinegar is not harmful to pipes, and might actually help clear out any clogs that you may have, and whatever came off of your gold piece into the jewelry is so minuscule that it will not hurt your drain.[8]

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      About This Article

      Simple Ways to Test Gold with Vinegar: 8 Steps (with Pictures) (24)

      Co-authored by:

      Jerry Ehrenwald

      Certified Jeweler

      This article was co-authored by Jerry Ehrenwald and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Jerry Ehrenwald, GG, ASA, is a graduate gemologist in New York City. He is the previous President of the International Gemological Institute and the inventor of U.S.-patented Laserscribe℠, a means of laser inscribing onto a diamond a unique indicia, such as a DIN (Diamond Identification Number). He is a senior member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and is a member of the Twenty-Four Karat Club of the City of New York, a social club limited to 200 of the most accomplished individuals in the jewelry business. This article has been viewed 163,182 times.

      100 votes - 93%

      Co-authors: 7

      Updated: August 6, 2024

      Views:163,182

      Categories: Gold

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        Sep 25, 2022

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      Simple Ways to Test Gold with Vinegar: 8 Steps (with Pictures) (2024)

      FAQs

      How long do you leave gold in vinegar to see if it's real? ›

      If the gold changes color, then it is not pure gold. However, if the gold remains the same, or stays shining, then the gold is real. You can also put some vinegar into a glass and let the gold soak in the glass for 5-8 minutes. If the gold changes color (even slightly) after rinsing it, then it is not real gold.

      What is the easiest way to test gold at home? ›

      A float test using water is the easiest and safest way to tell if your gold is real at home. Start the process by taking a glass and filling it with water. Drop the gold accessory you want to test in the filled glass. If your gold piece sinks to the bottom of the glass, it is real.

      What color will vinegar turn fake gold? ›

      Vinegar Test

      Once you have some vinegar, clean your piece of jewelry with a rag or cloth to remove any dirt so you don't get faulty results. Then, place your jewelry into a bowl and add a few drops of your vinegar into the bowl. Real gold will not change color, but fake gold will turn either black or green.

      What is the hallmark test for gold? ›

      Gold hallmarking plays a vital role in determining gold purity. Compliant hallmarking of gold jewelry involves the fire assay method for gold and the marking of the jewelry with a common control mark that identifies the precious metal, the purity, and the office that provided the testing and hallmark.

      How to check if gold is real or not? ›

      How can you check if your gold is real?
      1. Check for hallmarks: Look for stamps or hallmarks on the gold jewellery, indicating its purity level. ...
      2. Magnet test: Use a magnet near the gold item; real gold is not magnetic. ...
      3. Scratch test: Rub the gold against a ceramic plate - real gold leaves a golden streak.
      Jul 8, 2024

      What is the scratch test for gold? ›

      For testing gold jewelry or bullion, you have to rub (or scratch) it across the porcelain tile/ceramic plate. Then you analyze the color of the produced streak. If the gold is real, then it should show a golden, yellow color. If you see a black streak instead, then you have pyrite or fake gold.

      Does real gold sink or float? ›

      Real gold is very dense, and should not float when you place it in water. You can try this by placing the jewelry on a surface gently and drop it into a bowl of water or sink, and observing how fast or slow it sinks.

      What color does fake gold turn? ›

      Counterfeit gold may, however, exhibit discoloration, turning green or black due to a chemical reaction with the lighter flame. Residue: Real gold won't leave any residue behind after the lighter test. However, fake gold jewelry or gold filled items may leave behind a black or dark residue.

      How to tell if a chain is solid gold or gold plated? ›

      Solid gold chains are made entirely from a gold alloy and will be stamped with a purity mark. Gold plated or gold filled chains, on the other hand, have a base metal like brass that has been covered in a thin layer of actual gold alloy.

      How can you tell if a coin is solid gold? ›

      The magnet test: Gold is not magnetic. If your bar or coin is attracted to a reasonably strong magnet, it may be fake or impure. The float test: Real gold is heavy and should sink immediately to the bottom of a glass or bowl of water. If yours floats or sinks slowly, it's a sign of a fake.

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