How to Find Out if a Ring Is Not Pure Gold

If you suspect that you own a ring that might not be pure gold, then you probably want concrete evidence to prove it.

Instructions

1

Place the ring in a jar of water and watch carefully: If the ring sinks to the bottom easily and displaces water, it is probably pure. A ring that is not pure will float or sink very slowly.

2

Rub the ring across an unglazed porcelain tile (found at a hardware store). If it makes a golden streak, the ring is pure. If it makes a black streak, it's not pure gold.

3

Test the ring's malleability by pounding it with a hammer. A pure gold ring will bend because gold is a soft metal. A ring that is not pure gold will be harder, signifying that it has been mixed with other metals.

4

Rub some liquid foundation (found in most makeup kits) on your arm, then cover it with translucent powder. Rub the ring onto your arm and watch for a mark to appear. If it does appear, it is true gold, reacting to the minerals in the makeup. If a mark does not appear, then it is not pure gold.

5

Take the ring to a jeweler or pawn shop, where a simple nitric acid test can be performed for a small fee, or even for free. A ring that turns green after nitric acid is applied is most likely not pure.