Fool’s Gold vs. Real Gold: How to Tell the Difference

Ever bought a ring, necklace, bracelet, or any other jewelry piece thinking it’s made of gold only to find out it’s nothing near to gold? If yes, you were probably tricked into buying Fool’s Gold jewelry. If this is any relief, you’re not alone! Many jewelry lovers are often tricked into buying Fool’s Gold as it has immense resemblance to real gold. Read on to see how you can tell apart real gold and fool’s gold.

What Exactly is Fool’s Gold?

Fool’s gold is the popular nickname for a mineral called pyrite. The mineral earned itself the name because it’s yellow and shiny and to put it simply, boasts incredible resemblance to gold. Note, fool’s and real gold are two worlds apart. Whereas real gold is a metal, fool’s gold is an iron sulfide mineral. While gold is very valuable, pyrite is worth virtually nothing!

Pyrite was nicknamed fool’s gold because even the most experienced jewelry buyers are sometimes tricked into buying it, thinking it’s the real thing. It brings true the famous proverb “all that glitters isn’t gold.”

Fool’s Gold vs. Real Gold: How to Tell the Two Apart

If you’ve recently been a victim of fool’s gold jewelry, don’t beat yourself up because it was an honest mistake. Here are some tricks to help you ensure you never fall for fool’s gold jewelry again;

1.    Examine the Shape, Texture, and Smell

As noted earlier, real gold is metallic, while fool’s gold is a mineral. With that said, the easiest way to tell the two apart is by looking at the shape. As a metal, real gold usually has a smooth texture and round edges. Pyrite, on the other hand, has a crystalline structure, giving it sharper edges and a bit of a rough texture to it.

Also, as an iron sulfide mineral, pyrite usually smells like sulfur. Gold, on the other hand, has no odor. While shopping your jewelry pieces, be sure to look at the shape. If the piece has small, crystalline, sharp cubes, is a bit rough, and gives you hints of sulfur when you smell it, run for the hills because it’s fool’s gold.

2.    The Shine Test

Fool’s gold may boast immense resemblance to gold but doesn’t have the properties of gold. It’s shiny, beautiful, and even glitters when exposed to direct light.  But unlike real gold, it’s not shiny when not in direct light. Real gold, on the other hand, gives off it’s beautiful, soft shine whether or not it’s exposed to light.

3.     Do the Magnet Test

Gold is non-ferrous. This means that real pure gold doesn’t attract a magnet. If you use a magnet and the piece of jewelry you’ve been eyeing sticks to it, take off because it’s either fool’s or not pure gold.

Buy from a Reputable Jeweler

As noted, it’s easy to fall for fool’s gold, and we don’t blame you. But, you could save yourself all the hassle of having to test whether your jewelry contains real gold or not by always shopping from a reputable jewelry brand like Violet Moon Jewelry.