✅ SOLVED Gold chain or Brass chain? Jeweler could not tell me

[Nate789]

I found this chain while looking in my box of antiques. I was fairly confident that it was not gold but I wanted to get it checked out just to make sure. I took a magnet to it and it did not do anything, I also tried scratching it against glass and it did not scratch the glass. So I was not really sure. I took it to a Jeweler awhile ago, She touched the piece and told me she didn't think it was gold. She did the magnet test and their was no reaction. She then scratched it against a black plate and it left some streaks. She thought that was interesting and she did a acid test and she got mixed results. She called her boss over and he took it in the back. He came back and said that he didn't know what it was.

My first thought was that what kind of Jeweler can't tell the difference between gold and other metals?

My second thought was maybe it was just really dirty with lotions or oils and it was messing with the results.

I took some pictures can anyone tell me if I should take it back to another Jeweler or if it looks like brass?

Thanks

 

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[OBN]

Do the rub test, if it smells like metal when rubbed it is brass, no smell gold...brass sometimes will test as 10k

 

[Nate789]

Oh no I really hope that is not the case. That would be very depressing if that happened, but I feel like the chain is pretty unique in the way it's shaped and I remember being suspicious at the time and looking it over and thinking that it was infact mine. But idk now im sad

 

[G.I.B.]

I have a jeweler that allows customers to come in an area behind the counter so they never loose sight of the item.

It's a shame that we have to be so careful.

 

[Ant]

The color is off and it hangs lightly on your fingers, if that can be determined from a photo I say it is not gold, just a guess though, have it checked out by someone else.

 

[Tony in SC]

Wear it for a week. If your neck turns green it's brass!! A Chain that size would have to be strong. I would say low K or plated brass. Mean time find another jeweler!! Tony

 

[Breezie]

One of the best ways to determine brass is the smell test as OBN said. Rub it between your thumb and forefinger for 10 seconds or more, then smell of your fingers. Brass has a very distinctive odor. If you don't know the smell, do the same test with an old brass door key.

Since the jeweler couldn't make a determination (assuming he/she was honest), I suspect your chain might be gold-plated brass. If it is gold-plated brass, you won't be able to do the smell test successfully.

Let us know the update and WELCOME to the forum.


Breezie

 

[Silver Searcher]

He/She can't be much of a Jeweler if they can't tell that a chain is Gold, or not. Take it to one that does.

SS

 

[Breezie]

I noticed you marked this one SOLVED. Did you find out the material?


Breezie

 

[Ant]

I'm a gold man and I always knew about the rubbing trick but we look to see if our fingers turn black or if any color is transferred, never heard about the smell test.

 

[shawninNY]

I'm a gold man and I always knew about the rubbing trick but we look to see if our fingers turn black or if any color is transferred, never heard about the smell test.

are you saying gold can't be dirty?

 

[Ant]

No, I'm saying that some people have a high acidity level in their skin and when they rub lower karat gold between their fingers it can cause a slight reaction, enough to notice. And yes gold does get dirty. It can develop a dark green almost black patina mostly in the crevices and cracks.

 

[Ant]

Oh shawninNY I forgot to add that these people use the rubbing method to spot metal other than gold, if the metal is brass, copper, bronze, etc their fingers will turn black. If that happened they won’t even bother testing it with chemicals or electricity.

 

[shawninNY]

A dirty gold chain would make your hands dirty!

 

[Nate789]

I took it to another Jeweler today and he said that it was gold filled something whatever that means. I kind of was expecting bad news. Hopefully some of my other things turn out to be something.