To check if gold is real with a lighter involves holding it with pliers or tongs, ensuring cleanliness, exposing it to a flame (preferably a butane lighter) for one minute (or longer for larger pieces), examining for color changes, and rinsing with water. Authentic solid gold will stay uniform in appearance, maintaining its yellow color, while fake or plated gold will change color due to the flame. Wiping burn marks from gold-plated jewelry can reveal color discrepancies, but this fire test can permanently damage their appearance, making it wise to consider less damaging authenticity tests
To check if gold is real using a lighter, follow these steps:
- Hold the gold piece with a pair of pliers or tongs for safety.
- Expose the gold to a flame for at least 60 seconds. The flame should be intense and stable, which is not something you can get with an ordinary disposable lighter. Before conducting the lighter test, make sure your butane lighter has a full tank.
- If the gold is real, it will get brighter as you apply the flame but it won’t actually catch fire and burn. If your gold piece starts to smoke or gets darker, you likely have imitation gold.
- Handle the gold with something inflammable.
While no single test is foolproof, if you perform a few different tests, you should be able to get a pretty good idea of whether or not your gold is genuine or not. It is essential to note that the fire test has the potential to inflict permanent damage on the aesthetic appeal of gold-plated objects. Consequently, it is advisable to explore alternative, less destructive methods for assessing the authenticity of your gold.