is it gold or silver?

robnye

over the years my family has accumulated lots of bits and pieces of jewellery.

mostly small thin chains.

I want to identify what is gold, what is silver and what is worthless.....

does anyone know a simple test or two i can try out.

i have read the threads regarding cleaning silver/gold, but would like to identify what is what before cleaning it up.

???

divadee

you will need to look for hallmarks robnye

Have a look Here to determine this

Nile

Hello Robnye

If you have very good eyesight or have a magnifying glass, look carefully for the hallmark at the end of the chain. This will help you to sort the gold and silver from the non precious metals.

I use an ultrasonic bath and cleaning fluid to clean gold jewellery. If you don't have one, Argos sell them at approx £20 (Cat no 190/0051) and you can see the dirt and grime literally lifting off the jewellery. Caution, don't put rings or other items with stones in an ultrasonic bath, the stones can be vibrated out of their mounting/setting!

Hope this helps.

robnye

is it possible for some gold/silver chains not have any hallmarks?

divadee

chains will normally have hallmarks on the clasp but they can be v tiny so a good eye glass is what you need.

HTH ;D

Poppy9

Gold or silver under a certain weight do not need to be hall marked. Below is a good straight forward link to hall marking and its exemptions.

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=6580&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=1522

If you want to get best value for the scrap take to a small independent jobbing jeweller (jobbing jeweller is a person who make and repairs jewellery int their own workshop - lots in London and Birmingham). Ask them to test it for you and melt down and make into something else. Lots of people use their scrap to have bangle made or a gold coffee bean pendant. Ask them to get the bangle etc hallmarked (this is only a small cost and protects you from rogue traders stealing your gold and substituting with worthless metal and gold plate).

There is no real value in just scrapping small amounts of gold - however if you have antique stone set stuff - take to an antique dealer first (but don't let them buy) then take to a jeweller for a valuation. They will differ vastly. I know someone who bought a blue stone antique ring from an antiques shop for £30 and when she took it to the jobbing jeweller for sizing he thought the stone was very unusual. Turned out to be a top quality saffire worth about £1000.