Margaret, how do gold or silver plated (or filled) items appear when they’re tested? I’m just dipping my toe in collecting & selling a few pieces of costume and vintage jewelry. Your videos are educational and so much fun. 😀
Love watching this. It reminded me of class when I was learning how to identify metals and purity. One time we had 10k and 18k acid to test and then make the call on 14k also. It was nerve racking but can be learned.
@@dmreddragon6 I haven't found it all that rare to find is the thing. I've had 3 necklaces, a ring, and a pin, marked 24k, all found in jewelry jars. They sold and I had no complaints but I am toying with the idea of investing in a kit. I guess I could just use 18k to ensure it's at least that. If it still does well with that then the mark is most likely true.
Love your videos!!! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge! what if something is plated? is there anyway to know that? I wouldn't want to sell something as gold and it's just plated. Also, how do you test gemstones? I want to get into jewelry but I don't know where to start :(
Testing silver with 18k solution actually dissolves the silver, but it produces a silver catalyst that the 14k and 22k solutions won't produce.. That's what you are seeing.
@@angelajakem366 I have kilos of scrap silver jewlery marked 925 and I have maybe came across 3-4 peices marked 925 that were not. I would find a new source for my jewlery if most were marked but plated.
Hi Margaret, Always thank you for all the information that you provide. I was just wondering what do you use to clean your stone after testing your jewelry? I have a hard time cleaning mine off.
Hi Alicia, I had the same problem and the company told me to use baking soda. It’s like basic chemistry but it didn’t occur to me at all and it wasn’t in the instructions.
Oh no! I wanted to see you test the stones? Is that tomorrow’s video? Ha ha. I absolutely love the thrill of the hunt for gems! Question: you often use a gold tester for silver. I don’t understand how you can use a gold tester for silver. Can you explain why that works please. Thanks, Margaret!
If it doesn't stick to a magnet i get my chaulk out...i will rub it a couple of time on the chaulk and if it turns grey i know its at least silver or gold ...i don't have acid ....
Thank you for posting this video. I’ve been finding several pieces of 925 that aren’t testing silver. Many of these, the 925 stamp is not very clear and I think I will steer away now from pieces marked that way. I always have difficulty with gold. Often the line sort of stays so I don’t want to reject those pieces. Have a big pile of maybes.
Great video, but next time you test gold can you talk like a pirate and sing some pirate songs? BTW, per the company that sells these acids, if your tile isn't completely neutralized between testings you can get false readings. I learned this the hard lesson that not all that glitters is gold.
@@tiftyme Hi Tiffany. Make a paste of baking soda and water and use to to clean the tile. Rinse with water 💧. It’s an acid and base ph chemistry thing.
I love it when you do this sort of thing.
Thank you!!
when chains have a tear drop at the end, they usually aren’t anything too great 99% of the time 13:49
So do you expect rhodium plated things to still test as silver? Would you scratch through rhodium plating to confirm silver?
rhodium plated silver muddles the test for me it'll come out looking flaky so i always question my results, i'd love to know how others work with it.
I would like to know this too girls!!
Yes, also wondering about how to test rhodium-plated jewelry, which may or may not be silver underneath.
Cool!! Thank you!
Welcome!
Thanks for sharing. Love the testings!
Margaret, Thank you so much for this video! Very helpful! 🥳
So glad!
I'm going to order the acid tester you use, thanks!
Great info!
Glad it was helpful!
Sometimes the marks are in the post. I have found single gold earrings with diamonds with the info in the post.
That is awesome!
thank you so much for the information
Most welcome
Have you looked into the Mizer gold and platinum testers?
Margaret, how do gold or silver plated (or filled) items appear when they’re tested? I’m just dipping my toe in collecting & selling a few pieces of costume and vintage jewelry. Your videos are educational and so much fun. 😀
Like that you use 18k tester for sterling. The silver tester I think is hard. Thanks for the tip.
You bet
Love watching this. It reminded me of class when I was learning how to identify metals and purity. One time we had 10k and 18k acid to test and then make the call on 14k also. It was nerve racking but can be learned.
Thank you!!
Another great video. 👍😀
Thanks again!
Your ring with the jade may be a 9K ring - popular in the UK at one time. I have a few 9K rings
Thank you!!
How would you test something marked 24k? Do you have an acid for that as well?
@@dmreddragon6 I haven't found it all that rare to find is the thing. I've had 3 necklaces, a ring, and a pin, marked 24k, all found in jewelry jars. They sold and I had no complaints but I am toying with the idea of investing in a kit. I guess I could just use 18k to ensure it's at least that. If it still does well with that then the mark is most likely true.
Love your videos!!! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge! what if something is plated? is there anyway to know that? I wouldn't want to sell something as gold and it's just plated. Also, how do you test gemstones? I want to get into jewelry but I don't know where to start :(
Great video! 👏👏👏👏👏
Glad you liked it!
Hello from NH!!!
Hello there!
Testing silver with 18k solution actually dissolves the silver, but it produces a silver catalyst that the 14k and 22k solutions won't produce.. That's what you are seeing.
White gold and pure gold is it the same? Im confused...🙈
This is SO helpful! Question-- does the scratching end up being noticeable on the pieces? And if something is plated, will that affect the results?
How long are the acid liquids good for? Thank you for the video.
I'm not exactly sure.
How frustrating! So if it’s marked as 925 and i sell it as “marked 925”, am I expected to do more like this testing to authenticate?
It's a line. Someone might be angry. I suppose if you say "marked 925 untested"
What I have found is most of the pieces that say 925 or S925 are usually plated !
@@angelajakem366 I have kilos of scrap silver jewlery marked 925 and I have maybe came across 3-4 peices marked 925 that were not. I would find a new source for my jewlery if most were marked but plated.
hello!
Hello!
Hi Margaret,
Always thank you for all the information that you provide. I was just wondering what do you use to clean your stone after testing your jewelry? I have a hard time cleaning mine off.
Hi Alicia, I had the same problem and the company told me to use baking soda. It’s like basic chemistry but it didn’t occur to me at all and it wasn’t in the instructions.
@@CactusThorn Thanks! So do you make a paste and rub on them rinse with water.
@@alicialavoie9371 Exactly! I had everything testing as 10k, even cheap costume jewelry.
@@CactusThorn Great I will give it a go! Thanks for the help!!!
Testing gold always confuses me!!
I can never find links when told they’re listed at the bottom...
Here it is: Supplies I Use - amzn.to/38zB1LY
@@TexasGalTreasures thanks so much Margaret (I was wearing my glasses too 🤓)
Hi Margaret. If it tests as silver but isn’t stamped would you sell it as silver or scrap it ?
Depends on the piece! If I could get more selling it, I'll do that
Oh no! I wanted to see you test the stones? Is that tomorrow’s video? Ha ha. I absolutely love the thrill of the hunt for gems!
Question: you often use a gold tester for silver. I don’t understand how you can use a gold tester for silver. Can you explain why that works please.
Thanks, Margaret!
I started recording that in this one but my tester wasn't calibrated and I didn't have time to calibrate it.
If a pieces looks like tarnished silver and polishes up with a silver cloth is it safe to assume it is silver or should I still test?
I'd still test
If it is not marked 925 but tests as 925 with 18K acid, could it be white gold, since you are using the Gold acid - just curious
If it doesn't stick to a magnet i get my chaulk out...i will rub it a couple of time on the chaulk and if it turns grey i know its at least silver or gold ...i don't have acid ....
What happens if it is actually platinum?
I'd have to use the platinum acid
How do you clean off your stone between tests? Do you have to neutralize it or anything?
Use baking soda - Arm and Hammer
Hit the like button 👍👍
Thank you, Ebay Addicts!
Thank you for posting this video. I’ve been finding several pieces of 925 that aren’t testing silver. Many of these, the 925 stamp is not very clear and I think I will steer away now from pieces marked that way. I always have difficulty with gold. Often the line sort of stays so I don’t want to reject those pieces. Have a big pile of maybes.
Glad to help
Great video, but next time you test gold can you talk like a pirate and sing some pirate songs? BTW, per the company that sells these acids, if your tile isn't completely neutralized between testings you can get false readings. I learned this the hard lesson that not all that glitters is gold.
How do you neutralize the tile?
@@tiftyme Hi Tiffany. Make a paste of baking soda and water and use to to clean the tile. Rinse with water 💧. It’s an acid and base ph chemistry thing.
@@CactusThorn cool. Ty so much. I will definitely be doing that.
Thanks for the info
I clicked on here so fast, I broke a nail.
OH NO!