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Don't Be A Fake: How to Spot Genuine Gold Jewelry at Thrift Stores

7/30/2015

17 Comments

 
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Finding unique jewelry pieces in the thrift stores of New Mexico - from antique turquoise to modern designs from major retailers is easier than you think. One of the most consistently trendy metals to sport is gold. This timeless metal never goes out of style and is versatile enough to wear everyday, so it is no surprise that it is one of the most exciting things to discover in the jewelry case of your local thrift store. Goodwill Industries of New Mexico receives donated treasures from around the state (country and even world!); with a constantly circulating selection of jewelry pieces. So finding a piece of gold jewelry that you absolutely love is always possible, but how can you tell that a piece of gold jewelry is real? Here’s some pro tips that will help you get the most bang for your buck as you thrift around town.

Check for a stamp Lots of items made of genuine gold will sport a stamp on the inner portion of the band in the case of a ring or bracelet, or on the back of the pendant in a necklace. These numbers indicate the carat quality of the piece. If you see the number “416,” you're holding a ten carat piece. “585” indicates a 14 carat piece of jewelry, while “750” is 18 carats.

Look for the tell tale signs of gold plating and filling Gold jewelry pieces that have been constructed with gold filling or plating can be just as beautiful as the real deal- but how to tell the difference? Often these items will showcase a stamp similar to the kind mentioned above, but in this case, you'll see a fraction that tells the purchaser the ratio of gold to other metals. For example, you may see a stamp that reads “1/20 14K,” which means that about five percent of the piece is 14 carat gold. Other indicators include stamps such as “GP” for gold plated or “HGE” for heavy gold electroplate.

Test with a jewelry cleaning cloth or magnet Vintage pieces of gold may be lacking the markings that often indicate its quality. In this case, you can simply apply a jewelry cleaning cloth and see if some of the coloring comes off indicating a fake. Don't have a jewelry cleaning cloth handy? Grab a magnet. Real gold won't be attracted to it.

No matter the treasure you're searching for, the wealth of items circulating through New Mexico's Goodwill locations means that you're bound to find something priceless - from vintage clothing to genuine gold. Getting lost in the aisles of your neighborhood thrift store isn't just a good time, but the opportunity to find real value for a small amount of dough. Happy shopping!

 About The Author
Maggie Grimason is a blog writer living in Albuquerque, NM. She grew up in a family of social servants and teachers in northern Indiana and finds that blogging for Goodwill Industries of New Mexico satisfies creative energies as well as her commitment to ethical living and community service.

17 Comments
Zachary Tomlinson link
7/12/2020 05:39:36 pm

Thanks for helping me learn more about purchasing gold jewelry. I had no idea that genuine gold pieces have a stamp that specifies the quality of the item. My friend is looking for the perfect pendant he could give his spouse, but he's having trouble finding one. I'll share this article with him so he could use it as a guide for purchasing that antique gold pendant he saw the other day.

Reply
Gildan 18000B link
7/24/2020 11:26:11 pm

Very informative! I love the info provided by you. This article is very helpful for me. Thank you so much for the great article.

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Contemporary Jewellery link
7/24/2020 11:53:58 pm

Nice blog! This blog is really understandable and informative. I really like this blog and thanks for sharing.

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Hancockssignetrings link
7/25/2020 12:06:00 am

I really appreciate this article. Your sharing great article us. I really like this article and very useful also. Thanks for sharing the great article.

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7/25/2020 12:49:40 am

Awesome post! This is my first-time visit here and I am actually pleased to read this post. Thanks for sharing.

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7/25/2020 01:02:56 am

Nice article! Thanks for sharing this post with us. I really enjoyed reading this post and very helpful for me. Thanks and keep sharing.

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Bob link
12/18/2020 02:27:07 pm

I like your jewelry tips. I need to get my earrings cleaned. I'll have to find a jeweler.

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Lani link
1/2/2021 04:52:51 pm

I accidentally put my diamond ring in Goodwill box in Rio Rancho, NM... is there a way Goodwill would be able to trace it. I would buy it back if I could!!!

Reply
Pamela Russom
1/22/2021 12:37:16 pm

Hello Lani, so sorry your post was missed! Unfortunately, no. Once and item is donated it can't be "tracked". In cases like yours, we have customers go back to the donation center and fill out a mistaken donation form. Sometimes, we are able to locate an item before it is distributed. We understand how disappointing it is to lose lost something important!

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Zachary Tomlinson link
2/7/2021 08:57:54 pm

I had no idea that legit gold jewelry is immune to magnets, and some stamps help you identify its quality. I'll be sure to recommend this to my friend, who's interested in selling the ones she received from her grandma. I'll be sure to recommend this to her as soon as we meet again.

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Gay Party British Columbia link
3/19/2021 06:41:58 am

Hi thanks foor sharing this

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3/26/2021 04:17:52 am

I really appreciate you for publishing this blog here about don’t be a fake how to spot genuine gold jewelry at thrift stores; it’s really a helpful and very useful for us. This is really appreciated that you have presented this data over here, I love all the information shared. Great article!

Reply
Eleni link
4/19/2021 03:35:57 am

Magnet method seems the best for me. The cloth seems more unreliable because it's possible that the shopkeeper just keeps it's jewels clean.

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Fiona Manonn link
9/13/2021 05:46:37 am

Really Great information about the list of top jewelry companies in UK.

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Tex Hooper link
9/15/2021 07:54:44 pm

I like what you said about looking for gold plating. I need to get a new necklace. I'll have to get one made of silver.

Reply
Catherine link
3/19/2022 10:45:46 am

Really appreciate all the information. I will check all my gold jewelry just to see if it is real gold. Thanks

Reply
Lansing Glass Cutting link
8/18/2022 04:15:48 am

Very creative post.

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