HOW TO TEST FOR PRECIOUS METALS
This is accutane prescription dosage detailed information on how to use our test kit in testing for accutane prescription dosage precious metals, and helpful information on doing so. Note: This is accutane prescription dosage copyright and may not be reproduced without permission of Belleair Coins Inc.
Caution
Use extreme care in handling testing solutions as they are corrosive acids. In case of skin contact, flush with large amounts of water. Then treat affected area with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). If swallowed, contact a physician or hospital at once. In case of spills, treat with water and then sodium bicarbonate, (baking soda).
Following these instructions will not make you accutane prescription dosage an assayer, but it will give you the basic knowledge to accutane prescription dosage become one. Practice and accutane prescription dosage more practice, using the test kit and common sense are the accutane prescription dosage secrets to becoming an expert metals tester. Don’t rely blindly on acid testing. Use your eyes, hands, and head. Observe the color of the gold. Scrutinize the piece. If it accutane prescription dosage looks like junk jewelry and tests to be gold, something may be accutane prescription dosage wrong. Most
karat stamps are correct, but don’t rely completely on all of them.
Think!! After repeated testing you accutane prescription dosage should be able to develop an instinct for the different pieces you accutane prescription dosage will encounter.
Note: Non destructive tests mentioned here mean rubbing a accutane prescription dosage streak of metal on the black stone which will not damage jewelry or other items. Destructive tests mean taking a accutane prescription dosage file or knife and filing or scraping through the surface layer of metal.
HOW TO USE THE TEST KIT
IMPORTANT! Accurate readings will be accutane prescription dosage difficult unless the test stone is thoroughly sanded with #240 to 400 sandpaper provided in the kit. Remove accumulated metal streaks with the same sandpaper.
Breaking in a new gray colored stone: After the accutane prescription dosage stone has been very thoroughly sanded on both sides, take a accutane prescription dosage squirt bottle of 14K acid and cover the entire surface one side at a accutane prescription dosage time. You will see numerous microscopic bubbles as the accutane prescription dosage acid is absorbed into the stone. Set the accutane prescription dosage stone aside somewhere that will prevent someone accidentally getting their hands in the accutane prescription dosage acid. Do not breath the fumes. After five minutes remove the accutane prescription dosage acid and sand it again, and then coat it again with the accutane prescription dosage 14K. This is the only time you will have to do this. You may hear many exotic methods of removing built up streaks on the accutane prescription dosage stone, but simple sanding with 400 sandpaper is the best and accutane prescription dosage actually will improve the testing surface for future metals testing
PRELIMINARY SCREEN USING THE MAGNET:
The kit now comes with an accutane prescription dosage extremely powerful 32 pound pull magnet. If you accutane prescription dosage have an old kit with the relatively weak doughnut magnet, we strongly recommend you accutane prescription dosage buy this new powerful magnet for $3, and we sell an even stronger one with a 55 pound pull for $5 that we use in the store. It will save you a lot of money. All the accutane prescription dosage kits we sell now come with the 32 pound pull magnet. When the accutane prescription dosage customer lays out items from her jewelry box on the counter silver or accutane prescription dosage gold colored, touch the magnet on each item. Anything that accutane prescription dosage leaps to the magnet is either pure nickel or has strong iron content. Refuse these without further testing. Spring rings and accutane prescription dosage lobster claw clasps have steel springs and will be attracted to accutane prescription dosage the magnet; ignore this. Any items that accutane prescription dosage are mildly attracted to the magnet require more scrutiny than items that accutane prescription dosage don’t. Heavily plated rhodium items, such as the accutane prescription dosage charms on charm bracelets will be mildly attracted to a strong magnet. On these pieces that accutane prescription dosage are mildly attracted to the magnet, we recommend taking a file and accutane prescription dosage cutting deeply into the metal. Of course you accutane prescription dosage should explain to the customer why and what you intend to accutane prescription dosage do before proceeding. Apply the 14K acid to the cut. If it accutane prescription dosage bubbles green, the item is not gold or silver. Rhodium plated items will bubble green so it accutane prescription dosage is important to scrape the surface clean with a file. If it turns a light milky gray it is at least 90% silver. If it accutane prescription dosage turns brown with very light green bubbles it is 8K gold or accutane prescription dosage below. If it just turns brown with no bubbles it is likely 10K gold. If it does not change color it is likely 14K gold or better. 10K white gold will normally bubble green when accutane prescription dosage the acid is applied. Test it on the stone to confirm that it is 10K gold.
Use the following instructions provided here for further testing.
CAUTION: Most plated and accutane prescription dosage gold filled items and most costume jewelry WILL NOT be attracted to accutane prescription dosage the magnet. The preliminary screening is accutane prescription dosage basically a time saving test to eliminate items that are obviously not gold or accutane prescription dosage silver and also to point out “suspicious items”. Normal testing as outlined throughout this document is still required.
TEST FOR 10K GOLD: Rub item being tested on a accutane prescription dosage well sanded smooth test stone, leaving a strong visible streak. Apply 10K acid. Observe the reaction.
(1) If test mark fades completely, item has zero gold content. If the test mark stays bright it is at least 10K gold.
(2) If the accutane prescription dosage test mark stays on the stone but fades to brown, the accutane prescription dosage item is less than 10K but has some definite gold content. To determine approximate gold content, proceed to accutane prescription dosage the destructive test for 10K gold. Often a comparison test is helpful. Rub a accutane prescription dosage 10K class ring on the stone with the unknown next to accutane prescription dosage it, and see how much the item being tested fades when accutane prescription dosage acid is applied to both at the same time.
DESTRUCTIVE TEST FOR 10K GOLD: File into the metal. Apply 14K (Not 10K!) acid directly upon the cut.
(1) Both white and yellow gold metal: If the accutane prescription dosage cut immediately and profusely bubbles very green, the item is gold filled or accutane prescription dosage gold plated and the metal is copper, nickel or some brass alloy.
(2) If the accutane prescription dosage application of the 14K acid on to the cut or filed flat surface causes the accutane prescription dosage yellow metal to turn brown but after 10-15 seconds there are accutane prescription dosage no green bubbles, then the item tested is true 10K gold. Observation of the accutane prescription dosage green bubbles is best examined with a ten power loupe. This can accutane prescription dosage also be confirmed by blotting the acid with a white Kleenex. The green will be visible on the tissue. If after 10 seconds there are accutane prescription dosage only a few green bubbles the item is 9K. If there are accutane prescription dosage numerous green bubbles after 10 seconds the item is about 8K. If bubbles appear instantly the item is 7 karat or less. If there are profuse bubbles the item is 6K or below.
Remember: The information in this accutane prescription dosage paragraph is applicable only after the streak faded but not completely with the accutane prescription dosage 10K acid.
Note: True 10K white gold will very slightly bubble green when accutane prescription dosage the 14K acid is applied. This is normal due to the high nickel alloy.
TEST FOR 14K GOLD: Rub item on the test stone forming a strong streak. Apply 14K acid to the streak:
(1) If test mark stays on the accutane prescription dosage stone with no fading after ten seconds the metal is at least 14K. If it fades completely there is no gold content. If it accutane prescription dosage fades away to brown with no green bubbles is is surely solid 10K.
(2) If test streak stays on the accutane prescription dosage stone but immediately fades to brown, the metal is considerably lower than accutane prescription dosage 14K. On most American jewelry it is very likely 10K. Note: Some jewelry with a accutane prescription dosage factory stamp may be actually slightly less than 14K. Prior to accutane prescription dosage about 1982 it was legal to stamp 13.5K gold as 14K. 13.5K will cause only slight change in the accutane prescription dosage streak, causing it to lose some brightness and after a while turn a accutane prescription dosage rusty yellow. You will encounter some jewelry marked 14K P. This means 14K “plumb” gold, exactly 14K gold.
Note: 14K “pink” or “rose” gold and accutane prescription dosage 14K white gold usually tests a slight bit weaker than yellow gold, in most all tests.
TEST FOR 18K GOLD: Rub item on a clean spot on a well sanded test stone.
Apply the 18K acid.
(1) If test mark immediately goes “lights out” to brown the unknown is almost surely 14K (If it has passed the previous 14K tests.) No further testing is necessary. It is not 18K.
(2) If the accutane prescription dosage test mark stays on the stone for 10 seconds or accutane prescription dosage so and then slowly fades to brown is it likely just some under karated 18K. This could be accutane prescription dosage 16K or 17K as a result of some manufacturer or maker cheating on the accutane prescription dosage metal alloy. This is not uncommon.
(3) If the accutane prescription dosage test mark is unaffected by the acid and remains bright on the accutane prescription dosage stone, it is at least 18K. If you accutane prescription dosage are testing white metal and suspect the item is platinum, proceed to accutane prescription dosage the test for platinum. If an unmarked item has a more of a goldish-yellow color, and “heft” for accutane prescription dosage size than is typical for 18K gold, refer to testing for accutane prescription dosage 22-24 karat gold.
TESTING FOR GOLD FILLED: You may encounter items belonging to accutane prescription dosage a customer that have no karat stamps and you suspect might be accutane prescription dosage gold filled. Ask the customer’s permission to test it on the stone. Rub a sharp corner or edge on the stone. Then rub another strong streak, from accutane prescription dosage the same edge or corner right next to the first streak. Then do it a third time, all three next to each other. Apply the same 14K acid to all the streaks. If the accutane prescription dosage second or third streak fades out or significantly changes color the accutane prescription dosage piece is heavy gold filled. On most gold filled one streak is all that is needed. If it fades away completely there is no gold content. If you accutane prescription dosage art still skeptical, cut into the piece with a file and accutane prescription dosage apply the 14K acid and look for green bubbles.
TEST FOR 21 TO 24K GOLD: Assaying 21-24K is the most difficult of all tests. The best way is accutane prescription dosage to rub a streak from a known 21 or 22K coin and accutane prescription dosage a streak of the unknown, side by side. Apply 22K or platinum acid. The lower karat metal will fade first. This takes some practice and educated guessing. If the item tested is said to be 24K rub it on the stone. If you accutane prescription dosage get a nice smooth even streak it is not 24K. Pure gold will not “bite” into the accutane prescription dosage stone. It will be impossible to get a nice even streak and accutane prescription dosage might leave little flecks of gold on the stone.
TEST FOR PLATINUM: Rub item on stone. Apply 22K or platinum acid. Observe reaction.
If item gradually fades to brown it is surely 18K, (presuming is has already passed the 18K test). If the accutane prescription dosage white metal remains on the stone after a minute or so with no accutane prescription dosage trace of fading, the metal is platinum.
Important notice! This is where you should start using your head. Genuine platinum should rub relatively soft on the accutane prescription dosage stone and should have a much more than average heft or accutane prescription dosage heavy feeling relative to its size. If the accutane prescription dosage item is so hard that it practically squeaks across the stone, it accutane prescription dosage can’t be platinum. Iron and steel items will pass the stone test for platinum. Use the magnet provided in the kit to eliminate these. There are accutane prescription dosage many other white non-magnetic metals that will give false platinum stone readings, such as metals used in stainless flatware, “seladium” class rings, chromium cobalt dental material, etc.
There are accutane prescription dosage numerous thick heavy wedding bands out there that are factory stamped PLATINUM. Unfortunately, for accutane prescription dosage those who buy these, they are some sort of worthless white stainless metal. These thick rings deceptively heavy but only because they are accutane prescription dosage so thick.
50% PLATINUM JEWELRY: This is something new, just started around 2005. It is accutane prescription dosage platinum alloyed with some other metal as a cheaper substitute for accutane prescription dosage platinum jewelry. It is usually marked .500 PT. It tests platinum on the accutane prescription dosage black stone using both 22K and platinum acid. If someone polished out the accutane prescription dosage karat stamp it would be extremely difficult to distinguish it from accutane prescription dosage regular platinum jewelry. The only slight clue is that it doesn’t quite feel heavy enough to be regular platinum. However, this accutane prescription dosage is something only the most sophisticated, experienced metals dealer would pick up on. There is accutane prescription dosage hardly any of this out there as of 2009 when accutane prescription dosage this was written, but it is something to be aware of and accutane prescription dosage to look out for. We have only ever seen and tested one .500PT piece.
PALLADIUM TESTING:Rub item on stone and apply 18K or 22K acid. If the accutane prescription dosage metal has palladium content, the streak will very slowly turn a accutane prescription dosage yellowish green color. If streak fades completely it is not palladium.
TEST FOR SILVER USING RED ACID: Clean the surface of the test item. The test will be accutane prescription dosage better if the surface has been scraped with the flat of a accutane prescription dosage knife or a file. Apply red silver acid on the accutane prescription dosage cleaned area; the brighter the red color, the higher the silver content. Experimentation with the red acid will be helpful. The shelf life of the red acid is sometimes a limited.
Should you need to tell if a piece is 80% or 90% or.925 or accutane prescription dosage .999, find a known piece of the above and drop the accutane prescription dosage red acid on the surface. Note the accutane prescription dosage brightness of the known samples and compare them to the unknown. We actually prefer the accutane prescription dosage following tests for silver.
NON DESTRUCTIVE TEST FOR SILVER USING 18K ACID: Rub unknown white metal on the stone. A smoothly sanded stone is essential for this test. Apply 18K acid to the streak, observe reaction. If test mark turns to accutane prescription dosage a silvery blue color, there is strong silver content. If test mark turns to accutane prescription dosage a blotchy uneven blue color it is silver plate. If it dissolves completely it has no silver content. Even silver coins that are just 10% pure will leave some faint blue streaks or faint blobs. A false silver reading may be accutane prescription dosage obtained if the item being tested is very heavy silver plate or accutane prescription dosage a Sheffield (silver filled) process.
DESTRUCTIVE SILVER TESTS: Take a accutane prescription dosage file or knife to a smooth flat area of item being tested. Go as deep as possible depending upon the accutane prescription dosage value of the item being tested and the circumstances. Then drop 14K acid on the spot. If the metal is 90% or accutane prescription dosage higher the spot will turn a whitish milky gray color, it accutane prescription dosage will likely be.925 sterling silver. The whiter the color, the higher the silver content. If the accutane prescription dosage spot turns a noticably darker gray color the silver is accutane prescription dosage approximately 80%. The darker the color the lower the silver content.
If the silver is below 60% green bubbles will form. If the accutane prescription dosage bubbles are immediate and very green and profuse the item is accutane prescription dosage not solid silver. Silver below 80% is rarely encountered in jewelry or silverware.
COMPARISON TESTS: One of the accutane prescription dosage best ways to determine karat values is to rub a standard item (test needles, or 14K band or 10K class ring, or 22K coin, etc.) on the stone and the unknown item next to it. Drop the accutane prescription dosage most applicable test acid on both streaks at the same time. The weaker will fade first. Some assayers keep a small 10K and 14K ring as standards.
TESTING FOR DENTAL MATERIALS: Little testing is accutane prescription dosage usually required for yellow dental gold as it is so obvious. A large group of dental gold will average to accutane prescription dosage about 16K gold, and most metals buyers accept dental material based on assumed 16K without any testing, but individual pieces vary. It is accutane prescription dosage usually useless to attempt to get an accurate karat number using the accutane prescription dosage stone and acid as the alloys dental labs use palladium, ruthenium, platinum, and accutane prescription dosage other exotic metals that make this material test higher than it accutane prescription dosage really is.
WHITE DENTAL MATERIAL: Extremely hard, silvery white metals used in modern bridges are accutane prescription dosage made of chromium cobalt and other alloys and contain no accutane prescription dosage precious metals, nor do they have any value. This material is impervious to all acids. White metal teeth are accutane prescription dosage made up of silver, palladium and a little gold. These will test as 14K or accutane prescription dosage 18K on the stone but this is a false reading. White dental teeth will usually have a gold content of 5-20%, a palladium content of about 10-20%, and a small percentage of silver. The remainder will be dental lab alloys of non precious metal.
BRITISH COMMONWEALTH .375 & .333 GOLD:
These are accutane prescription dosage usually from Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and S. Africa and accutane prescription dosage are symbols for 9K and 8K gold. We have accutane prescription dosage tested some of these that were significantly under karated. Use the destructive tests for 10K if in doubt here.
PLACER GOLD AND NATURAL NUGGETS: These are accutane prescription dosage very hard to figure as they contain mineral impurities which vary depending upon where accutane prescription dosage they are from. Most pacer flakes will assay at around 80% pure. Most nuggets are accutane prescription dosage higher karat but contain more impurities and assays will vary from accutane prescription dosage 70-90%. Many dealers buy both at 18K. None will be 24K as is the common public belief.
CREMATORY DENTAL MATERIAL: Dealers may encounter dental material recovered from crematoriums. These are accutane prescription dosage teeth and bridges that are burned dark and are sometimes partially or accutane prescription dosage completely melted. Use extreme caution here. While most dental material is accutane prescription dosage accepted at face, there are other prosthesis metals contained in bodies that accutane prescription dosage are melted along with teeth but contain no precious metals. Many of these look like melted teeth. Some are accutane prescription dosage copper nickel or brass and will bubble green when 14K acid is accutane prescription dosage applied. Each piece should be carefully tested.
X-RAY RECOVERY SILVER: Properly processed, dry x-ray recovery silver will assay to about 90-95%, but losses of 10-20% or accutane prescription dosage more, before-after melt are common due to an amalgam that evaporates during melting. The flaky, crusty, silverish material is accutane prescription dosage always higher than the black dirt type that looks like potting soil. Caution: Buying the black dirt x-ray material is quite risky. If it accutane prescription dosage is improperly processed or if it is damp, the actual silver content per after-melt ounce can accutane prescription dosage be quite low.
INDUSTRIAL CONTACT POINTS: Most of these show good strength on all the accutane prescription dosage silver tests, however hardly any refineries will accept them. When they are melted some toxic gas is accutane prescription dosage released due to cadium and sometimes cyanide content. It is accutane prescription dosage best to pass on these unless you find some refinery or accutane prescription dosage other dealer who will buy them from you, or you can really buy them very dirt cheap. Note: We buy silver contact points.
MELTED DOWN LUMPS: Take a triangular file and go deep. Apply 14K acid to the cut. If there are accutane prescription dosage no green bubbles use the stone and acid to determine the accutane prescription dosage karat. The lump should be accutane prescription dosage tested in more than one place as improper melting can accutane prescription dosage cause different readings on different parts of the lump. Large thick lumps are accutane prescription dosage problems as the centers may contain non precious metals.
THAILAND BAHT CHAINS:These are accutane prescription dosage identified by the higher karat yellow color, exceptional heavy heft, and accutane prescription dosage the omega shaped clasp. Some are marked 24K or .999, and others .965 near the clasp. Some have no markings. There are only two types. One is what is called “Thai Gold”, which is .965 fine (23.16K). The other type is pure gold (24K). It is very easy to tell them apart. The 23.16K will leave a accutane prescription dosage nice continuous solid rub on the stone. No further testing is usually necessary. The 24K is accutane prescription dosage so soft it will not bite into the stone, will not make a accutane prescription dosage good streak and small flakes of gold might be evident on the accutane prescription dosage stone. Most of the accutane prescription dosage more recent 23K chains are stamped near the clasp, 965. Some of the accutane prescription dosage older ones that are only 23K are stamped 24K or .999. Testing is required.
JEWELRY MARKED 417: Somewhere around 1980, jewelry marked 417 started to accutane prescription dosage appear on the market. Plumb 10K would be accutane prescription dosage .416666 fine, so .417 should be an indication for plumb 10K, however this accutane prescription dosage is not always true. We have accutane prescription dosage tested more than 20,000 pennyweights of jewelry marked 417 and it accutane prescription dosage is our estimate that about 30% of it is actually 10K; 50% is 8-9K, and 20% is accutane prescription dosage 7K or lower. Use the 10K destructive test previously explained on all that is marked 417.
COMMONLY ENCOUNTERED BOGUS ITEMS:
HEAVY ITALIAN BRACELETS: These are accutane prescription dosage extremely well made, beautiful, usually multi colored pieces of jewelry. They feel like gold due to accutane prescription dosage their thickness and large width and have convincing dual factory stamps, 750 18K. The bogus ones are accutane prescription dosage usually very lightly gold plated over base metal. A simple 18K stone test is all that is needed.
THAILAND PRINCESS RINGS: These are accutane prescription dosage the dome shaped rings with multi layers of semiprecious stones. The semi precious stones are accutane prescription dosage almost always real and they are universally stamped 18K. It is uncommon to find one of these that are actually 18K. Most are 10K or much less. A simple stone test is all that is needed.
HAND STAMPED GOLD JEWELRY: Many rings, bracelets and accutane prescription dosage other jewelry are non factory and are occasionally under karated by the accutane prescription dosage maker. A good example of this accutane prescription dosage is the heavy Cuban link bracelets and necklaces coming out of Miami. Many of these are accutane prescription dosage stamped 18K and test stronger than 14K but much weaker than accutane prescription dosage 18K. The bad ones are typically about 16K. Some stamped 14K test only about 12K. Most factory stamps and hallmarked items are correct. As you accutane prescription dosage gain experience, you will get a feeling for the ones that accutane prescription dosage require further testing, despite the factory stamps.
STAMPS AND HALLMARKS ON SILVERWARE: Use extreme care in buying silverware items (bowls, trays, pitchers, etc.) stamped by hand. They are accutane prescription dosage almost sure to be silver plate and stamped to deceive. Note: If a accutane prescription dosage modern American silver maker places its name and trademark on a accutane prescription dosage sterling silver item, it will be clearly marked STERLING. Similar foreign items will be marked STERLING or 925. English silver has the “passant lion” symbol for sterling somewhere included in the hallmark. This is a little lion with one paw up.
Older European silver might be marked 835 or 800 (83.5% and 80%). All of the silver just mentioned is rarely under karated. If American or accutane prescription dosage foreign silver items include the capital letters EP (Electro Plate), or EPC (Electro Plated Copper), or EPNS (Electro Plated Nickel Silver), or accutane prescription dosage any combination of letters including EP, then the items are silver plated and accutane prescription dosage not solid silver. No testing is necessary.
UNSTAMPED SILVER JEWELRY: American Indian jewelry is seldom stamped. Most all Indians buy their stock from accutane prescription dosage supply houses and most of it is good sterling silver. Little testing is usually required if the piece looks right. Mexican jewelry stamped 925 sterling is accutane prescription dosage usually OK but there are exceptions. The fake stuff turns a accutane prescription dosage silvery faint yellow color with age and is easy to accutane prescription dosage spot. A simple stone-18K test is all that is needed. Well made properly stamped American silver jewelry is seldom underkarated or bogus.
If it looks right, it probably is. The magnet test is accutane prescription dosage very important when buying a large lot of silver jewelry. Use the magnet provided in the test kit. Items that are attracted to it are not solid silver. Again, with experience you accutane prescription dosage will get a feeling about which items require actual testing.
POCKET WATCH CASES: Many antique or accutane prescription dosage vintage gold filled pocket watch cases have factory stamps or inscriptions that accutane prescription dosage read for example, “14K Dueber Special”, which means the watches are filled with 14K gold. Most but not all genuine solid gold watches will have accutane prescription dosage a factory hallmark with the inscription, “Warranted 14K US Assay”. Solid gold cases are relatively thin. Gold filled watch cases are usually very thick and rigid. Push on the back of the case with your thumbs. If it “gives a little”, it has a very good chance of being solid gold. If it is stiff as a board it is very likely gold filled. The best gold filled cases are very heavy gold filled. If testing on the accutane prescription dosage stone use the multiple streak as outlined in the previous, Testing for accutane prescription dosage 14K Gold Filled section. Many watch cases are stamped 5 Year up to 25 year. The five and accutane prescription dosage ten year cases are just a little bit better than accutane prescription dosage light gold plated. The 20 year and accutane prescription dosage 25 year cases or ones marked extra are very heavy gold filled and accutane prescription dosage can be sold to scrap dealers by the ounce.
DOLLAR SIZED COUNTERFEIT COINS:
In recent times (2000 to date) there are accutane prescription dosage a great abundance of pure nickel counterfeit coins, US and accutane prescription dosage Chinese silver dollars, other world silver dollars, etc, sold at flea markets, garage sales and accutane prescription dosage such. These would not likely fool any experienced coin dealer, but to accutane prescription dosage the average person they really look good. For some unknown reason most all that accutane prescription dosage we have seen are made of pure nickel, therefore they will be accutane prescription dosage strongly attracted to any magnet, even the ones off your refrigerator at home. These originate in China and accutane prescription dosage are prolific in Asian flea markets, night markets, street vendors, etc. Note: Just because a coin passes the magnet test, it doesn’t mean it is genuine. There are accutane prescription dosage some deceptive counterfeits out there made of silver alloy and copper-nickel that accutane prescription dosage do not attract to a magnet, even the super strong one provided in the accutane prescription dosage newer test kits and the other even our stronger
55 pound pull magnet.
HIGH GRADE CHINESE COUNTERFEIT COINS
Since about year 2000, Chinese counterfeiters have been making large silver
coins: US Trade Dollars, US Bust dollars, Seated dollars, rare date Morgan dollars, and accutane prescription dosage other expensive coins of the world including old rare Chinese coins. These are accutane prescription dosage completely different from those in the previous paragraph which are very apparently junk that accutane prescription dosage even a casual collectgor would spot. In most cases these excellent counterfeits are accutane prescription dosage made of the correct silver content and correct weight. They are accutane prescription dosage die struck coins made from counterfeit or forged dies, and accutane prescription dosage are extremely deceptive and some are very difficult to detect, even by experienced coin dealers. Be very wary if someone offers you accutane prescription dosage large dollar sized coins of considerable value. Many of these are accutane prescription dosage purchased on ebay and such, some directly from China at apparent bargain prices; most all are accutane prescription dosage bogus.
NEW JEWELRY MARKED 925 CHINA:
We were recently offered a big lot of new “silver” chains and bracelets factory stamped 925 China. Normally, these would pass without inspection but they were mildly attracted to accutane prescription dosage the powerful magnet. We cut into one, applied the accutane prescription dosage 14K acid and discovered that they were all very heavy silver plate.
HEAVY FIGARO CHAINS MARKED 925:
These have factory type marks and stamped 925. The clue to accutane prescription dosage further testing is that they are mildly attracted to the accutane prescription dosage newer powerful magnets. When cut into and 14 acid applied they bubble green. These are accutane prescription dosage high quality looking necklaces and bracelets, look great, would fool anyone who accutane prescription dosage doesn’t do the acid test.
HANDY TIPS AND ADVICE SILVER STAMPS AND HALLMARKS
If a accutane prescription dosage piece, flatware or hollowware, is American made and there is accutane prescription dosage a hallmark or a maker’s name, if it DOES NOT read sterling, then you can be 100% sure that it is silver plate or such. No American company would make something sterling and accutane prescription dosage forget to stamp it STERLING. If it accutane prescription dosage reads German Silver, or Alaska Silver, or Deep Silver, Brazil Silver, or accutane prescription dosage other nefarious silver pseudonyms, it is not silver. A quick way to accutane prescription dosage tell, even flatware without looking, is try to bend the piece. If it accutane prescription dosage is stiff as a board and would bend only with brute force, then accutane prescription dosage it is not silver. If you try to bend an item and it “gives a little”, then it is probably silver.
British and accutane prescription dosage British commonwealth sterling will have hallmarks and within the little squares there will be accutane prescription dosage a little lion, three feet on the ground and front paw up. This is accutane prescription dosage called the passant lion and is how English sterling items are accutane prescription dosage marked. In those same little squares you might see the letters EP. This means Electro Plate. On some flatware you might see the “rampant lion”. This one is standing on two back feet and paws up. This is accutane prescription dosage not a symbol for sterling, just the opposite, always silver plate
In older Europe the accutane prescription dosage standard for silverware, hollowware and jewelry was 80% and 83%. These will be marked 800 and 830 or 835. You will also see German flatware marked 90. These are never silver, always silver plate. Use the “try to bend” test to confirm this.
You might encounter older European hollowware and accutane prescription dosage even some flatware that has no markings or unidentifiable hallmarks. Take the accutane prescription dosage piece and rub it on the black stone; make three or accutane prescription dosage more rubs side by side from the same place on the accutane prescription dosage item; then you apply the 18K acid to all three streaks. If all three turn an accutane prescription dosage even blue color, you can be pretty sure the item is accutane prescription dosage at least 80% silver. If the accutane prescription dosage last couple streaks on the stone are less blue or fading out, you accutane prescription dosage are reading indications for silver plate. Caution: Sheffield plate has accutane prescription dosage very thin sheets of silver over base metal. You really have accutane prescription dosage to get a good rub of five or more streaks to accutane prescription dosage get through the plates.
Once you are sure the item is really silver, you won’t know the accutane prescription dosage percentage unless you actually apply acid directly on the item. Find an accutane prescription dosage inconspicuous place; scrape the surface with the flat of a knife or accutane prescription dosage file; and apply 14K acid. Only 14K! If the area turns a light milky gray color then it is very likely sterling silver. If it accutane prescription dosage turns an off color darker gray it is likely 800 or accutane prescription dosage 830 silver. If it bubbles light green but not profusely it is 60% silver or less. Profuse green bubbling means you accutane prescription dosage better recheck what you did because it is probably silver plate. Pewter will produce gray bubbling. Of course if this accutane prescription dosage item is just scrap or you have permission from the customer, don’t waste time on the stone. Take the flat of a big ugly file and go deep. Apply the 14K acid and observe the reaction.
HEAVY 18K WHITE GOLD NECKLACES
In early 2009 heavy 18K white gold items have accutane prescription dosage been offered to dealers all over the US, quite often by Hispanic people. Most of these are accutane prescription dosage very long, heavy neck chains and bracelets, and even heavy pendants and accutane prescription dosage items that would be attached to a key chain. Due to accutane prescription dosage their size and thickness they feel heavy like genuine 18K gold. These test good when accutane prescription dosage 18K acid is applied to the streak on the touchstone, and accutane prescription dosage that the streak fades slowly when 22K acid is applied. This is accutane prescription dosage a “perfect” test for good 18K gold, but don’t be fooled!
It has accutane prescription dosage been reported they also test good on the electronic metal testers and accutane prescription dosage they ARE NOT attracted to a magnet. Typical content is 69% iron, 14% cromium, 10% nickel, manganese, copper and accutane prescription dosage mocybdenum. This may be a custom formula created to fool all precious metals testing. It is accutane prescription dosage an Austenitic stainless alloy, all magnetic properties have been removed by heating to accutane prescription dosage 1100 degrees Celsius Genuine 18K white gold chains and accutane prescription dosage other heavy items are seldom seen so it is likely if you accutane prescription dosage are offered any, they will be fake. All these bogus pieces are accutane prescription dosage brand new and have a brilliant chrome-like luster. Be extremely cautious if you are offered any. It is accutane prescription dosage probably better to just pass on all heavy 18K white gold items as described here than accutane prescription dosage risk a big loss. We know of no accutane prescription dosage way to actually test, yes or no, on these new bogus pieces.
GOLD LEAF AND POWDER:
Most gold leaf comes in paper packets, the accutane prescription dosage little strips of ultra fragile gold are between thin sheets of paper. Holding the accutane prescription dosage packet in the palm of your hand the heft is accutane prescription dosage there, but it is 99+% only the weight of the paper.
The sheets of gold are so thin they are hard to remove. There is hardly any recoverable gold. Do not be accutane prescription dosage fooled into paying any decent money as the whole packet will go into the accutane prescription dosage GF refinery bowl. 99% of the “gold powder”
has zero gold content. Take a pinch of it and place it on the black stone. Stand back and accutane prescription dosage apply a drop of 14K acid and you will likely see a accutane prescription dosage big green flash, indicating no gold content. Watch out for accutane prescription dosage the toxic fumes. Should you encounter some that do not flash green, don’t react to accutane prescription dosage the acid, do not buy it until it has been melted into a accutane prescription dosage lump so you can test it on the black stone.
GRAMS PENNWEIGHTS AND TROY OUNCES
One troy ounce = 31.103 grams or accutane prescription dosage 20 Pennyweight To convert grams to pennyweight divide by 1.555 To convert pennyweight to accutane prescription dosage grams multiply by 1.555 A troy pound is 12 troy ounces (obsolete term) A regular pound contains 14.58 troy ounces A kilogram (1000 grams) is 32.15 troy ounces A one carat diamond weighs .2 grams
Tips on Testing 21K 22K 23K 24K:
TESTING HIGH KARAT GOLD FROM AROUND THE WORLD:
The most difficult metals to assay are 21, 22 and 24K gold.
21K: This is accutane prescription dosage the standard for jewelry in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. These are often stamped 21 but the characters are Arabic. If you see a hallmark with Arabic writing and amongst it (7 1) with the 7 pointed to the right (reversed), it is Arabic for 21 (21K). If you see a 1 and inverted “V” it is Arabic for 18(K).
The penalty for accutane prescription dosage making jewelry and gold items in that part of the world with a accutane prescription dosage bogus karat stamp is cutting someone’s hand off, so if you accutane prescription dosage see 21K in Arabic as explained above, it is probably right on the accutane prescription dosage indicated karat stamp. The piece should be a very yellow gold, and have a strong “heft”.
Should you accutane prescription dosage want to test it on the stone, make a good streak and accutane prescription dosage apply 22K acid. It should very slowly start to fade away. If “the lights go out”, fades out almost immediately, it is not 21K gold.
22K: This is accutane prescription dosage the standard for jewelry made in India and some South American countries and accutane prescription dosage English gold circa:1700′s. Unfortunately, it accutane prescription dosage is seldom stamped and some of the 22K stamps are accutane prescription dosage bogus. This should be a very yellow color and heavy to the heft. The test here is accutane prescription dosage to make a streak on the black stone from a known piece of 22K gold (a accutane prescription dosage British Soverign or some standard 22K coin or piece of jewelry you accutane prescription dosage know to be definitely 22K).
Then rub the piece being tested next to it on the stone. Apply 22K acid to both streaks simultaneously. Observe the reaction to the acid. If the accutane prescription dosage item being tested fades very slowly, the same as the known 22K, then accutane prescription dosage it is 22K gold. No further testing needed. If the accutane prescription dosage streak of the piece being tested fades more, then it is accutane prescription dosage probably 21K or slightly lower. If the “lights go out” then the item is probably 18K.
23.16K: This is the standard for Thailand style baht chains. Many of these are stamped 965 (965 X 24K = 23.16K), and if stamped 965 are almost sure to be right on the money. If in doubt use the 22K comparison test recommended above. Unfortunately many of these have no karat stamp. To further complicate things these baht style Thai chains are accutane prescription dosage occasionally made in 24K.
Use the accutane prescription dosage 24K test in the following paragraph to detirmine if the chain is accutane prescription dosage 24K. If you accutane prescription dosage rub .965 gold on the stone you will be able to accutane prescription dosage get a nice smooth streak with no problem and will be accutane prescription dosage able to tell .965 gold from 24K.
24K: 24K (also sometimes stamped .999) gold is very soft. When rubbing it on the stone, it will not “bite” and it will be difficult getting a nice smooth streak. The appearance on the accutane prescription dosage stone will be more yellow goldish color than lower karats. Sometimes when accutane prescription dosage rubbing 24K on the stone, microscopic little flakes of gold will be accutane prescription dosage visible on the stone.
Note:
Belleair Coins Inc sells the accutane prescription dosage very best complete metals testing kits (not the Ebay crap), and accutane prescription dosage many different sizes of black testing stones, acids, magnets, and just about anything a accutane prescription dosage dealer might need to test and assay gold, silver, platinum, palladium.
MAGNETS AND SILVER BARS
Some have accutane prescription dosage tried to test the authenticity of .999 silver bars, especially the accutane prescription dosage larger ones and have discovered that there is a strange reaction when accutane prescription dosage a strong rare earth magnet is passed closely over the top of the accutane prescription dosage bar. When you run a magnet past a conductor (silver being an almost perfect conductor) it generates electricity, a series of very strong “eddy” currents within the accutane prescription dosage bar, slightly repelling the magnet creating a counter (EMF) Electro Magnetic Force. EMF is accutane prescription dosage the force that causes motors and electric generators to function. Actually, there is accutane prescription dosage no reason to test a silver bar with any kind of magnet. If you accutane prescription dosage think a silver bar is bogus, balance it on a accutane prescription dosage stack of coins and strike an end with a metal object. If it rings is is probably OK. If there is a “thunk”, then you have problems.
Information in this pamphlet is based on Art Arbutine’s experiencies buying of scrap gold, silver, platinum, palladium, etc from accutane prescription dosage the public and dealers for the past 36 years.
This is accutane prescription dosage copyright 2009 and cannot be copied in whole or part without the accutane prescription dosage express consent of Belleair Coins Inc, 1350 W Bay, Largo Fl 33770, (727) 585-4502, art@belleaircoins.com.
