Unveiling the Real Deal: Tips for Spotting Genuine Gold

Gold has long been a symbol of wealth, prosperity and luxury in New Zealand. However, as time goes on, spotting ‘real’ or genuine gold becomes more difficult. Whether you’re looking to invest for financial security, or you simply love collecting gold bullion, we at the Commonwealth Vault offer invaluable tips for spotting genuine gold in this article, below:

1. Check for hallmarks and stamps

Genuine gold jewellery or bullion will always be stamped with a hallmark to indicate their level of purity. Always check for these hallmarks! The most common stamps include 24K, .999, 18K, 14K or 20K. This tells you the percentage of gold in your item, and thus how valuable it is.

2. Weigh your gold

Gold is an extremely dense metal. The ‘density test’ is a great way of determining whether your gold is counterfeit or not! All you need is a precise scale and a container of water. The steps to conducting this density test are as follows:

• Weigh the gold item in air.
• Submerge the gold item in water and record the new weight.
• Divide the weight in air by the loss of weight in water to calculate the density.

Genuine gold should have a density of approximately 19.32 grams per cubic centimetre.

3. Get a professional appraisal

It’s easy to tell whether your gold is genuine or not when you get a professional appraisal! There are many licensed jewellers and certified appraisers in New Zealand who are well-equipped to provide a detailed analysis of your gold, especially if it’s of a high value. A certificate of authenticity also goes far in securing the value of your investment.

4. Buy from a reputable source

At the Commonwealth Vault, we know how important it is for our customers to know that they’re buying bullion from a reputable source. Indeed, our glowing reputation is based on years of experience in the provision of gold and silver bullion, alongside all of the proper licensing. You must always purchase bullion, particularly gold bullion, from a reputable source. This greatly reduces the risk of a counterfeit purchase.

To buy gold coins in Christchurch and wider New Zealand, look no further than the Commonwealth Vault. We guarantee a high level of purity in all the bullion that we sell, and a streamlined purchasing process that allows you to invest with the utmost in professionalism and discretion. Rest assured, in times of economic turmoil, genuine gold is the investment to make. Purchase yours by browsing our website or contacting a member of our team, today.