By Jayant Raniga, PureJewels
“Can I check whether this is real gold with a magnet?”
It is a question I hear regularly from customers, especially when someone has inherited an old ring, is considering a second-hand piece, or simply wants to check jewellery before buying it.
The short answer is no — pure gold is not magnetic. But there is an important catch: the magnet test can give you a useful clue, but it cannot prove that your jewellery is genuine gold.
After working with gold for most of my life, I would never authenticate a valuable piece using a magnet alone. I look at the hallmark, the purity, the construction and, where necessary, use professional testing. Here is what you actually need to know.
Is gold magnetic?
Pure gold is not magnetic.
Gold is a non-magnetic metal, so a normal magnet will not pull a piece of pure gold towards it.
Jewellery is slightly more complicated because jewellery gold is normally mixed with other metals. Pure 24ct gold is very soft, so alloys are used to make the jewellery stronger and more suitable for everyday wear.
This is why you should be careful about treating the magnet test as a simple “real or fake” test.
Can a magnet tell you if gold is real?
No. A magnet can help identify some suspicious pieces, but it cannot confirm that gold is genuine.
If an item advertised as solid gold is strongly attracted to a magnet, I would certainly investigate it further. It could contain a magnetic base metal.
But the opposite is not proof.
If the item does not stick to a magnet, that only tells you that it is not strongly magnetic. Several non-gold metals can behave in exactly the same way.
So remember this:
Gold not sticking to a magnet does not automatically mean it is real gold.
How do jewellers test gold?
The magnet test is only the starting point. If I am assessing a piece of jewellery, there are several things I would consider.
1. Magnet test
This is a quick preliminary check.
A strong magnetic reaction can be a warning sign, particularly if the item is supposed to be solid gold. But because many non-gold metals are also non-magnetic, no reaction does not prove that the piece is genuine.
Think of the magnet as a screening test, not an authentication test.
2. Ceramic scratch test
A simple home test is to use the unglazed bottom of a ceramic mug or another piece of unglazed ceramic.
Gently drag the gold item across the surface. Genuine gold can leave a gold-coloured streak, while some base-metal imitations can leave a dark or black streak.
It is quick and costs nothing if you already have an unglazed ceramic surface at home. However, it can scratch the jewellery, so I would not use this test on a valuable or sentimental piece.
It is another indication, not a definitive test.
3. Hallmark inspection
This is one of the first things I would check when assessing UK gold jewellery.
A UK hallmark can tell you the stated fineness of the precious metal and identifies the relevant Assay Office and sponsor or maker marks. The fineness number is expressed in parts per thousand.
For example:
- 375 = 9ct gold
- 750 = 18ct gold
- 916 = 22ct gold
- 999 = approximately 24ct gold
So if you are wondering what “999 gold” means, it indicates 999 parts of gold per 1,000 — approximately 99.9% purity.
If you are buying or checking gold jewellery in the UK, look for the hallmark rather than relying only on a magnet.
For more detail, see our full guide to UK gold hallmarks.
4. Acid testing
Acid testing is another traditional method jewellers use to assess gold purity.
The test involves making a small scratch on the metal and applying a testing solution, commonly nitric acid, to see how the metal reacts. Different reactions can help indicate the approximate purity of the gold.
It is a useful professional test, but it is not something I would recommend doing at home on a valuable piece. You are deliberately marking the surface, and nitric acid needs to be handled with care.
If a piece has financial or sentimental value, I would much rather see it assessed properly than have someone experimenting with acids at home.
5. Weight and density
Gold is an unusually dense metal. Its density is approximately 19.3 g/cm³, making it one of the densest common metals.
That gives a jeweller another useful clue.
If a piece looks relatively large but feels unexpectedly light in your hand, it is worth investigating. The weight needs to make sense in relation to the item’s size, design and construction.
Of course, jewellery is not a simple block of metal. Hollow sections, stones, clasps and different construction methods can all affect the weight. So again, this is one part of an assessment rather than proof on its own.
6. Professional XRF testing
When a customer brings a piece to us on Green Street for assessment, we can use XRF (X-ray fluorescence) testing to analyse its metal composition.
At PureJewels, we use XRF testing when customers bring in pieces for assessment. It gives a reading of the metal composition in under a minute and does not require us to damage the piece.
For valuable jewellery, this is one of the most useful ways to establish what metals are actually present.
If you have an old piece you are unsure about, you can bring it to our Green Street showroom for professional assessment.
Is 22ct gold magnetic?
22ct gold should not be strongly attracted to a magnet.
22ct gold contains approximately 91.6% gold, which is why you will often see the number 916 associated with 22ct jewellery.
The remaining metal is used to give the jewellery greater strength and durability.
22ct gold is particularly important in South Asian jewellery. Many of the necklaces, bangles, earrings and bridal pieces that customers bring into our Green Street showroom are made in 22ct gold.
If you are buying 22ct jewellery in the UK, I would pay much more attention to its hallmark and provenance than to what happens when you hold a magnet next to it.
What about 18ct and 9ct gold?
The same basic principle applies to other gold purities.
9ct gold contains 37.5% gold and is marked 375, while 18ct gold contains 75% gold and is marked 750.
The other metals in the alloy can affect how a piece behaves around a magnet, so the magnet test is not a way of determining whether a piece is 9ct, 18ct or 22ct.
If you want to know the purity, look for the hallmark and see our guide to UK gold hallmarks for a fuller explanation.
Can fake gold pass the magnet test?
Yes.
This is the biggest limitation of the magnet test.
A fake piece can be made from a metal that is not strongly magnetic. You could therefore put a magnet against it, see no reaction and incorrectly assume that you have genuine gold.
That is why I describe the magnet test as a screening test, not an authentication test.
If you are spending a significant amount of money on jewellery, proper hallmarking, documentation and a reputable jeweller are much more valuable than a home magnet test.
What about other precious metals?
Silver is also generally not magnetic, while platinum is not strongly attracted to an ordinary magnet. So the same warning applies: a lack of magnetic attraction does not prove that either metal is genuine. Professional identification and hallmarking are much more reliable when you need to establish exactly what a piece is made from.
What is the best way to check if gold jewellery is genuine?
If you are simply curious about an old piece, using a magnet as a first check is reasonable.
But if the jewellery has significant financial or sentimental value, I recommend a more complete approach:
1. Check the hallmark.
Look for the fineness mark and other hallmark components.
2. Consider the surface and construction.
A ceramic test or visual inspection may reveal something unusual, but neither should be treated as proof.
3. Check the weight.
An experienced jeweller can identify whether the weight appears consistent with the size and construction.
4. Consider professional testing.
XRF testing can establish the metal composition without damaging the piece.
5. Buy from a reputable jeweller.
A trustworthy seller should be willing to explain the purity, hallmarking and price clearly.
The question I would ask before buying gold
A magnet is easy to find. A reliable hallmark and a jeweller who is willing to explain what you are buying are much more important.
Every piece of gold jewellery sold in the UK above the applicable statutory weight threshold is subject to UK hallmarking requirements, with exemptions applying in certain circumstances. The legal hallmarking system is one of the most important protections a buyer has.
For many South Asian families, gold is not simply another purchase. A bangle can mark a wedding. A necklace can be passed from mother to daughter. A pair of earrings can become part of a family collection for decades.
That is why I always tell customers not to judge gold jewellery by one quick test.
Understand the purity. Check the hallmark. Ask about the making charges. And, most importantly, buy from someone you can trust.
If you want to buy gold with the confidence of proper UK hallmarking, browse our 22ct gold collection.
If you have a question about gold that I haven’t answered here, bring it to our Green Street showroom or start a conversation via Live Chat. We have been answering these questions for generations.
