What is the Difference between Gold and Brass Jewelry?

2022-05-18

Humans have used gold in jewelry and coins since 6500 BC. According to archaeologists, our ancestors used gold as far back as 40,000 BC in the late Stone Age. Today, gold is the measure of wealth and the medium of money around the world.

Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper, a yellow alloy discovered by the Hittites and Sumerians in 500 BC that is harder than copper and more precious than zinc. For the most part, brass is the jeweler's and sculptor's friend because it is so similar to gold.

 

Now that brass and gold can look like the real thing, it's especially important for jewelry wholesalers to know the difference.

To tell gold from brass, look at the color of the object. If it's a bright yellow and glossy rather than a dull and softer yellow, it's probably gold. Also, if you see any tarnished areas, your object is probably brass, as gold doesn't tarnish.

 

● Exterior

Gold looks brighter, a bright yellow; brass has a slightly duller yellow, not as vibrant as gold. The color of brass will vary depending on the percentage of copper and zinc.

 

● Density

Gold and brass of the same gauge, gold is much heavier, more than twice as much, at 19.3 g/cm for gold and 8.5 g/cm for brass, depending on the composition.

 

● Magnetic

Gold is non-magnetic; therefore, exposing a gold product to a magnet is a good test to tell if you're dealing with real gold. If the magnet attracts gold, the product is fake.

 

● Corrosion

Loss of gloss is part of the corrosion process and usually occurs on metal surfaces. This process occurs after prolonged exposure to air (water, dirt and bacteria can also cause metal corrosion to some extent). Gold is a non-reactive metal, which means it never loses its luster, no matter how long it's been exposed to air or other elements. Fake or alloyed gold may tarnish, but rarely. Brass will degrade and the color difference will be obvious.

 

● Acid test

Put a drop or two of nitric acid on the product you want to test. If there is no reaction, the product is gold. If you see a green, smoking and bubbling reaction, the gold you are testing probably has copper in it. The creamy milky reaction means you're gold plated on sterling silver.

 

● Mark

Some gold items have a carat rating or are stamped with some type of marking. If you can see the marking or carat rating, it means the product is 100% gold. Brass products will not have any markings or ratings.

 

● Price

Gold is expensive, while brass is only a few dollars. So you can tell the difference just by asking the price. For example, a 1kg gold ingot sells for over $55,000, but an equivalent amount of brass sells for only around $5. If someone sells you real jewelry for a lower price, it's not gold.

 

● Ceramic scratch experiment

Gold is also a softer metal than brass. If you scratch it on the ceramic surface, it will leave golden streaks. Brass is not that soft. If you scratch it on the same ceramic surface, it will leave black marks.

 

Gold has been used in currency, jewelry and trade for hundreds of thousands of years. Brass, despite its gold-like appearance, is on par with gold in terms of historical value, corrosion resistance, density, and more. Gold and brass have specific uses in today's world. However, before investing in a piece of jewelry or gold bullion, it must be determined whether it is real gold or brass.

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