What is Imitation Jewellery? The Difference Between Fake and Real
Imitation or fake jewellery is a cheaper version of genuine jewellery. It’s made from cheaper materials and may look cheap to the untrained eye. Imitation ornaments have been around for many centuries, and it’s not going away soon. Imitation jewellery can be great if you want the look of expensive ornament without the high cost. Practising your skills as a jeweller before making your real pieces can also be useful. The tricky part is telling the real things from their fake counterparts. Here are some helpful tips for identifying authentic jewellery pieces from their imitation counterparts.
Identifying real jewellery
First, you must know what real jewellery looks like. A piece of jewellery has to meet the following criteria:
- The metal should be real: Gold and silver, for example, are real metals.
- The piece should be high quality and well-crafted.
- The stone(s) should be real.
- The price of the piece should be comparable to the value of its genuine version.
- There should be no signs of tampering.
If the piece you’re looking at meets all of these criteria, chances are it’s real. And if it’s not, you can use the tips in this article to spot the fakes.
- The metal should be real: Gold and silver, for example, are real metals.
- The piece should be high quality and well-crafted.
- The stone(s) should be real.
- The price of the piece should be comparable to the value of its genuine version.
- There should be no signs of tampering.
If the piece you’re looking at meets all of these criteria, chances are it’s real. And if it’s not, you can use the tips in this article to spot the fakes.
How to spot fake jewellery
This is the main section of this article, where we discuss what to look for when telling real jewellery from its fake counterparts.
- The first thing you should do is smell the jewellery. If it has an obvious odour, then it’s probably not real gold or silver. Real metals don’t have any smell.
- Next, look at the colouring of the metal. Real gold and silver jewellery usually have a shine to them. If it’s dull, it’s probably fake.
- The weight of the jewellery is also a crucial indicator of its authenticity. Real gold and silver jewellery are heavy. If the item is light, then it’s probably not real.
- Next, check the quality of the craftsmanship. Real jewellery is well made and won’t have sloppy mistakes. Fakes are often poorly made with obvious errors.
- The last thing to check for is signs of tampering. If you think the jewellery is genuine, but there are signs of tampering, it’s a fake.
Real gold vs. imitation gold
Real gold has a higher value than almost any other substance on the planet. It’s used in many kinds of jewellery but especially rings. If you’re unsure if a ring is a real gold, here are some ways to tell:
- The first sign of real gold is its colour. Real gold is a yellowish colour, while imitation gold is a bright yellow colour.
- Next, feel the weight of the ring. Real gold is heavier than imitation gold. - Finally, check the ring for any signs of tampering. If you see scratches or other signs of tampering, then the piece is not real gold.
- Another thing to look for is the price of the ring. If the price is too low, it’s probably not real gold. Real gold jewellery is very expensive, especially a piece large enough for a ring.
- You can also examine the inside of the ring for markings. Real gold jewellery has markings inside that state it’s genuine. If no markings or markings say “imitation gold,” then it’s not real gold.
Conclusion
Imitation jewellery is common, and people often buy it as a cheaper alternative to genuine jewellery. However, telling fake items from real ones can be tricky, especially for people who don’t know what to look for. Hopefully, after reading this article, you’re better equipped to tell the difference between real and imitation jewellery. You’ll know what to look for when examining pieces to see if they’re authentic.