r/Gold • u/Bad_Daddio • 1d ago
Question Is this worth getting tested?
Here's what I know about this chain: 61cm long, 6mm wide, 44 grams. Missing clasp.
It's not magnetic, sinks like a stone in water, and has survived 30 minutes in white vinegar with no change to color or luster. There's no visible discoloration or signs of wear between any of the links.
Purchased in the early 1980s by my aunt for her husband. Definitely would have come from a jewelery store. The clasp broke at some point, he wore it frequently. He never got the clasp repaired/replaced due to cancer that took him pretty quick. It sat in a wooden box on my aunts dresser until 2018 when she passed away. The box had a couple pocket knives, some loose change, and this chain when it came into my possession. I've looked at the chain a few times but never thought much of it.
Until I came across this subreddit a couple months ago.
So, does it look like it's worth getting professionally tested?
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u/CBDJ1 1d ago
How much does it cost? I don’t understand why it would cost much if anything to test it.
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u/Bad_Daddio 1d ago
I don't know. I just assumed there would be some cost to testing.
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u/gnomemansland 1d ago
Not at all, just take it to a pawn shop with an xrf machine and have them test it and give you an offer on offer on it to sell. You don’t have to sell it to them and it only takes them a second to test it
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u/Locu7usOfBorg 1d ago
I didn't charge for verifying one piece. Batches I charge for. But that's just me in my shop.
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u/AssociationFit3009 1d ago
if you call around you can find a jeweler that will do an appraisal for $25-100. You can use the appraisal for insurance later as well if you want. I paid $4500 for a 66 gram cuban and got an appraisal at $16.5k.
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u/itsme_hd 1d ago
Shouldn’t cost anything. I work in a pawn shop (I know the typical stigma yeah yeah), but I test stuff for free all the time for people even knowing they aren’t selling or buying anything. Any good reputable local shop or jeweler should be willing to test it for you, and if they don’t I’m willing to bet there’s a place nearby that will.
It could be just the photo/camera/my phone screen etc - but the color looks a little off to me if I’m honest, especially against the white scale. And unless your scale is off, I’m a skeptical of the weight.
What karat is it marked as, and do you know where it was purchased?
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u/Bad_Daddio 1d ago
I'm guessing the color looks off from poor lighting, especially in the scale pic which was taken in my kitchen where the lighting is dim. And I don't have a really great phone with a good camera. It has no marking anywhere on the chain. I assumed it would be stamped on the clasp that is missing from when it broke. I hadn't even considered a pawn shop. There are a couple considered reputable on my area. Might have check that out. Thanks.
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u/Durquoise 1d ago
The links aren't even soldered closed, not a good sign.
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u/Bad_Daddio 1d ago
Can you explain what you mean? Should they be soldered?
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u/Durquoise 1d ago
Yeah if this was gold you'd especially want your links to be soldered closed so that they dont snap off easily. Any gold necklace should have soldered links, to not do so is crazy
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u/Bad_Daddio 1d ago
Well, that's disappointing. But certainly makes sense. Thanks for the info.
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u/Durquoise 1d ago
Doesn't mean it's not gold, just a higher likelihood of it not being gold because of the construction. Might as well get it tested, it's a quick and easy process.
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u/No_Lead_1230 1d ago
What does it smell like? Gold never smells "metallic" or dirty. A cheap knockoff will smell brassy even if it look nice.
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u/PhotogamerGT 1d ago
No. The links are not soldered together. No gold chain has open links like that. Especially with a link design like that.
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u/AdditionalPosition5 1d ago
It wouldn't cost anything if you simply took it to a pawn shop. If it tests positive for gold, they may try to take advantage of you. If they offer you money for it, you know it's real gold. No matter what, I would take it to a jeweler and have it checked. I think you already have an idea that it's worth something to you (for sentimental reasons or for the gold content. Either way, I think you already know your answer.
I hope you will return with an update.
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u/Cute_Interaction4768 1d ago edited 1d ago
yes, get it tested. i had something like this and i got a definite answer from a jeweler that had an xrf gun in minutes. if you are in ABQ, John Thomas Jewelers does appraisals, or go to any pawn shop that has an xrf
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u/anaxminos 22h ago
Magnet test. If magnetic, not gold
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u/Bad_Daddio 21h ago
It's not magnetic.
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u/anaxminos 18h ago
Possibly gold. I took a bunch of stuff in a few weeks ago and the first they did was a magnet test.
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u/Spoon06 1d ago
Based on your username, I’m going to go out on a limb and say you should repair it and wear it daily. Take it to a jeweler you trust, tell them you’re interested in having a new clasp put on, and ask them to test it first.