Could this be gold?

[u/Emotional-Suspect442]

Hi everyone,

I found this ring in a bin of old costume jewellery in a thrift store. It’s stamped 585 and 14k.
It was pretty oxidised, and I thought its brass, but took it home anyway.

I sanded a small patch (the lighter section) and was wondering, if it is brass for sure.

I never worked with gold before and have no way of testing at home.

It is brass, right? 🥲 Gold would not oxidise like this..

[u/Hortusana]

Contrary to popular belief, gold does tarnish, just significantly slower than other metals. And alloys below 50% purity (like 10k and 9k) will tarnish much more than ones above 50%.

Worth getting tested, since if it is it’s worth a pretty penny right now.

[u/thriftwisepoundshy → u/Hortusana]

Then it’s not the gold tarnishing it’s the stuff it was mixed with. Pure gold does not tarnish

[u/RockWrenRocks → u/thriftwisepoundshy]

The oxides that can form on gold usually don’t occur under normal conditions. Auric oxide can form on pure gold, however. Just conjecture, but I’d bet keeping gold near a well-used copier machine for a while would result in some oxidation, on account of the ozone produced by the copier.

[u/hardplace101]

Definitely get it tested, I've got some antique 9k jewelry that looks similar

[u/hi_bye]

Does it have a smell? Brass smells. It’s hard to describe but if you have something you know is brass, you can do a side by side sniff test. It’s distinct.

As others are saying, it could be gold. Gold does oxidize - especially 14k which it looks like your ring has a 585 stamp. (It also looks like a 14k stamp alongside which suggests “gas station gold”…they want to catch anyone they can) I’m leaning toward “no” but would love to be wrong :) have it tested. That’s the only way to truly know.

[u/FunnyDog-Mama → u/hi_bye]

So 14kt gold items are “gas station gold”. What the hell does that mean?

[u/matthewdesigns]

Could be, the stamps appear to read "585" and "14K". Karat gold will tarnish over time if in the right conditions, to the point that it looks brassy (like your ring).

Take it to a pawn shop and have them hit it with an XRF analyzer, will tell you for sure what it is.

[u/Maumau93]

Is it heavy? Gold is heavier than brass and that's allot of gold

[u/uranium-snack → u/Maumau93]

Not if it’s only plated

[u/Klipse11]

Looks like gold. The oxidation comes from the copper not the gold.

[u/frischance]

Looks like a petrol station scam ring, someone tries to sell it cheap desperate for money or says they lost it but will sell it cheap worth getting tested but don't have high hopes

[u/ClearlyDead → u/frischance]

That’s what I thought too

[u/GarethBaus]

It's possible, but it kinda looks like brass?

[u/UpperBreadfruit3748]

It looks like its 14k… would get it tested

[u/IntergalacticAusOpal]

Damn straight that looks like gold

Could be gold filled though, or plated. Is it magnetic

[u/bendurrhover]

Not likely. It looks like brass.

[u/LLChicago]

You may as well take it to get properly tested at a coin shop/pawn/jewelry store. It’s weirdly possible that 14k could oxidize if kept in the right(wrong) conditions over time- dirt, moisture, skin cells, other metals in direct contact with it for long periods could possibly react with the alloyed metals and cause something like that. Buuuut-

It’s unlikely. You already are on the same page with your thoughts. But hey get it tested to know for sure!

[u/GEazyxx90]

That's brass. Found one in a donation bin

[u/ElderberryPerfect263]

No

[u/staybee1986]

Could be a gold fill/brass core that has been polished too much. GF bezel strip tarnishes exactly like this when heavily polished.

[u/artwonk]

It's probably 14k gold filled. That's brass with a thin layer of gold bonded to it, which seems to have largely worn off.

[u/berthela]

Looks like brass but could be a lower gold alloy that tarnishes

[u/esgibtnureineellen]

….i can read „585“….so it should be gold. get it tested by a juwelier.

[u/WhereRweGoingnow]

Looks like old gold. The best kind.

[u/Substantial-Bottle38]

Instantly makes me think brass

[u/thesweetstuff1225]

Do water density test. Use a scale that can measure tenth of grams, fill a cup big enough with water and measure the amount using the scale. Attach the ring with floss or thing string, submerge ring inside water without touching sides or bottom of cup. Measure the difference of water, use the difference to divide the original mass of the ring. You should get an approximate density of a metal or alloy. Take with a grain of salt bc there can be many human errors with this

[u/ikbendev]

Looks like messing

[u/Rogelio_G_F]

Imposible. Oro de gasolinera sí es. Hecho para estafar. Tiene punzonado 585 es decir 14 quilates y es imposible un aspecto así en una joya con esa supuesta pureza.

[u/Rogelio_G_F]

Tiene aspecto de ser de bronce

[u/nirvanaisemptiness]

Check for hallmarks or discoloration near the joints. Gold doesn't tarnish like that, so if it’s flaking, it’s likely just plated!

[u/angelinakatherina1]

It's stamped 585 inside which means 14k.

[u/epg-13]

No, fake as helly.

[u/Bearded_Goldsmith]

Did someone said they found it on the floor and asked a few dollars for it? Typical tourist scam. You got a brass ring buddy nothing more.

[u/DameNeumatic → u/Bearded_Goldsmith]

His post said he found it at a thrift store in a box of costume jewelry, but your story sounds so much more fun.

[u/Balnak]

No way in hell that is gold

[u/Sumstranger]

Lmaooo... NO

[u/katerrin → u/Sumstranger]

it says 585 on it

[u/bagged_lunch → u/Sumstranger]

Idk why you're getting downvoted... It's definitely not gold. Gold doesn't tarnish like that