If a "gold" chain online costs far less than every other seller's, it is almost always plated, hollow with very little gold, or not gold at all. Real gold has a market price per gram, and no honest seller can go far below it. Check these five things before you pay.
1. The price is far below everyone else
Gold is traded every day, so solid gold jewelry can only get so cheap. A heavy-looking 14K Cuban for the price of a pair of sneakers is a warning sign. Compare the same style, karat and weight across a few stores. If one listing is a fraction of the rest, ask why.
2. No karat or weight listed
A real gold listing tells you the karat (10K, 14K, 18K) and usually the weight in grams. If the page only says "gold" or skips the weight, the seller is leaving out the two numbers that decide the value. See 10K vs 14K vs 18K Gold for what each karat means.
3. Words like "gold tone," "gold finish" or "gold color"
These phrases describe a color, not a metal. "Gold tone" means there may be no gold in it at all. "Gold plated," "gold filled" and "vermeil" mean a gold layer over another metal. Read Solid Gold vs Gold-Plated vs Gold-Filled to see how long each lasts.
4. Photos that hide the clasp and stamp
Real sellers are happy to show the stamp near the clasp. If every photo is a glamour shot from far away, ask for a close-up of the stamp and the clasp. No answer is an answer.
5. No returns, no address, no phone number
A store that stands behind its gold tells you who it is and how to reach it. Look for a real address, a phone number and a clear return policy before you buy.
What to do if you already bought one
Check the stamp, look at worn spots and try the simple checks in How to Tell if Gold Is Real. If you are still not sure, bring it to a jeweler to be tested.
Shop with the numbers in front of you
Every piece we sell lists the metal and karat, and gold-plated items are labeled as plated. Visit us at 260 Main St, Orange, NJ, or call or text (973) 673-3800. Browse our gold chains.
Is That Online Gold Chain Too Cheap to Be Real? 5 Red Flags
If a "gold" chain online costs far less than every other seller's, it is almost always plated, hollow with very little gold, or not gold at all. Real gold has a market price per gram, and no honest seller can go far below it. Check these five things before you pay.
1. The price is far below everyone else
Gold is traded every day, so solid gold jewelry can only get so cheap. A heavy-looking 14K Cuban for the price of a pair of sneakers is a warning sign. Compare the same style, karat and weight across a few stores. If one listing is a fraction of the rest, ask why.
2. No karat or weight listed
A real gold listing tells you the karat (10K, 14K, 18K) and usually the weight in grams. If the page only says "gold" or skips the weight, the seller is leaving out the two numbers that decide the value. See 10K vs 14K vs 18K Gold for what each karat means.
3. Words like "gold tone," "gold finish" or "gold color"
These phrases describe a color, not a metal. "Gold tone" means there may be no gold in it at all. "Gold plated," "gold filled" and "vermeil" mean a gold layer over another metal. Read Solid Gold vs Gold-Plated vs Gold-Filled to see how long each lasts.
4. Photos that hide the clasp and stamp
Real sellers are happy to show the stamp near the clasp. If every photo is a glamour shot from far away, ask for a close-up of the stamp and the clasp. No answer is an answer.
5. No returns, no address, no phone number
A store that stands behind its gold tells you who it is and how to reach it. Look for a real address, a phone number and a clear return policy before you buy.
What to do if you already bought one
Check the stamp, look at worn spots and try the simple checks in How to Tell if Gold Is Real. If you are still not sure, bring it to a jeweler to be tested.
Shop with the numbers in front of you
Every piece we sell lists the metal and karat, and gold-plated items are labeled as plated. Visit us at 260 Main St, Orange, NJ, or call or text (973) 673-3800. Browse our gold chains.