Gold Plated
How do I know if its solid gold or gold plated?
I have a figaro chain that is stamped 14K with no other numbers on it. Is it gold-plated or solid gold?
We are going to hope that the 14k on your piece does actually mean that it is solid 14k gold. However, I am just a little suspicious only because there is no maker's mark accompanying your 14k stamp.
The lack of a hallmark (10k, 14k, 18k etc.) is not indicative of whether your piece is gold or not. In the United States it is against the FTC's regulations for the jeweler to hallmark a piece of jewelry unless it is accompanied by a maker's mark. So, when I first began making jewelry and did not have a trademark of my own, I did not hallmark my jewelry. Now that I have a maker's mark, I hallmark my jewelry with the appropriate metal hallmark and my maker's mark.
Do NOT hold a lighter to your gold. Having torch-soldered a lot of gold, I can tell you that the heat from fire WILL change your gold's appearance. If this happens, you'll have to go through a professional pickling, cleaning and polishing to bring the color back to what it was.
A jeweler cannot just look at a piece and tell you for certain whether it is gold or not; the jeweler will do a test to determine it.
To be scientfically accurate a sample of the metal in question must be assayed in a testing laboratory, but the following two tests have been used for many years and often are sufficiently accurate for a craftsperson or the owner of the metal in question.
To answer "Is It Gold?":
With a small file, make a scratch in an inconspicuous spot. While wearing rubber gloves, use a wooden, glass or plastic stick to apply a drop of nitric acid to the filed spot. Observe the reaction. When done, rinse everything well in running water.
If there is no reaction, it's gold.
If there's a bright green reaction, it's base metal.
If there's green in the scratch, it's a gold layer over base metal (goldplate).
If there's a milky reaction in the scratch, it's a gold layer over silver.
To answer "What Karat Is It?"
Determining karat requires a testing kit containing nitric acid, aqua regia, samples of known karat, and a touchstone of slate or ceramic.
The gold object to be tested is rubbed on the stone ("touched") to leave a streak. A parallel line is made with one of the test pieces of known karat. Both marks are flooded with acid and the reaction are observed. When the sample colors at the same rate as the test streak, a match has been made. Nitric acid is used for low karat golds; aqua regia is needed for higher karats.
Please note: these tests are for your information only. They are not accurate enough to rely upon when representing a piece for sale. Most jewelers have testing kits to use when determining if something is gold or not and its approximate karat. It is probably easiest to take the item to a jeweler than to set up the testing kits yourself
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A sightseeing tour in Bangkok is never complete without a visit to a wat, a Thai temple. Bangkok nestles numerous wats where Wat Pho comes among its most famous three temples. Known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho is acclaimed as one of the oldest and largest temples in Bangkok.
Wat Pho is referred to by many names including Wat Phra Chetuphon, while its formal name goes as Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn. After Bangkok was founded as the new capital, Wat Pho was built on a site where an old temple stood. The construction work began in 1788. Wat Pho was expanded and revamped during the times of King Rama III followed by another restoration in 1982.
The most famous attraction at Wat Pho in Bangkok is its magnificent reclining Buddha statue. This Buddha image spans 46 metres in length and 15 metres in height while it is entirely gold plated. This statue's eyes and soles of the feet are embedded with mother of pearl. The three metre long soles are exquisitely decorated, displaying 108 sacred characteristic symbols of the Lord Buddha. This reclining Buddha statue is also one of the largest Buddha images in Thailand.
Wat Pho is well known for housing more than 1000 Buddha images, where some of them even date back to the early capitals of Thailand, Sukothai and Ayutthaya. In the temple premises you will come across striking artistry crowning the entranceways, roofs and gables. You will also come across imposing stone sculptures dotting the compound. The belfry of the temple itself is a work of wonder, teeming with enthralling relief motifs.
The more you explore Wat Pho the more you will be inspired and captivated. You will be mesmerized by the skyline weaved by the numerous chedis, tapering structures, of various sizes. What's more each chedi is immersed in elaborately ornate floral designs. Inside the temple hall you can observe over 300 bronze Buddha statues. And just outside the hall are marble plates relating part of the legendary Ramakien, the Thai national epic based on the renowned Indian Ramayana.
Even before the temple was built, this area was famous for Thai medicines and traditional massage. In the mid 20th century, a Thai medical school was built next to the temple to promote traditional healing methods. You will discover this Thai massage school towards the north of the temple, while there is a monastery resting towards the south.
Wat Pho is nestled in the Rattanakosin District of Bangkok, right next to the Grand Palace, the 18th century palatial complex. You can visit Wat Pho conveniently from one of the Sukhumvit apartments. Spend your holiday at one of the serviced apartments Bangkok has on offer and sample a comfortable stay at Grand President Bangkok in Sukhumvit. Enjoy your holiday at this elegant hotel while living in one of the most happening neighbourhoods, surrounded by best Bangkok shopping malls. Even the business and entertainment districts can be reached within minutes from here.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
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