Do not Get Scammed by Wilmington DE Jewelry Stores: Beware of Under-Karating

Do you know what to look for when you are shopping for gold? Not knowing could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Some jewelers will take advantage of the fact that most of their customers don't know what they're looking at. Arm yourself with the right knowledge and no one will take advantage of you.

Today, I want to tell you about things to look for when buying gold. The karat is a measure of the purity of gold. It is a measure of how many parts of 24 in a piece of jewelry are actually gold and how many are other metals. For example, 14K gold has 14 parts of gold and 10 parts other metals. 24K gold is pure gold! Gold is a very soft metal and other metals are mainly added to make it more durable. In general, the more pure the gold; the greater its value.

The scam here is what is referred to as under-karating. This is when less pure gold is passed off as gold of higher purity. Predominately, this scam has been at the lower ends of the scale, with 10K-or-lower gold being sold as 14K gold.

So what can you do? U.S. law requires that any piece of jewelry that displays the karat mark must also display the manufacturer's trademark or hallmark. You will often also find the country of origin stamped on the piece as well. Additionally, the minimum karatage allowed to be sold as gold in the United States is 10K. Make sure that any piece of jewelry you buy has the trademark stamp.

If you really want to be sure, you can have your gold x-rayed at a quality assurance lab. Your main protections are looking for the karat mark and the manufacturer's trademark or hallmark and shopping at a reputable jeweler that you trust.

Gold is beautiful and timeless. It is one of the most valuable metals on earth. You want to be sure your getting the best value for your investment.