Could this be gold....

Hey guys,

I found this while metal detecting an old historic town site, right in amoungst an old rubbish pit. I didnt think much off it, loved the design and spotted golden color under the muck. Quick little clean up shows more. Hope its not brass but it sure looks gold to me, maybe 9ct hopefully.
The last picture is a stone i had cut a year back that i will get put into it if it is gold.
What are your thoughts?

image by Marc Russo, on Flickr

Hoping it's gold by Marc Russo, on Flickr

Places a gem I found and had cut into the thing I found metal detecting. Hoping it's gold by Marc Russo, on Flickr

Sorry, mate - it's not gold. If it was, you wouldn't have to clean the years of 'muck' (tarnish) off it. Just brass, I'd guess.

That was my first thought but a couple guys on FB showed some examples where theirs was the same and turned out to be 9ct, Other alloys in the metal causes the tarnishing. They higher the carat the less it will tarnish. I spotted this to. Clutching at straws haha
https://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=22134

Specific gravity test is the easiest way to go about it, I don't think it's gold either. 9k gold will tarnish, just like this old ring I found. But shouldn't get as bad as that relic of yours.

Cheers, yep ive been swinging towards brass. Might also run past a jeweler to see if they can tell me

The tarnish being green pretty much garuantees it is bronze imo. But its a beutiful relic anyway :Y:

Heatho said:

Specific gravity test is the easiest way to go about it, I don't think it's gold either. 9k gold will tarnish, just like this old ring I found. But shouldn't get as bad as that relic of yours.

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/487/1515047593_20160406_161550.jpg

Click to expand...

The green gives it away as containing copper (copper is sometimes alloyed with gold in rings, but at such a low concentration that the alloy does not go green I think).

Heatho, is that a Mitsvah ring - can't see the words clearly.

I was hoping it was something like this that has lost its pin which would of had makers mark etc...
Same type of pressed meta . In this link its gold

http://www.jewelryexpert.com/catalog/Carter-Howe-Serpent-and-Acanthus-Brooch-J9069.htm

goldierocks said:

Heatho said:

Specific gravity test is the easiest way to go about it, I don't think it's gold either. 9k gold will tarnish, just like this old ring I found. But shouldn't get as bad as that relic of yours.

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/487/1515047593_20160406_161550.jpg

Click to expand...

The green gives it away as containing copper (copper is sometimes alloyed with gold in rings, but at such a low concentration that the alloy does not go green I think).

Heatho, is that a Mitsvah ring - can't see the words clearly.

Click to expand...

Yes it is mate. It's got the word "mizpah" stamped on it, it's actually a very old ring made by a renowned goldrush jeweller in Fremantle around the 1890's named Adolph Otto Kopp. Here's a couple more pics, one after a quick clean with "metal magic".

Didn't mean to hijack your thread either Marc. Cheers

Hey Tailormarc

To be sure, you should take it to at least a jeweller for testing.

There are a couple of ways you could do this yourself, but given the risks of playing with chemicals, I will not disclose the methods. Simple to say, you could use stannous chloride or DMG - Dimethylgloime. DMG is very good, but also expensive to buy.

Mate, just take it to a jeweller and see what they say. Good luck.

I wouldn't be so fast to dismiss 9k gold, the ring on the right came out of yhe sand looking like a fruit loop

After a very quick clean in vinegar

Something of that age may be Gold Gilt which would be 9ct but as Phoenix suggested take it to a Jeweller and Test it...

Heatho said:

goldierocks said:

Heatho said:

Specific gravity test is the easiest way to go about it, I don't think it's gold either. 9k gold will tarnish, just like this old ring I found. But shouldn't get as bad as that relic of yours.

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/487/1515047593_20160406_161550.jpg

Click to expand...

The green gives it away as containing copper (copper is sometimes alloyed with gold in rings, but at such a low concentration that the alloy does not go green I think).

Heatho, is that a Mitsvah ring - can't see the words clearly.

Click to expand...

Yes it is mate. It's got the word "mizpah" stamped on it, it's actually a very old ring made by a renowned goldrush jeweller in Fremantle around the 1890's named Adolph Otto Kopp. Here's a couple more pics, one after a quick clean with "metal magic".

Didn't mean to hijack your thread either Marc. Cheers

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/487/1515057800_20160406_160220.jpg
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/487/1515057800_20160407_100334.jpg

Click to expand...

Me neither - just interested as I had an identical one from early last century or before

Thanks all, will keep you all posted on how i go