Jerry Ehrenwald

Former President, International Gemological Institute & Graduate Gemologist

Jerry Ehrenwald, GG, ASA, is a graduate gemologist in New York City. He is the previous President of the International Gemological Institute and the inventor of U.S.-patented Laserscribe℠, a means of laser inscribing onto a diamond a unique indicia, such as a DIN (Diamond Identification Number). He is a senior member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and is a member of the Twenty-Four Karat Club of the City of New York, a social club limited to 200 of the most accomplished individuals in the jewelry business.

wikiHow's Editorial ProcesswikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.

Forum Comments (2)

How can you tell if jade is real?
First, inspect the piece by holding it up to the light. Any irregularities such as fibrous veins can indicate the legitimacy of jade. Any air bubbles found in the interior will most likely indicate that it is not natural.

Another way you can judge jade’s authenticity is by performing the scratch test. A genuine jade stone is very hard and doesn’t get scratched by metal or steel objects. Take a metal object such as scissors and gently scratch the surface of the jade. If the scissors left a mark that cannot be wiped off, then you know your jade is not authentic.

Temperature is another factor when determining if your jade is real. Hold the stone in your hand and see how it feels. Jade stones are naturally ice-cold and take a while to warm up. If it heats up pretty quickly and doesn’t feel very cool when holding it, then your jade is most likely a counterfeit. If there are still questions about the stone’s authenticity, take it to an accredited gemologist for further evaluation.
How can you test gold at home?
To test gold at home, see if the gold item sticks to a magnet. If it sticks to the magnet, it may be fake or not 100% gold. Suspicious marks and discolorations around the edges of the item in question can also be telltale signs the gold is fake.

With a magnifying glass, look for a purity hallmark from the manufacturer on the jewelry item. For example, if you own the purest gold, you should see hallmark “999” or “24K” engravings somewhere on the jewelry item. With older jewelry as an exception, typically, if you do not find a mark, it may not be genuine gold.

Q&A Comments (17)

How do I keep my jewelry from tarnishing?
Store your jewelry in tarnish-proof fabric or a clean fabric-lined space that is enclosed and airtight. This will prevent any contact with moisture or outside air that could tarnish your jewelry. Keep the jewelry away from the bathroom or any space that contains a lot of moisture or humidity. Also, be sure to store individual jewelry pieces separately so it won't corrode from other materials.
How do you determine the value of jewelry?
While gemological laboratories do not assign a monetary value to a product, they play a crucial role in the overall process as they provide trusted, independent grading reports. A credentialed appraiser will take the grading report from an organization such as IGI, review the item and determine its value based on their expert opinion, which again is contingent on the client’s purpose and function for needing (wanting) an appraised value. When it comes to selling price, you’ll also need to consider the market supply and demand as those will influence price as well. Normally, when selling one’s diamond jewelry, the professional appraiser, who should be an accredited member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), would for example, look at the item’s fair market value. This is defined a price between a willing buyer and willing seller in the normal marketplace where the item is normally traded. In many cases the appraiser would investigate the public auction market for comparables.
How can you test gold at home?
With a magnifying glass, look for a purity hallmark from the manufacturer on the jewelry item. For example, if you own the purest gold, you should see hallmark “999” or “24K” engravings somewhere on the jewelry item. With older jewelry as an exception, typically, if you do not find a mark it may not be genuine gold. Suspicious marks and discolorations around the edges of the item in question can also be telltale signs the gold is fake. An easy at-home test is to see if the gold jewelry item sticks to a magnet. If the item sticks to the magnet, it may be fake or not 100% gold.
See more comments

Co-authored Articles (18)

How to

Tell if Gold Is Real

A gemological expert shares tips on how to determine if your gold is realHow do you tell if gold is real, gold plated, or fake? By most international standards, anything with less than 41.7% or 10 karats of gold is consi...

How to

Tell if Jade Is Real

Jade is a beautiful stone that can be green, lavender, orange, red, yellow, or white. It’s quality is graded A, B, and C, depending on how it’s been treated. Whether you’re shopping for jade or are curious about yo...

How to Find out How Much Something Is Worth

Find out what any item is worth with our straightforward guide Have you ever wondered how much your antique artwork is worth, or what the value of your baseball card collection is? Whether you plan to sell an item, have ...

How to

Tell Gold from Brass

Gold and brass are both shiny, yellow metals. Telling them apart can be difficult for someone who has no experience with metals. Luckily, there are several ways to differentiate between gold and brass. If you know what t...

How to

Tell if a Cameo Is Authentic

The cameo is a very elegant piece of jewelry that has recently come back into fashion, but due to its popularity, there are more realistic imitations nowadays than ever before. It can be difficult to know when a cameo is...

How to

Test Gold with Vinegar

Gold is a very beautiful metal that can be found in jewelry, coins, watches and more. You may have just bought a new piece and want to see if it’s real, or test the genuineness of an old family heirloom. Testing gold w...

How to

Clean Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver isn’t pure (pure silver is known as fine silver) but rather an alloy that contains about 10 percent of another metal, such as copper. Silver is actually a very soft metal, so it’s combined with other ...

How to

Tell if a Ruby is Real

Rubies can be the most valuable colored gemstone, based on price-per-carat. However, there are a lot of fakes out there, and it can be hard to tell if a ruby is real. Ultimately, the surest way to tell is to take the sto...

What Is the Meaning of a Jade Bracelet?

Plus, tips on identifying real jade from an expert jewelerJade is a gemstone that many cultures around the world value for its beauty, transparency, and smooth texture. Many of those same cultures believe that wearing a ...

How to

Polish Abalone Shells

Abalone shells, also called Paua shells in other countries, are known for their vibrant turquoise, blue, and green colors. Over time, these shells can get covered with build-up, which doesn’t look very pretty. While it...

How to

Polish Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is an alloy of the precious metal silver that is white in color and is highly reflective of light. Because silver in its purest form is too soft for use in everyday items, most silver used in jewelry, fla...

How to

Clean White Gold

Gold that has been mixed with other alloy metals, like palladium and silver, is what constitutes white gold. It’s generally plated with rhodium, and it’s popular because it’s so shiny! It’s not difficult to care ...

How to

Clean Cubic Zirconia

Make your cubic zirconia jewelry shine again Although they are not real diamonds, cubic zirconia stones possess many of the same traits of more valuable gems. To preserve their shine and beauty, cubic zirconia gems shoul...

How to

Price a Gold Chain by the Gram

Astute shoppers of gold chains, such as figaro, curb, rope or other types of necklaces, know that the intrinsic value of the precious metals used determines its actual market value. Find out how to price gold chains fro...

How to

Repair Silver Jewelry

Silver jewelry is a great alternative to gold jewelry. It is cheaper, but still sturdy and visually appealing. But, silver jewelry needs care and keeping just like any other precious metal, and is just as likely to need ...

How to Care for Jade: Cleaning, Polishing, & Storage

Simple steps to keep your jade pristine & shining Jade is the common name for 2 brilliant green gems: jadeite and nephrite. Whether you have some dull jadeite jewelry or a nephrite crystal in your collection that lacks l...

How to

Fix Tarnished Silver

There are a variety of ways to clean tarnished silver. You can mix together a natural cleaning solution using vinegar, salt, and baking soda to submerge your silver. If you want to make things easy, specialized silver sp...

How to Find a Buyer & Sell Your Diamonds

Plus, setting the right price for your diamonds before you sellSelling your diamond jewelry is a good way to earn a little extra cash, but it can be a daunting process. If you want to get the best price for your diamonds...