A practical field guide
Do not worry if an item no longer looks like jewelry. Heat may change its shape and surface while valuable metal remains.
Look before you test
Look inside rings, on clasps, or on the back of an item. Use a phone camera and zoom instead of scraping the surface.
Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are not strongly magnetic. A strong pull can suggest steel or another base metal—but clasps, springs, and mixed parts may react, so this is only a clue.
Precious metals often feel heavy for their size. Gold may remain yellow beneath soot; silver may turn gray or black; platinum and palladium may look gray-white. Color alone cannot prove metal content.
Melted jewelry may become beads, irregular lumps, or several items fused into one mass. Do not break it apart. Stones, clasps, and base-metal pieces can be sorted during professional evaluation.
Protect the material
Cleaning can remove small metal particles and identifying marks. Home acid tests and remelting can cause burns, fumes, contamination, and lost material. Place each group of items in a separate sealed bag or rigid container instead.
Before contacting us
Hallmarks, appearance, and magnet response can help sort material, but only professional testing and weighing can determine metal content and purchase value.
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