The Old Jewish Way · Guides
Straight answers, every fact sourced
One question at a time: what the marks mean, which tests you can trust, and how to sell without being cheated. Each guide points you to the book that covers it in full.
- Real or Fake?
GF, RGP, GE, HGE, Vermeil: How Much Gold Is Really There?
These marks mean layered gold, not solid gold. A "1/20 12K GF" piece is about 2.5% pure gold by weight; GE and HGE are thin electroplated layers over base metal.
Read the guide October 23, 2026 - Sell It Right
How to Tell If a Gold Buyer's Offer Is Fair
Work out the melt value yourself: grams × purity × (spot price ÷ 31.1035). Then divide the offer by it to see what share of the gold's value you're being offered.
Read the guide October 23, 2026 - Real or Fake?
Is Gold Magnetic? What the Magnet Test Can and Can't Tell You
No. Gold and silver aren't magnetic, so a strong pull means iron, steel or nickel is in the piece. But no pull proves nothing: brass and copper don't stick either.
Read the guide October 23, 2026 - Grandmother’s Jewelry Box
Is My Grandmother's Costume Jewelry Worth Anything?
Usually modest sums, sometimes much more. Signed pieces by makers like Trifari, Haskell or Coro can sell for hundreds, but a gold buyer will pay little or nothing for them.
Read the guide October 23, 2026 - Sell It Right
The Gold Courier Scam: How It Works and the One Rule That Stops It
A caller scares you into turning savings into gold, then sends a courier to collect it. The rule: no real agency or business will ever ask you to buy gold. Hang up.
Read the guide October 23, 2026 - Real or Fake?
What Does 585 Mean on Gold? (And 375, 417, 750, 916)
585 means 585 parts in 1,000 are gold: 58.5%, the three-digit mark for 14 karat. 375 is 9K, 417 is 10K, 750 is 18K and 916 is 22K.
Read the guide October 23, 2026