The best technique for how to tell if a ring is real gold is to buy from
jewelers you trust. An authentic gold ring will have a K stamp somewhere on the band to indicate its karat value. Many white, rose and yellow gold rings also contain diamonds or gemstones. If your ring has synthetic gems, it may not be made of solid gold.
Real gold rings are available in karat gold rather than plating or vermeil over other base metals. Real gold rings are constructed from a combination of gold and additional alloys that help strengthen the jewelry. Some designs, such as 14k or 18k white gold rings, have additional precious metal plating.
The karat number on your gold ring will indicate how much gold is in the ring, with 14k and 18k as some of the most popular options for gold rings. Real gold rings will have a stamp on the inside band indicating the ring’s gold karat. Typically, the stamp will be 10k, 14k or 18k gold though other karat options can also be found.
Some jewelry stores offer
gold vermeil rings, but these rings are not real gold. They do not offer the same durability or look as real 18k and 14k gold rings.