When buying jewelry, we rarely think about the fact that we might be purchasing a fake. After all, we buy jewelry at stores where sales assistants explain everything, showing the goods from the winning side. But sometimes even the consultants don’t know what they’re actually selling. Jewelry requires close attention from the buyer, and it’s important to know at least some basic things about gemstones and precious metals. Otherwise, there’s a chance you’ll get stuck with a fake.

At Bright Side, we decided to find out how to avoid deceit in jewelry stores without an expert’s help.

Gold is denser than most other metals. If a piece seems too light for its size, it’s most likely fake.

Do you have certain tricks you use when shopping for jewelry? Tell us about them in the comments below.

Please note: This article was updated in July 2022 to correct source material and factual inaccuracies.