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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;KSW, post: 907580, member: 8708&quot;]From a complete amateur so take this with a pinch of salt. </p><p>I massively struggle with filing any piece of jewellery or putting acid straight onto it as it can destroy what is otherwise a nice piece of costume jewellery. </p><p>If I&#039;m looking at a joblot on eBay I never bid on anything if I can see an acid mark as a)it&#039;s not gold b) if it was nice costume it&#039;s damaged now.</p><p>I only scratch and test if it&#039;s obviously totally irretrievably broken scrap. Obviously I will never make my fortune.</p><p>Any bits I test I use a magnet first and then a stone. Normally (sadly) it&#039;s very clear from the second you put a drop of acid on the streak it&#039;s not gold. If I get a possible I use a loupe to look at where I&#039;ve rubbed the jewellery on the stone as sometimes you can clearly see the bare metal underneath.</p><p>If I need to make a mark I use a little sharp awl in an inconspicuous place and test it next to a running tap so I can rinse it off straight away.</p><p>If I&#039;m completely stumped I chuck it in my &#039;maybe&#039; bag until my testing skills improve.</p><p>Top tip- If it is gold and you are left with a black acid mark on the gold a pencil eraser will often remove it.</p><p>As I say, complete amateur.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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