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Can 14k gold be a little magnetic?

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Can 14k gold be a little magnetic?

Oct 6, 2010 08:19 AM

I have a few sets of karat gold earrings that are hallmarked. Why do some not respond to a magnet, while other move a little toward the magnet (they don't stick to the magnet, however)? Does it mean the ones that move are not karat gold?

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Can 14k gold be a little magnetic?

(8 Replies / 5,744 Views)

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Can 14k gold be a little magnetic?

Oct 6, 2010 08:19 AM

I have a few sets of karat gold earrings that are hallmarked. Why do some not respond to a magnet, while other move a little toward the magnet (they don't stick to the magnet, however)? Does it mean the ones that move are not karat gold?

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Nov 1, 2010 03:37 PM

by truck458 (1368

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Re: Can 14k gold be a little magnetic?

Oct 6, 2010 08:02 PM

Hi kevenay,

Yes. 14kt gold is 58.3% gold and the rest "filler" metals that can range all over the place depending on who made the 14kt gold. It would be a good idea to test it just to be sure, even the non-magnetic stuff.

Hope this helped.
mc

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Re: Can 14k gold be a little magnetic?

Oct 6, 2010 09:44 PM

It is also possible that there is a small steel part. It is common that clasps have a small steel spring.

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Re: Can 14k gold be a little magnetic?

Oct 6, 2010 11:33 PM

I've never seen gold alloyed with iron or steel, so it's more likely that there's a small piece of steel somewhere in the earring. Are they the leverback style of earrings? They have a spring, although they're usually made of nickel. There are some ear nuts that have springs in them, called clutch backs, sort of like tie tack backs where you squeeze to release them from the posts. A lot of jewelry is partially polished by tumbling. Sometimes steel shot is used as the media, and it's possible a piece of that is stuck in your earring.

allopapallo (458

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Re: Can 14k gold be a little magnetic?

Oct 7, 2010 07:50 AM

Gold is not magnetic. Gold alloys are not magnetic, and iron is never used in the alloy (I do not know if it would even chemically possible to make such alloy, and it would anyway make the mass much harder to work). But it is not uncommon that some earrings and some bracelet have inside tiny parts made of iron/steel, especially in the locking mechanism / clasp. The weight of these tiny parts is unimportant, but they can display some weak magnetism.

Daniel

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Re: Can 14k gold be a little magnetic?

Oct 7, 2010 10:01 AM

Thank you to everyone who answered. I am learning as I go.

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Re: Can 14k gold be a little magnetic?

Oct 7, 2010 09:32 PM

Hi all,

while I agree 99.9% of alloys do not contain any iron, believe me, they are out there. Most if any magnetic reaction will be from steel springs etc. somewhere in the item, Like you all have said. BUT, there are alloys of 14kt gold that contain iron. believe me or not, just letting you know.Don't believe me if you don't want to. Your choice.

mc

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Re: Can 14k gold be a little magnetic?

Oct 7, 2010 11:30 PM

If the earrings were made in China, I'd believe it for sure. Iron, steel, or melamine, I wouldn't put it past them.

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Re: Can 14k gold be a little magnetic?

Nov 1, 2010 03:37 PM

allopapallo wrote:

Gold is not magnetic. Gold alloys are not magnetic, and iron is never used in the alloy (I do not know if it would even chemically possible to make such alloy, and it would anyway make the mass much harder to work). But it is not uncommon that some earrings and some bracelet have inside tiny parts made of iron/steel, especially in the locking mechanism / clasp. The weight of these tiny parts is unimportant, but they can display some weak magnetism. Daniel

Well, in fact iron is used to make a blue and gray gold. http://books.google.ca/books?ei=kTzPTM820f-cB_Wz5SA&ct=result&id=ioNOAAAAMAAJ&dq=gray+gold+alloy&q=gray+gold+alloy#search_anchor