Is there an easy way to tell whether jewelry is actually gold rather than gold-filled or colored?

You can't tell by looking because some jewelers and jewelry manufacturers electroplate 14k gold with 18k gold so it doesn't tarnish in the display case. This is especially true of Italian chain manufacturers.

The law on hallmarking jewelry in the US is quite often not followed and is even more rarely enforced. I've been a jeweler for over 30 years and have never heard of the law being enforced! It basically says that if I stamp something with a karat mark I have to also stamp a makers mark. But since makers marks are not required to be registered, it's difficult to know which marks mean what. And then to enforce the law a customer must complain. And to prove his piece is of a lower karat than was sold, he must have it assayed, which destroys the piece and is expensive.

The easiest way is to ask a jeweler. We use an acid called aqua regia to determine if the metal is gold and what percentage of gold it contains (karat). A jeweler must first scratch the surface (hopefully in some hidden place) and put a drop of acid on that spot. The scratching is to remove any plating that might exist.

gold plated stuff looks way too yellow, like high karat gold. and the coating eventually wears off. if its gold, it should be stamped, on a ring, the inside of the shank is where the mark is, on chains, the mark is close to the clasp. If a piece looks sketchy and doesnt have marks dont buy it. gold is also very expensive, so if they say its gold and the piece is discounted and cheap, be wary

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If it's solid gold it HAS to be marked 14K, 18K, 22K or 24K. Otherwise it's gold-filled, which is a fancy term for gold-plated.

go to a jewelers.