Guides · Common Fakes & Counterfeits · Bullion guide
Common fakes: bullion
Simple at-home checks catch some fakes but not all of them. Know their limits.
General tips, not authentication. This is an estimate, not an appraisal. When in doubt, use a professional authentication service.
Most common fakes
- Tungsten-filled gold bars: tungsten's density (19.25 grams per cubic centimetre) is very close to gold's (19.32 grams per cubic centimetre), so a filled bar can pass weight and density checks. Sources: web.mae.ufl.edu · lbma.org.uk
How to spot them
- A magnet only catches fakes made of ferrous metal such as steel or iron. Tungsten and brass fakes won't stick. Sources: bullionexchanges.com · vrxrf.com
Tests you can do safely
- Magnet test: useful as a first screen for steel or iron fakes only. Sources: bullionexchanges.com · vrxrf.com
- Ping test: real silver rings when tapped, while base metals give a dull thud. Sources: bullionexchanges.com · web.mae.ufl.edu
When to get it authenticated
- When a gold bar could be tungsten-filled, ultrasonic testing can detect it where weight and density checks can't. Sources: web.mae.ufl.edu · lbma.org.uk
These guides are general screening tips, not authentication or appraisals. Sources are independent sites we don't control and aren't affiliated with. Sources checked Nov 2, 2026.
Let us do the homework
Bidding on a whole sale?
We identify every item, flag the standouts in the photos, and set a max bid on every lot.