Since I have some free time, I have took some photos on the method most goldsmiths use for determining the grade of gold and if the gold is fake or plated.
These 2 gold necklace will be used for the experiment and a ring as well that is not pictured here.
One of the necklace is 916 and another is 999. Can you tell just by looking at these pics?
By touching and feeling the gold, the easiest way to tell is 999 gold will be softer... it will bend when you apply some pressure. 916, 835 and 750 gold is solid as hell. Won't bend when you apply pressure.
999 gold is also less shiny.
This is a "batu asah" or grinding stone used to determine the grade.
The corner of the gold is used to grind some of the residue to the stone.
You can see that there are 4 strips that are freshly made.
The colour of the residue is used to determine the grade of the gold.
Out of the 4, one is 999, one is 750 and two of those is 916.
And if a 999 grade gold necklace is worn a couple of years, the length will get longer as it will stretch.
So from the picture below, it is a dead giveaway which is 999 and which is 916.
For the fake or plated test. 2 kinds of acid is used.
No 1 is applied to see if the residue fade when the acid comes into contact.
Real gold will not fade when the acid comes into contact.
For plated gold, the residue will contain not only gold (a very very thin layer) but some other metals such as stainless steel, brass or bronze.
So when plated gold residue comes into contact with the acid... chances are you will see the residue getting "thinner" because other materials are being washed away.
No 2 is applied to check if there is smoke when the acid comes into contact with the residue... if there is and the residue fades away. Then this means that the gold is as fake...
If there are any questions, you can post them here and I will try to answer them in general.
This is not an expert opinion and serves just as my experience from working with gold for 2 years.
That is the reason why I am skeptical of those Genneva Gold "Type" investments.
The Gold bars that Zitan posted up is what a 999 grade gold bar should look like.
Not too shiny, some bumps here and there (because 999 grade gold is softer)
I have seen the Genneva Gold bars and they are shiny, uniform in shape and almost flawless...
Something just doesn't sit well with me.
I hope I don't get sued just by voicing my opinions though.