RW>RT> The problem lies in the fact that only with scientific tests
  >RT> can 14/20 be differentiated from 14k.  Even knowledgeable
  >RT> customers can't tell the difference by holding, feeling, or
  >RT> smelling it unless they apply an acid test or submit it for
  >RT> specific gravity weighing.
RW>I don't know about knowledgeable customers but all the
  >pawn shops I've been have a little handheld gadget that
  >tells them the gold content some how.
That is the little electronic gadget that I referred to in a post to
John F Davis.  Neat little toys with neat little prices :)  Wish I could
afford one.  I'm sure that if the fellow I've been whining about has
one, he keeps is hidden .
Actually, I've never seen one used to test the difference in 14k and
14/20kgf.  Unless the tester knows what he is doing, I can see how he
would get a false reading.  Unless the device's signal penetrates into
the core of the material, it would "see" only 14 karat gold... just like
the human wearing the jewelry.  When testing with acid, it is important
to file into the piece in an obscure place, then test the filed mark.
Otherwise, the piece will test as 14k.  Scam dealers have used
this information to fool customers by "testing" the material they are
selling.  Not hard to do at all.
RW>RT> It would be humanly impossible to tell the difference in
  >RT> "solid" 14k gold, gold filled, and gold plate merely by
  >RT> weighing it.  You'd need specific gravity testing.
RW>A good scale and a glass of water will tell a lot.
I recommend the same exercise that I recommended to John.  Go to your
wife's jewelry box and select two similar sized pieces, one karat gold
and the other gold filled or plated.  Using your water glass and scale,
determine the gold content in each.  Its a great theory, but highly
unlikely to tell you what you want to know... and even less likely that
a customer will perform at a jewelry counter.
This discussion has clearly shown why there are specific laws pertaining
to precious metal transactions... it is extremely easy to dupe
someone... in some cases, even an expert... at the point of sale.
Now if I can just find that law :)
Thanks,
Ron
---
 * QMPro 1.02 42-7029 * But I DID read the manual...
--- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 
1:135/5.0)
---------------