QuestionIs it real gold and how much would it be worth.
AnswerHi, Gail.
Thanks for this question. The markings on the chain are accepted marks in the National Gold and Silver Marking Act for the USA. However, the mark is not for solid gold but rather for Gold Filled.
Gold filled has a brass like base metal underneath and a layer of gold on the surface. The gold is much thicker than most gold plated items but is still considered higher grade "costume" and not karat gold through and through. I cannot give a value without having the chain in my hands to test and see but it is not nearly as valuable as a solid gold chain.
Gold filled is made somewhat like a quarter or 25 cent piece. Look at the side of a recent quarter and you will see a coppery center layer and silvery layers on the top and bottom for the face and back side of the coin. The shiny silvery metal is bonded to the center with either solders or a mechanical method. The layers are not plated onto the center layer. Gold filled is done that way with the gold layers bonded to the base metal. Of course, the layers of gold are not so thick in comparison to what you see in a quarter dollar. The 1/20 tells you that the gold layers are 1/20 of the weight of the metal overall.
Fraction: 1/20, etc. Tells the weight of the gold layers compared to the metal overall.
Karat: 12k, 19k, etc. Tells the karat gold used in the outside layers.
GF: Tells that the metal is Gold Filled, a sandwich of gold over base metal.
One thing about the mark has me confused. You say 20 k gf. Is the mark possibly 10 or 12 or 14 and not 20? This is why I ask: The number before the k tells what karat of gold makes the surface layer. 20k would be very unusual. A mark of 1/20 12k GF or perhaps 10k or 14k instead of the 12k would be more likely. I simply have not seen 20k GF before.
If you need more info, feel free to use the follow-up option to get back with me. If something is not clear, get back for a better explanation. Fair enough?
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
