QuestionI was given a door stopper by my late parents. It looks like a Gold Bar. I have reason to suspect that it is in fact Gold. It has been in the family as a door stopper for over 80 years. Over the years grime has packed on it. Where it slides on the floor it looks like Gold. How can I have it analyzed? I am afraid to go to a Jeweler.
AnswerMuch of my expertise with gold is outside of the US. I work mostly from Colombia, though I'm not Colombian, its just where I buy emeralds at. Here I buy from a metals laboratory where I know the gold has been tested and is guaranteed to be 24kt. You may have to do the same... find a metals lab, which could take a bit of research. I'd probably start with jewelers as they are the most likely to have experience with buying gold. Large chains would probably not be very helpful as their production is probably not local.
I also have used acid to test gold. It's labeled 'acid for 18kt gold', though I buy it in Colombia. Anything less than 18kt gold produces a blackened metal result when exposed to the acid. I'm sure this is not readily available to just anywhere, so again, this is something that you probably need to go through a jeweler to find out.
You are justified in being careful about who you mention a possible gold bar to, but I don't see a problem in asking jewelers... perhaps they can answer the question over the phone. My first thought was that it's probably bronze, but if it is gold...gold is being sold at very high prices now, so you could have very valuable doorstop.
Best of luck.
