Fake chains are popular these days. Do you want to learn how to differentiate between real and fake chains? Are you searching for the best fake gold chains that look real?
Perfect, in this Jewelry Marquis guide you can expect to learn:
- What fake gold chains are made of?
- How to tell if a gold chain is fake?
- What to look for in good fake gold chains?
- And much more!
Table of Contents
Our Top 6 Best Fake Gold Chains
- Miabella 18K Gold Over 925 Sterling Silver Italian Sparkle Mirror Link Chain Necklace (Our Top Pick)
- Kooljewelry 14k Yellow Gold Filled 3.2mm Rope Chain Necklace (Runner-Up)
- ChainsPro Men's Sturdy Cuban Chain Necklace (Best Budget)
- CrazyPiercing Faux Gold Acrylic Chain Necklace (Best Design)
- Jewelry Kingdom 1 Men's Necklace Lion Pendant Necklace
- 18k Real Gold Plated Rope Chain
What Are Fake Gold Chains Made Of?
Generally, most of the fake gold chains that you find in the market have been made of silver and brass.
These chains usually have gold plating over the base chain. It makes them look like real gold items. The best companies in the market will always mention the gold purity that they have used over the base metal.
How Can I Tell If A Gold Chain Is Fake?
There are several ways by which you will be able to judge if the gold chain that you have is fake or real. Here we shall discuss some of them:
Hallmark Stamp and Karat
This is the very first step that you can check to know if the gold chain is fake. There should be a stamp or hallmark that is usually engraved over them.
Secondly, look for the karat for the fine specification. All the jewelry companies have to mention the karat of gold over the chains they are making.
So this is easy to recognize. Normally you will see KP, KT, or K engraving over it. You might also see if something like 18KP, 18KT, or 18K.
In most European countries, karats are mentioned in decimals. You will be able to see that it’s sometimes mentioned in digits like 585 or 583.
This means that the gold is 58.5% and it will give information that the chain is of 14 Karats.
Acid Testing
To check if the gold chain is real or not, nitric acid can be immensely helpful. You can scratch the hallmark after it’s dipped in nitric acid.
There are also some of the testing kits available in the market that you can try. Just follow the instructions mentioned on the packaging.
Magnet Tests Might Not Always Work
This is considered one of the easiest methods for checking gold. The magnet test can also be done at home.
If the chain isn’t sticking to the magnet, it is made of solid gold. This is because gold doesn’t have a magnetic characteristic and therefore won’t attract the magnet.
And in case it does stick with the magnet, it still might be confusing. This is because a lot of metals aren’t electromagnetic, and this can lead to you getting fooled.
It will show the same result with alloys as they have electromagnetic characteristics. So there is a probability that even a real gold chain can stick to the magnet sometimes.
And because of these reasons, you can’t completely depend on magnet testing alone to be sure if the gold chain is real or fake.
What to look for in good fake gold chains
A good fake gold chain is usually made with stainless steel, silver, or brass. Over it, a plating of gold is done. Such gold plated chains and usually have 14k to 16k gold in them. A good quality chain will have a flawless finish.
Most of the quality fake gold chains can have plating of 18k, 14k, or 10k yellow gold. Alternatively, this plating can be of rose gold or white gold.
Top 6 Best Fake Gold Chains Reviewed
Here we have for you some of the excellent variety of fake gold chains, that you can get right now!
- Miabella 18K Gold Over 925 Sterling Silver Italian Sparkle Mirror Link Chain Necklace (Our Top Pick)
- Kooljewelry 14k Yellow Gold Filled 3.2mm Rope Chain Necklace (Runner-Up)
- ChainsPro Men's Sturdy Cuban Chain Necklace (Best Budget)
- Kooljewelry 14k Yellow Gold Filled 3.2mm Rope Chain Necklace (Best Design)
- Jewelry Kingdom 1 Men's Necklace Lion Pendant Necklace
- 18k Real Gold Plated Rope Chain
#1. Miabella 18K Gold Over 925 Sterling Silver Italian Sparkle Mirror Link Chain Necklace (Our Top Pick)
The Miabella 18K Gold Plated Over 925 Sterling Silver Italian Sparkle Mirror Link Chain Necklace is beautiful, chic, elegant, and most importantly, lightweight.
This beautiful long chain necklace features hammered discs in different sizes. The toggle clasp ensures that this necklace stays put all day long.
You can wear this necklace with a variety of different outfits, whether you’re dressing up for a night out or keeping it casual for a day in.
With its versatile style, the Miabella 18K Gold Plated Over 925 Sterling Silver Italian Sparkle Mirror Link Chain Necklace is a must-have in your jewelry collection.
It measures 30-inches in length and has been pewter cast with 18 karat gold plating to give it a luxe look.
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#2. Kooljewelry 14k Yellow Gold Filled 3.2mm Rope Chain Necklace (Runner-Up)
The gold chain from Kooljewelry tops our list of the best rope chain necklaces that you can get in the market today.
The chain is gold-filled and is perfect for both men and women for everyday wear. It looks great in itself, and if you want you can add a pendant for a more royal look.
The rope chain has been gold filled with 14K gold and comes with a secure lobster clasp that’s sturdy and doesn’t open easily.
The thickness of the chain is 3.2 mm and you can find it in 8 variable lengths as per your requirements.
It comes with a quality box with a velvet pouch that will not just make it a perfect gifting idea but also will keep it secure for a longer time without any wear and tear.
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#3. ChainsPro Men's Sturdy Cuban Chain Necklace (Best Budget)
Just the first look of this Cubans-style chain from ChainsPro will leave you impressed.
The chain has an amazing quality gold plating of 18K and the base is made from 316L stainless steel. The necklace design is beautiful and will last for a very long time.
Plus, the chain is affordable and if you are in search of the hip-hop kind of vibe this can be your best choice.
The width option of the chain is available from 4 mm to huge 13 mm and you can select as per your need. Then you get a huge variety in chain length as well.
It comes with a pouch and gift box packaging, giving it a royal look as well.
We have added it to our best list because it’s made of metal of safe nature. Therefore you can be sure that it is safe and very comfortable to wear.
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#4. Kooljewelry 14k Yellow Gold Filled 3.2mm Rope Chain Necklace(Best Design)
In search of a fake gold chain with a retro look? Are you looking for a fashionable Miami Cuban chain? Well, this one from CrazyPiercing will do the work for you.
This imitation gold chain has been made from good quality plastic as the base and it is 14k gold. This means it’s lead and nickel-free, allergy-safe, and easy to wear.
It will also be a good idea to go for this one if you are allergic to any kind of metal at all.
It is available in 2 length variety, which should be fine for most people. The thickness of the chain is 0.24 inches and the width is 1.37 inches.
It is worth to mention that many hip hop celebrities use Kooljewelry Miami Cuban Rope Chain. Plus, it will be perfect for an 80’s costume party and a good gift for teenagers. This is surely a bold-looking yet elegant chain.
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#5. Jewelry Kingdom 1 Men's Necklace Lion Pendant Necklace
Jewelry Kingdom is a well-known brand in the market since 2009. And this high-quality lion Pendant necklace is another stunning piece from the brand.
The rope chain is 24 inches in length and 3mm in width. It will be comfortable to wear for long durations and the chain and pendant come together as a set.
The size of the pendant alone is 1.02 inches in width and 1.57 inches in length. The base chain is made with 316L stainless steel and isn’t going to oxidize.
It is corrosion-resistant and hypoallergic so you know your skill will be safe.
Plus, it has a plating of 18K gold which gives it a luster of real appearance. And let’s not forget, you will also get a quality gift box and the pendant also has a CZ diamond.
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#6. 18k Real Gold Plated Rope Chain
Looking for a fake gold chain that’s classy and good for everyday wear? Well, this one from Monily can work wonderfully then! The chain is available in different lengths and is 2.5 mm wide.
The base is made from stainless steel and is comfortable to wear. Comes with better quality and improved lobster claw-shaped clasp which is sturdy.
And lastly, the chain plating is 18K gold and not jagged, so it won’t hurt your neck at all.
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Final Thoughts on Fake Gold Chains
It is usually not possible for buying a chain made of pure gold only and having a quality fake gold chain can be the next best thing for you.
The gold-plated chains that we mentioned above might be called fake, but this just means that these are made of alternative material that’s cost-effective but will look exactly like the real ones. However, if you are ready to upgrade and invest in the real gold, learn more about diamond cut gold chains.
