The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT) has discovered a new method of counterfeiting gold that is difficult to detect without special equipment. Experts urged tourists not to buy gold jewelry on vacation, as the new type of counterfeit is difficult to detect.
Fraudsters use stainless steel powder, mix it with gold, and create vintage-style fakes that look almost identical to real jewelry, The Thaiger reported.
According to GIT director Sumit Prasongpongchai, traditional visual inspection is not enough to detect this latest counterfeiting method, so modern equipment is now needed to detect fakes: “Regular inspections and small laboratories without the necessary tools are unable to detect counterfeit gold due to sophisticated methods.” Now the x-ray fluorescence devices should be used.
To combat this problem, GIT advised travelers to choose shops that have been certified by trusted agencies or go to shops that participate in the Buy with Confidence (BWC) program certified by GIT. These stores ensure that the products sold meet the quality standards.
Sumi Prasongpongchai also explained that it is no longer enough to visually check the authenticity of gold. For a reliable determination of authenticity, the use of advanced methods becomes mandatory. The National Gems and Jewelry Laboratory of Thailand uses the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method. With its help, it is possible to analyze impurities in a sample, which provides a reliable and standardized way of detecting counterfeits. Therefore, tourists planning to purchase jewelry in Thailand are advised to be extremely careful. You should check the authenticity of jewelry from reliable sources and contact certified stores, so as not to fall into the hands of fraudsters and not lose money.