Kennon Young

Master Gemologist Appraiser

Kennon Young is a Master Gemologist Appraiser and the Owner of Vermont Gemological Laboratory in Burlington, Vermont. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Kennon and his team specialize in handmade engagement rings, wedding bands, and custom jewelry. He attended the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, the Gemological Institute of America, and the Rhode Island School of Design Extension. He is a Jewelers of America (JA) Certified Bench Jeweler Technician and received the highest credential in the jewelry appraisal industry, the ASA Master Gemologist Appraiser, in 2016.

wikiHow's Editorial ProcesswikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.

Q&A Comments (48)

How can you tell if gold is real?

You'd have to test it scientifically. You'd need some kind of acid, electronic, or laser testing. There's no real way to tell if it's real just by looking at a stamp or the color. Unfortunately, this isn't the kind of thing you can do on your own. You'd need to take the gold to a professional for this. This can make buying and speculating on gold a kind of risky proposition.

Is it safe to buy gold online?

It's hard to say, since it's impossible to say if it's real or not. You can't have it tested or take it to a professional jeweler to have it appraised. That said, a lot of people buy gold online and seem happy with their purchase, so it really depends on how comfortable you are with the potential risk.

Are there different types of platinum? Why does some platinum jewelry look so different?

Platinum is typically mixed with another alloy. So there's platinum-iridium, which tends to be easier to cast and work with. Platinum-iridium is a whiter metal, but it's also softer so it doesn't tend to be as durable. The other popular form of platinum is platinum-ruthenium, or platinum Ru. Platinum Ru is a much harder material, but it's a little harder to polish and finish. It also has a bit of a gray tint to it. This is why you see a little bit of variation between different types of platinum.

See more comments

Co-authored Articles (39)

9 Simple Tests to Tell if Silver is Real

Certified jewelry appraiser Kennon Young shares practical tests to confirm your silver is realIf you need to test a piece of silver for authenticity, you've come to the right place! Silver has distinctive properties, and...

How to

Cut Off a Ring

A ring that is too tight can cut off circulation to your finger, causing the finger to swell and making the ring difficult or impossible to remove. This can be scary, painful, and potentially very damaging to your finger...

How to

Polish Stones

Rock collecting can be an enjoyable hobby for both adults and children. It's inexpensive to do and a great way to get out and enjoy nature. If you have young children, it's also a nice way to teach them about science. If...

What to Use to Clean Jewelry at Home

Is your favorite piece of jewelry looking a bit dull and smudgy? If so, hold off on taking it for a professional cleaning—because we’ll show you what to use to clean jewelry at home. Plain old soap and water is great...

How to

Determine if a Sapphire is Real

Sapphires are typically thought of as blue but can also be red, yellow, orange, green or other colors in between. Natural sapphires are found in the ground or in the water. Synthetic sapphires are created in a lab. Look ...

How to

Identify Raw Diamonds

Diamonds which have not yet been cut are referred to as 'rough' or 'raw' diamonds. To identify whether the stone you have is a diamond, you can do a quick visual evaluation to rule out other gemstones. From there, you’...

How to Polish Quartz Crystals

Follow these easy steps to take your quartz crystal from dull to dazzlingWhen first dug out of the ground, quartz crystals do not have the sparkling clear crystal-like appearance that they do if you were to purchase one ...

How to

Clean Fake Jewelry

Costume jewelry can be really pretty even if it is not made of precious gems. But keeping it beautiful can be a task. Costume jewelry can’t take wear-and-tear the way fine jewelry can. It tarnishes from water, air expo...

How to Polish Rocks Using Sandpaper or a Dremel Tool

Shape and polish stones without a pricey rock tumbler Polishing rocks is a great way to make them shiny and pretty, and you don’t need a tumbler or fancy equipment to do it. Polishing rocks by hand is pretty straightfo...

How to Spot the Difference between Real and Fake Turquoise

All the signs that turquoise stones, crystals, and jewelry are real There’s no question that turquoise is one of the most popular gems with its gorgeous blue hue, ancient history, and spiritual ties. If you’re lookin...

How to

Tell if an Emerald Is Real

Many "emeralds" are actually other green gems, green glass, or imitations built from several materials. Conduct several tests before you reach a conclusion one way or the other, since results are not always definitive wi...

How to

Polish Rocks with a Dremel

Learn how to polish rocks using only your Dremel tool Polishing rocks is just one of the many ways you can use a Dremel rotary tool. Clean off the rocks you want to polish with soap and water before you get to work. Sele...

How to Polish Gold the Right Way

Keep your gold rings and jewelry looking brand new Gold is a beautiful but soft precious metal that requires gentle polishing to keep it looking shiny and new. If the gold is in fairly good condition, it’s easy to clea...

How to

Cut Gems

A guide to cutting precious stones (and choosing the perfect cut)Try your hand at cutting and polishing rough or uncut gems. You can decide what shape to make the gem and how many facets it should have. To make a detaile...

How to Use Bleach to Test the Purity of Gold

You can test gold at home with bleach—but check out these tips and warnings first Wondering if grandma’s 24K gold earrings are real? Thinking of selling that wedding ring you found on the beach? If so, you might want...

How to

Clean Your Silver Jewelry

Silver is a versatile metal with a soft luster that makes for beautiful jewelry. Unfortunately, silver is also pretty fragile compared to many more commonly-used metals, and it can quickly develop tarnish, stains, or scr...

How to

Clean a Silver Necklace

Cleaning a silver necklace at home is as simple as gathering a few simple items, such as a microfiber cloth and some dish soap or baking soda. However, while some jewelry can be easily cleaned at home, you should leave o...

How to

Test Platinum

Platinum is a precious metal that looks like silver or white gold to the untrained eye. But platinum has many characteristics that make it unique. It is harder than other precious metals, so it resists scratches. It also...

How to

Clean Pandora Jewelry at Home

If your Pandora jewelry is looking a little dull or dingy, you don’t have to rush out and make an appointment at the jewelry store. Cleaning your Pandora jewelry at home doesn’t take long, and you can even do it with...

How to

Clean Silver with Coke

Tips to clean silver quickly and effectively with sodaSilver is a common metal used in jewelry or dinnerware. If you don’t have any chemical cleaner, you can use Coca-Cola, or Coke, as a simple cleaning substitute for ...

See more articles

Share your thanks with Kennon Young

Kennon Young

Q&A Comments (48)

Co-authored Articles (39)