The pros use tungsten.
The density of gold is 19.3g/cc. That of lead is only 11.34g/cc. But the density of tungsten is 19.25g/cc, a close match to gold. Eureka! I wonder if Archimedes knew about tungsten?
There's a Chinese company which sells gold-plated tungsten bars. Cited legitimate uses:
- If you are a broker in stock, manager in a big bank or insurance company, you can use Chinatungsten gold–plated tungsten alloy bar engraved with your company’s name as souvenirs to your VIP customers. It is a very decent present without costing too much, and also could attract more customers for your business.
- Gold-plated tungsten alloy bar is the best choice if you are a gold dealer and attend some trade fair or put your gold products in the showcase. In case your real gold being stolen, you can choose gold substitution, gold-plated tungsten alloy bar to reduce any possible loss.