Updated - Italian couple Bruno Gionatta, 28, and Valeria Puglia, 26, admitted in court today to having tried to sell false gold to Vascas Jewellery of Valletta.
They were condemned to a two-year jail term suspended for four years after declaring that they had returned the €4,700 paid for the false gold.
During the proceedings the court heard that the two are also undergoing usury proceedings in Italy.
The two were arrested just as they were about to leave Malta on Tuesday evening.
They had sold items that included rings, chokers, necklaces and bracelets. But when the shop assistants tested the jewellery they realised it was made of stainless steel and not white gold.
The police arrested the couple as they were at the airport waiting to catch a flight to Rome.