Gold

Gold Facts that you should know.

Gold vs. Silver

Used as money in ancient times, gold jewelry has now turned into one of the main precious metals used in both rings and other kinds of jewelry. While there is some debated as to whether gold or silver metals are better, there are some deciding factors to consider when picking out your jewelry. Gold is generally more expensive than sterling silver, but silver has the reputation of tarnishing over time, or even causing allergic reactions in some wearers. Gold jewelry tend to be more durable and more resistant to scratches than silver is. While most silver jewelry has to be cleaned with a special silver cleaner, gold jewelry can be cleaned with only warm, soapy water and polished with a jewelry cloth.

Karats in jewelry

Gold jewelry comes in multiple carats (karats) that are the gold content of the metal, and measure the proportion of pure gold mixed with other metal alloys. The most common karat measurements are 14 karat (58% purity), 18 karat (75% purity), and 24 karats (99.9% purity). Fourteen karat gold I normally free from metal allergens, however, it can be hard to guarantee this as different people have different sensitivities; if you have an allergy or sensitivity to different metals, then, it is better to purchase jewelry that is at least 18 karats.

Twenty-four Karat gold, as it is a higher purity, is only available in yellow-gold. It is considered by many jewelers to be too soft to make rings-either engagement or wedding- out of. Twenty-four karat gold is also incredibly unusual, as it tends to bend and be easily scratched, which makes it very impractical. Jewelers will often steer their buyers to either 14K or 18K, as these are more practical options.

The majority of gold jewelry that is found in stores will be 14K, as this gold is the best option for multiple kinds of jewelry that many people can wear on a day-to-day basis. Jewelry buyers tend to gravitate towards either 14K or 10K for rings, especially if they work with their hands, since these options can take the most wear and tear.

Eighteen karat gold jewelry tends to be very popular in both Europe and South America, with a deeper golden sheen than either 10K or 14K gold. It tends to be softer than the former two karats, though, making it the best option for jewelry such as earrings, that doesn’t have the same wear-and-tear that rings and watches might.

Yellow, White, and Rose Gold

There are three different colors of gold, depending on the type of alloy metal the gold is worked with. Gold comes in yellow, white or rose gold.

White gold is usually mixed with a whitish metal, and generally has a softer white color that can even range into a light white-yellow tone. In general, white gold will look brighter than silver, and is less resistant to scratching and other daily wear than yellow gold.

Rose gold combines gold with copper to create a golden metal with a reddish hue. Rose gold uses a gold-to-copper ration of three to one and, is very durable- the toughest of the three types. Rose gold may also be more affordable, as copper generally costs less than the other alloy metals that are mixed.

Yellow gold is made by mixing pure gold with alloys like copper and zinc. This, among the other options, is the purest color, as gold in its purest form of 24K is similar in color to all other karats of yellow gold. Yellow gold is the easiest kind for a jeweler to work with, and needs the least maintenance of all other options.