People are really curious about Gold these days, especially since the price has been consistently going up–so we thought we’d share some cool, interesting and practical information about the precious metal:
1) GOLD PURITY
Pure gold is too soft or everyday wear, so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel and zinc to give it strength and durability.
Karatage is represented by a number followed by abbreviation “k” which indicates purity or how much of the metal in a piece of jewelry is gold. This signifies proportion of gold content, and should not be confused with “carat,” which is a unit of weight measurement for precious stones such as diamonds. Karatage is expressed in 24ths, making 24k= 100% gold, 18k= 75% gold, 14k= 58.3% gold and 10k= 41.7% gold.
2) GOLD COLOR
The Color of gold is determined by two factors:
1) the type of metal alloys included; and
2) the percentage of each metal alloy
Yellow Gold: natural gold and color-saturated alloys are what give yellow gold jewelry its rich shine. The alloys most commonly used are copper with a red hue and silver featuring a green hue. An expert mixture of copper, silver and pure gold gives its signature warmth.
White Gold: a silvery-white character is what makes white gold jewelry so appealing. In order to make the gold white, it is combined with metal alloys (nickel, zinc, copper, manganese) that are silvery-white in nature. It is often Rhodium plated to provide a bright non-tarnishing finish. (Look for our future blog that will be all about Rhodium).
Rose Gold: The beautiful pink hue of rose gold jewelry is created by using a copper alloy. The overall percentage of metal alloys is the same for rose gold as it is for yellow or white, there is just a higher proportion of copper used.
3) GOLD PRICING
*Gold jewelry prices are dependent upon the purity of the gold or karat weight, the market value of gold, and the level of craftsmanship and design of each piece of jewelry.
4) CARING FOR GOLD
Since Gold is a natural element, it is affected by chemicals found in hot tubs, chlorine in pools, and other cleaning products. We recommend that you remove your jewelry when exposed to chemicals to reduce daily abrasions and prolong the luster. To clean gold jewelry, use a solution of warm water and detergent free soap with a soft bristled brush. When not worn, store your gold pieces in soft cloth bags or the original box to protect them from the elements of daily exposure.
5) GOLD ATTRIBUTES
Gold, element Au, was one the first known metals. It was the second metal to be worked by humans as early as 3000 B.C. The gold standard defines the world’s currency system, whereby money represents a value in gold. It has unique qualities: resistant to rust, tarnish, and corrosion. Although it is very strong, Gold is also the most malleable of all precious metals.
*Need some extra spending money for the holidays?
At the Gold Market, we’ll buy your unwanted Gold for Cash!
We also sell Gold coins and Bullion. Stop by for a free estimate!
