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Gold won't tarnish, rust, or corrode, and
though it's very strong, it is also the most
malleable of all metals.
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24 karat = 100% gold
Too soft for jewelry
22 karat = 91.7% gold
Very soft — not recommended for jewelry
18 karat = 75.0% gold
Recommended for fine jewelry
14 karat = 58.3% gold
Recommended for jewelry
12 karat = 50.0% gold
Not acceptable for jewelry
10 karat = 41.7% gold
The legal karat limit considered as real
gold in the United States
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Pure gold is too soft to
withstand the stresses
of every-day wear, so it
is alloyed with a
mixture of metals like
silver, copper, nickel,
and zinc to give it
strength and durability.
Karatage, noted by a
number followed by "k"
indicates purity, or how
much of the metal in a
piece of jewelry is
gold. Karatage is
expressed in 24ths,
making 24k gold 100%
gold. |
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The color of gold is
determined by two
factors:
The type of metal alloys
included in it
The percentage of each
metal alloy |
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Usually
you'll find 18k and 14k
yellow gold
jewelry. 18k gold
contains more precious
metal than 14k gold. It
is composed of 75% gold,
which is alloyed with
other metals to make it
strong enough to
withstand every-day
wear. Because 14k gold
is composed of only
58.3% gold, and 41.7%
other metals that give
it strength, its gold
color is not as rich as
18k gold. 14k gold is
most commonly found in
cases where strength is
most important, like in
earring backs and
bracelet clasps.
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White Gold
Because 18k white gold
is 75% gold, and 14k white gold is 58.3% gold, jewelry made from these
metals has a slight yellow color. To enhance the whiteness, almost all
white gold is plated with rhodium, a shiny, white metal which is
extremely hard. Depending on the amount of wear to a piece of jewelry,
over time this rhodium plating may wear off, revealing the original
metal color. Re-plating is a simple process that can be done to restore
your jewelry's whiteness if needed.
Rose Gold
Rose gold gets its color from a larger proportion of copper in the metal
alloy. This gives the gold a beautiful pink color.
Pricing
The price of gold
jewelry is dependent upon the purity of the gold used or karat weight,
as well as the design and construction of the piece of jewelry.
Care
Keep your gold jewelry
away from harsh chemicals such as chlorine and cleaning fluids. This
will reduce daily abrasions and prolong gold's luster. To clean gold
jewelry, use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap and wash
gold gently with a soft-bristled brush (a dull tooth brush works well).
Store gold pieces separately in soft cloth bags or original boxes to
protect them from the exposure to harsh daily elements.
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