Gold is one of the world’s most valuable metals, which is why it is considered a precious metal, for the simple reason that it does not corrode, tarnish or rust, making it practically indestructible. In fact, over 150,000 tons of gold have been mined since the time of the Pharaohs and all this gold is still in existence today, in one form or another. Its value is also derived from its rarity and, of course, beauty.
Gold is not only a precious metal that is traditionally used in the making of jewelry and as an accessory, but it has also been a safe haven throughout time for investors looking to safeguard their fortunes. Gold never loses its value and, in fact, in times of economic instability the value of gold rises.
- A Little History
Gold has been revered since man first discovered this amazing metal. Gold has been used to build civilizations and was even believed, at one point in time, to have magical properties. It was used in rituals just as much as it was a symbol of status and power down through the ages, from ancient times until the present.
For example, the ancient Egyptians believed that gold was the metal of Ra, the god of the sun and the giver of life. Therefore, only the pharaohs were allowed to adorn themselves with this precious metal.
No matter its ritualistic significance, gold has also been used as currency for more than 5,000 years and has been at the root of many wars as more powerful civilizations looted and plundered to add as much gold to their coffers as they could. The Romans used it to fund the expansion of their Empire while the crusaders set out towards the Middle East with the goal of refilling the empty treasury of Britain.
- Colors and Alloys
Gold is extremely soft on its own, making it highly easy to work with. However, this means that jewelry cannot be made from pure gold because it would be too soft and wouldn’t stand up to the rigors of daily wear. This is why most jewelry is made from gold combined with another metal to create an alloy.
While the color of gold itself is the bright, shiny yellow of the sun, there are other shades of gold determined by the metal used in the alloy. While there are various shades of gold, the most popular and traditional is yellow gold.
Yellow gold is usually alloyed with either silver or copper to strengthen it and depending on the percentage of gold in the alloy, the shade of yellow is lighter or deeper. For example, 18 karat gold, that contains a 75% gold content has a deeper shade of yellow than 10 karat gold that has a lower content of this precious metal.
White gold has become increasingly popular over the past few decades, as it is considered to be a more contemporary, fashionable look. White gold is alloyed with such metals as nickel, palladium, zinc and copper to enhance its white color.
Gold is also available in shades of rose and green, depending on the metal it is alloyed with. For example, gold with a rose tint is created by mixing gold with copper.
- Quality Control: Hallmarks
To certify the quality of precious metals, three hallmarks have to be stamped onto the metal. These are the maker’s mark, to establish the origin of the piece, a fineness mark, to establish quality and an assay office mark, to certify that the piece has been tested and verified by an independent party.
- Karats and Pricing
Since gold cannot withstand the rigor of daily wear on its own due to its malleability, it is alloyed with other metals to increase its durability. The amount of gold in the alloy or its purity is indicated via karatage. Karats are expressed as parts of 24, meaning that 14 karat gold is, in fact, 14 parts gold and 10 parts other metal. Pure gold is 24K, however, it is much too soft to be used in jewelry.
Gold jewelry is priced both according to the purity of the piece as well as the quality of the construction and the intricacy of the design. Therefore, the finer the workmanship, the more expensive the piece will be.
- Jewelry Care
While gold is practically indestructible, this doesn’t mean it is immune to scratches or dents, especially rings and bracelets that tend to get knocked around more. Therefore, if you want to maintain your gold jewelry, you should consider removing the pieces when you will be engaging in strenuous activity or anything that might cause damage to your jewelry.
Gold is also best kept away from chemicals, especially chlorine which can weaken its molecular structure and cause breaks, which is why you should take your jewelry off before going swimming. Furthermore, many household cleaning products contain chemicals that can harm gold, so you should always wear gloves to protect your hands and your jewelry at the same time.
Gold jewelry needs to be cleaned regularly as it can lose its shine after a while due to environmental elements, such as dust and moisture, as well as makeup and even perspiration. You can either have your pieces cleaned by a jeweler or do it yourself with a warm solution of soapy water. After cleaning, shine your jewelry with a soft cloth to bring out its shine.
Storage is also important, so make sure to keep your pieces wrapped in a soft cloth or in a jewelry box to protect them from damage.
