 Your Guide To Gold In Jewelry
Buying gold jewelry, particularly for a wedding or engagement, is a significant purchase. Given the variance of
gold content in jewelry, its helpful to know a little bit more about what determines its' quality and purchase
price. The following information on gold in jewelry seeks to provide some of those answers.
First it is important to know some basic gold jewelry information. The gold in jewelry is never 100% pure gold.
This is because pure gold, which is naturally yellow, is too soft to make jewelry out of.
So, gold is combined with a number of other metals to create an alloy that provides a measure of durability and
hardness. The metals that are combined with gold help determine the eventual color that results. You can find out
more here in this article on the impact of gold alloys on color in gold jewelry.
The amount of pure gold in jewelry is measure in karats. To consumers, 24 karat gold jewelry is considered
'pure' gold. Technically, it is only 99.999 percent pure. But given that 100% pure gold in jewelry does not exist,
it is as close to pure as you can get. That makes it the most prized, of course.
18 karat gold is 75 percent pure gold, with the final 25 percent composed of other metals. 14 karat gold is made
of 58.3 percent pure gold and is currently the most popular gold karat jewelry purchased in the United States. 12
karat gold is comprised of 50 percent pure gold. 10 karat gold is made up of 41.7 percent pure gold and is
currently the minimum amount of karats required to still be considered gold in the United States.
Most gold jewelry in the United States will be marked with its karat quality, though there is no law requiring
it. Somewhere on the piece is the karat mark. This is a registered trademark of the maker of the piece.
In Europe, the gold in jewelry is indicated by a number showing which percentage of it is actually gold. For
example, a 14 karat gold piece is marked with the numbers 585 to indicate that 58.5 percent of the piece is pure
gold.
Inexpensive Gold Jewelry - Information On Gold Plated, Washed, And Filled
Jewelry
Jewelry can also be gold plated. This means that a layer of gold covers a lesser quality base metal. While this
will lower the cost of the piece it is important to realize that the gold layer may eventually wear of,
significantly reducing the value of your jewelry.
Gold filled jewelry is similar to gold plated, except the layer of gold is generally thicker. How much and which
type of gold is usually marked on the jewelry. Keep in mind that while this layer of gold may last longer it will
eventually wear off as well.
Gold washed jewelry is similar to gold plated but the layer of gold is extremely thin and almost always wears
off to expose the lesser quality base metals.
When making your gold purchase you should try to purchase solid gold. Particularly for an engagement ring, the
gold in your jewelry should be of the highest karat count your budget will allow. This will insure that your
purchase is high in quality, and long lasting.
While gold plated or gold-filled jewelry is okay to wear on occasion, it should not be purchased as everyday
wear. This is because once the gold layer is eroded the base metal beneath may cause stains on your skin or a more
serious allergic reaction. The piece will no longer have aesthetic appeal and its value will have completely
deteriorated.
If you are buying gold jewelry with stone insets you should also consider the condition and quality of the stone
when deciding on your purchase. The seller should be able to provide you with a certificate of authenticity. This
certificate should be from the Gemological Institute of America or the American Gem Society.
Whether buying your gold jewelry online, through a catalog or at a jewelry store it is important to make your
purchase from a reputable dealer. Look for discounted rates and good deals that do not compromise the quality of
the product
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