Gold Jewelry: Things To Look Before Buying Authentic Jewelry
Posted on January 23, 2021 at 10:00 amby Hitesh Patel/ 0
Gold is one of the most precious and valuable metals out there. Not only is it a representation of luxury and class, but it is also timeless, valuable, and stands for financial stability. Being an extremely smart investment, gold jewelry made of it never runs out of value and is always backed by some sort of monetary importance which is essential in times of inflation and unpredictable fluctuations in the market since gold will offer the security and protection we need against the uncertainty posed by everything else out there in the financial world.
Hence, it is very important to have a good understanding of the topic before making any purchase since there is a lot at stake and we cannot afford to make a mistake and investing our hard-earned money into something that is not worth it.
About Purity Levels of Gold Jewelry
Terms like 10K, 14K, 18K, and 24K are used to describe the different gold purity levels with each such value indicating the amount of gold present in the piece of gold jewelry. These levels also have their own set of advantages and disadvantages which include the intensity of hardness and durability, and the risk it could offer towards irritation of the skin.
As the numbers increase in value, it also means that the material raises in the level of purity since the higher numbers have more gold jewelry present in them and the lower ones have a higher amount of mixtures. 10K gold is deemed as the most durable, although it has the most minimum quantity of gold present in it. 14K gold is also highly durable and is slightly higher than 10K in terms of gold purity and 18K is the purest form of gold that can be manipulated into rings and other forms of jewelry. 24K gold is the purest form of gold that has no amount of mixture present in it.
Due to the absence of any foreign materials, this type of precious metal is extremely soft and malleable and cannot be used for the process of molding it into forms of jewelry like rings and pendants.
It is also essential to consider the impact that gold purity causes on the cost of one’s engagement ring and any other forms of jewelry to budget the finances accurately and purchase the best for the least.
Different Karats of Gold
Karat, a term exclusively used for gold, is a form of measurement that aids in determining the purity of gold found in any item of gold jewelry like gold rings, necklaces, etc. Since it is used specifically for gold, no customer will find jewelry of platinum or other metals that is measured in karats.
Fundamentally, karat talks about the amount of pure gold jewelry present in a piece of gold jewelry which means that the higher the karat rating a jewelry piece has, the higher is the quantity of pure gold present in it.
Four basic karat ratings are found which are 10K, 14K, 18k, and 24K; out of which 10K is devoted to gold jewelry with the lowest amount of pure gold and 24K refers to pieces of gold jewelry made with 100% pure gold.
10 Karat
Made up of 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy, the 10 karat gold is the least in the quantity of purity and cost, and the highest in durability and strength. Being the most impure form of gold, it is widely used in the making of affordable forms of gold jewelry due to its high strength which is due to the mixture that is present in it. However, many high-end jewelers do not even sell items of jewelry made of 10K gold due to the low gold content found in it.
Appearance-wise, 10K gold looks pale and does not have that rich yellow tone that the other karats of gold jewelry do. The shade of pale yellow that it is colored in is a choice of personal preference wherein some people might prefer it while others don’t.
Some advantages of 10K gold are as follows:
Highest durability
Least cost, hence making it a good option for the purchase of gold jewelry on a small budget
14 Karat
A popular precious metal choice for brides and grooms, 14 karat gold jewelry is best suited for engagement rings and wedding bands, hence, making them a much-preferred choice by couples.
Gold jewelry made of 14 karat gold jewelry is more durable and affordable when compared to their successors of 18 and 24 karat gold. With 58.3% pure gold, this durability is a result of the mixture of other metals found in such gold jewelry, leading to increased resistance to scratches and dents. Although the amount of pure gold present in gold jewelry made of 14 karat gold decreases, this allows the gold jewelry to be more durable and be available in different colors such as white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold.
White Gold
White gold is very similar to platinum in appearance since both these precious metals showcase a silvery shade of color. It is also highly compatible with various gemstones and is generally purchased by customers who want to experience the style and effect of platinum but do not wish to invest too much since platinum has always cost 30% higher than gold.
Yellow gold is generally made with a mixture of copper, gold, and nickel which results in the alloy expressing a warm yellow tint in its appearance and closely resembling pure gold jewelry.
Rose Gold
Rose gold engagement ring is a fairly new addition to the trend with its gorgeous soft pink color and neutral warmth in shade. Perceived as a romantic meal, it is a popular choice in engagement rings and complements various precious gemstones very well.
18 Karat
Another popular choice for customers, the 18 karat gold is famous for its own set of reasons, mainly because it has more amount of pure gold present in its jewelry. With about 75% of pure gold jewelry making up an 18 karat gold jewelry composition, these result in appearing a lot more vibrant and rich in color.
It is also more suitable for customers with sensitive skin which could get triggered due to foreign metals and so for people with such skin, an 18 karat gold jewelry is a good choice since it is less likely to cause any allergies or side effects.
However, the higher quantity of metal also leads to decreased durability and higher prices which could be heightened by a few hundred dollars when compared to jewelry made of 14 karat gold. One such example could be a rustic ring which would cost $790.00 in 14k gold but will amount to $990.00 if bought in 18k gold.
24 Karat
The purest gold jewelry of them all, a 24 karat gold has no mixture present in its composition and a pure, non-alloyed form. It is also the rarest option out of the three and appears richly yellow, giving off a charmingly beautiful look which is mainly because of the high quantity of pure gold present in jewelry made of 24 karat gold. The only option available in 24 karats is yellow gold since a 24 karat white or rose gold cannot be found.
Although this is a stunning form of precious metal, customers are often advised against purchasing or making engagement rings or wedding bands out of 24 karat gold since it is very soft and highly susceptible to scratches and dents. 24 karat gold is also a lot more expensive than their other two counterparts.
jewelry made of 24 karat gold is generally purchased as an investment since the value of such jewelry tends to always remain very high.
Evaluation of Quality of Gold
The saying that “all that glitters is not gold”, can be literally applied too!
Every piece of jewelry that appears as if it is made of gold may not have gold as part of its main composition. Anyways, pieces of gold that can be said to have 100% purity are exquisite in nature and are not easily available.
jewelry that is gold gilled or gold plated is also available in the market and these do not fall under the category of gold jewelry since the precious metal is not part of the composition.
Gold Filled Jewelry
As the term implies, these pieces of jewelry are merely filled with gold.
Gold jewelry of any other karat other than 24 karats is an alloy that is made up of gold and other metals. These combined give birth to a tougher and studier metal and hence strong jewelry is made from them.
Customers generally would always prefer real gold jewelry like the gold-filled jewelry over the gold plated ones for several reasons such as:
These items of jewelry come next in line after pure 24 karat gold in the list of most valuable types of golden jewelry.
These are lifetime products since they do not wear out due to external forces neither do they get damaged, dulled, chipped, or change color with time. These pieces of jewelry just need to be cleaned occasionally to be maintained in their clear and beautiful forms.
Many countries have also applied governmental regulations on the trading of gold-filled jewelry and hence these investments are well-protected in such countries.
Gold plated jewelry is basically made of non-gold base metals and then is dipped in motel gold jewelry to give the illusion that the jewelry is made of gold because of the presence of the layer of gold on the surface. Gold jewelry made like this are cost-friendly and are a good alternative to gold-filled jewelry because of various reasons:
They can be easily found in the market.
The sale of such jewelry is not all regulated.
The plating done is very fragile and thin and will come off easily.
A friendlier option for those allergic to nickel is the method of plating called vermeil. The process resembles that of gold-plating but it is done of a particular base metal which is sterling silver.
Pricing and Quality Markings of Gold
Unless the customer has a compatible lab or access to microscopic vision, one should always look for the hallmark which are unique markings present on the unseen parts of the item of jewelry like the inner circle of the ring or the backs of the earrings.
The hallmark which will describe the purity of gold jewelry should be looked for and one must also ensure if the marking is real or not.
Taking Care of Gold
It is very important to take proper care of the gold jewelry since work does not stop at purchase and the process of maintaining the gold jewelry should also be followed through if the customer wants to ensure that their money was worth the purchase.
Few suggestions for the process are as follows:
The items of jewelry that are made of high-karat gold should be worn or used as little frequently as possible since pure gold is very soft and is highly susceptible to damage.
All gold jewelry should be removed before bathing, swimming, gardening, or cleaning since the substances in soaps and detergents are harmful in nature to the precious metals, especially if for the gold plated items of jewelry. Hence, one should always avoid wearing gold items to pools and beaches.
The gold jewelry should be properly stored and kept away from dust and dirt. Wrapping the pieces in cloth or storing them in separate boxes are excellent ways of keeping one’s gold jewelry safe.
They should also be avoided from getting tangled or forming knots since these could result in the breakage of the jewelry.
Gold jewelry is one of the best investments if done with extreme care and awareness. Gold jewelry is highly valuable and is capable of retaining its original value indefinitely, hence proving to not only be a beautiful form of precious metal that can be worn and showed off but also an excellent method of investing for long-term returns. Good quality of gold should be chosen if the customer wants to make it worth his bucks and hence, detailed and proper knowledge of the different aspects of gold like its karats, quality, prices, etc. is necessary which this article provides.
Gold Jewelry: Things To Look Before Buying Authentic Jewelry
Gold is one of the most precious and valuable metals out there. Not only is it a representation of luxury and class, but it is also timeless, valuable, and stands for financial stability. Being an extremely smart investment, gold jewelry made of it never runs out of value and is always backed by some sort of monetary importance which is essential in times of inflation and unpredictable fluctuations in the market since gold will offer the security and protection we need against the uncertainty posed by everything else out there in the financial world.
Hence, it is very important to have a good understanding of the topic before making any purchase since there is a lot at stake and we cannot afford to make a mistake and investing our hard-earned money into something that is not worth it.
About Purity Levels of Gold Jewelry
Terms like 10K, 14K, 18K, and 24K are used to describe the different gold purity levels with each such value indicating the amount of gold present in the piece of gold jewelry. These levels also have their own set of advantages and disadvantages which include the intensity of hardness and durability, and the risk it could offer towards irritation of the skin.
As the numbers increase in value, it also means that the material raises in the level of purity since the higher numbers have more gold jewelry present in them and the lower ones have a higher amount of mixtures. 10K gold is deemed as the most durable, although it has the most minimum quantity of gold present in it. 14K gold is also highly durable and is slightly higher than 10K in terms of gold purity and 18K is the purest form of gold that can be manipulated into rings and other forms of jewelry. 24K gold is the purest form of gold that has no amount of mixture present in it.
Due to the absence of any foreign materials, this type of precious metal is extremely soft and malleable and cannot be used for the process of molding it into forms of jewelry like rings and pendants.
It is also essential to consider the impact that gold purity causes on the cost of one’s engagement ring and any other forms of jewelry to budget the finances accurately and purchase the best for the least.
Different Karats of Gold
Karat, a term exclusively used for gold, is a form of measurement that aids in determining the purity of gold found in any item of gold jewelry like gold rings, necklaces, etc. Since it is used specifically for gold, no customer will find jewelry of platinum or other metals that is measured in karats.
Fundamentally, karat talks about the amount of pure gold jewelry present in a piece of gold jewelry which means that the higher the karat rating a jewelry piece has, the higher is the quantity of pure gold present in it.
Four basic karat ratings are found which are 10K, 14K, 18k, and 24K; out of which 10K is devoted to gold jewelry with the lowest amount of pure gold and 24K refers to pieces of gold jewelry made with 100% pure gold.
10 Karat
Made up of 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy, the 10 karat gold is the least in the quantity of purity and cost, and the highest in durability and strength. Being the most impure form of gold, it is widely used in the making of affordable forms of gold jewelry due to its high strength which is due to the mixture that is present in it. However, many high-end jewelers do not even sell items of jewelry made of 10K gold due to the low gold content found in it.
Appearance-wise, 10K gold looks pale and does not have that rich yellow tone that the other karats of gold jewelry do. The shade of pale yellow that it is colored in is a choice of personal preference wherein some people might prefer it while others don’t.
Some advantages of 10K gold are as follows:
14 Karat
A popular precious metal choice for brides and grooms, 14 karat gold jewelry is best suited for engagement rings and wedding bands, hence, making them a much-preferred choice by couples.
Gold jewelry made of 14 karat gold jewelry is more durable and affordable when compared to their successors of 18 and 24 karat gold. With 58.3% pure gold, this durability is a result of the mixture of other metals found in such gold jewelry, leading to increased resistance to scratches and dents. Although the amount of pure gold present in gold jewelry made of 14 karat gold decreases, this allows the gold jewelry to be more durable and be available in different colors such as white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold.
White Gold
White gold is very similar to platinum in appearance since both these precious metals showcase a silvery shade of color. It is also highly compatible with various gemstones and is generally purchased by customers who want to experience the style and effect of platinum but do not wish to invest too much since platinum has always cost 30% higher than gold.
Also, Read The Romantic Engraved Engagement Ring Idea.
Yellow Gold
Yellow gold is generally made with a mixture of copper, gold, and nickel which results in the alloy expressing a warm yellow tint in its appearance and closely resembling pure gold jewelry.
Rose Gold
Rose gold engagement ring is a fairly new addition to the trend with its gorgeous soft pink color and neutral warmth in shade. Perceived as a romantic meal, it is a popular choice in engagement rings and complements various precious gemstones very well.
18 Karat
Another popular choice for customers, the 18 karat gold is famous for its own set of reasons, mainly because it has more amount of pure gold present in its jewelry. With about 75% of pure gold jewelry making up an 18 karat gold jewelry composition, these result in appearing a lot more vibrant and rich in color.
It is also more suitable for customers with sensitive skin which could get triggered due to foreign metals and so for people with such skin, an 18 karat gold jewelry is a good choice since it is less likely to cause any allergies or side effects.
However, the higher quantity of metal also leads to decreased durability and higher prices which could be heightened by a few hundred dollars when compared to jewelry made of 14 karat gold. One such example could be a rustic ring which would cost $790.00 in 14k gold but will amount to $990.00 if bought in 18k gold.
24 Karat
The purest gold jewelry of them all, a 24 karat gold has no mixture present in its composition and a pure, non-alloyed form. It is also the rarest option out of the three and appears richly yellow, giving off a charmingly beautiful look which is mainly because of the high quantity of pure gold present in jewelry made of 24 karat gold. The only option available in 24 karats is yellow gold since a 24 karat white or rose gold cannot be found.
Although this is a stunning form of precious metal, customers are often advised against purchasing or making engagement rings or wedding bands out of 24 karat gold since it is very soft and highly susceptible to scratches and dents. 24 karat gold is also a lot more expensive than their other two counterparts.
jewelry made of 24 karat gold is generally purchased as an investment since the value of such jewelry tends to always remain very high.
Evaluation of Quality of Gold
The saying that “all that glitters is not gold”, can be literally applied too!
Every piece of jewelry that appears as if it is made of gold may not have gold as part of its main composition. Anyways, pieces of gold that can be said to have 100% purity are exquisite in nature and are not easily available.
jewelry that is gold gilled or gold plated is also available in the market and these do not fall under the category of gold jewelry since the precious metal is not part of the composition.
Gold Filled Jewelry
As the term implies, these pieces of jewelry are merely filled with gold.
Gold jewelry of any other karat other than 24 karats is an alloy that is made up of gold and other metals. These combined give birth to a tougher and studier metal and hence strong jewelry is made from them.
Customers generally would always prefer real gold jewelry like the gold-filled jewelry over the gold plated ones for several reasons such as:
Also Read: Black Diamond Setting on engagement rings
Gold Plated Jewelry
Gold plated jewelry is basically made of non-gold base metals and then is dipped in motel gold jewelry to give the illusion that the jewelry is made of gold because of the presence of the layer of gold on the surface. Gold jewelry made like this are cost-friendly and are a good alternative to gold-filled jewelry because of various reasons:
A friendlier option for those allergic to nickel is the method of plating called vermeil. The process resembles that of gold-plating but it is done of a particular base metal which is sterling silver.
Pricing and Quality Markings of Gold
Unless the customer has a compatible lab or access to microscopic vision, one should always look for the hallmark which are unique markings present on the unseen parts of the item of jewelry like the inner circle of the ring or the backs of the earrings.
The hallmark which will describe the purity of gold jewelry should be looked for and one must also ensure if the marking is real or not.
Taking Care of Gold
It is very important to take proper care of the gold jewelry since work does not stop at purchase and the process of maintaining the gold jewelry should also be followed through if the customer wants to ensure that their money was worth the purchase.
Few suggestions for the process are as follows:
Also Read: Know The Difference Between Platinum, White Gold, Yellow Gold, And Rose Gold
Conclusion Thoughts
Gold jewelry is one of the best investments if done with extreme care and awareness. Gold jewelry is highly valuable and is capable of retaining its original value indefinitely, hence proving to not only be a beautiful form of precious metal that can be worn and showed off but also an excellent method of investing for long-term returns. Good quality of gold should be chosen if the customer wants to make it worth his bucks and hence, detailed and proper knowledge of the different aspects of gold like its karats, quality, prices, etc. is necessary which this article provides.
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