Background on Gold
- Gold has been the inspiration for jewelry since the beginning of time. It’s coveted for its gleaming beauty and strong yet malleable nature. Gold will not rust, corrode or tarnish.
- Measured in karats, abbreviated as the letter “K” and preceded by a number.
- 100% pure gold is 24K. However, in its pure form, gold is too soft to be used in jewelry. In order to give it resilience to hold up to everyday wear, gold is alloyed with other metals.
Karats
- 22 karat (91.6% gold) 916 STAMP While beautiful, it is really too soft for use in jewelry as the gold would literally bend out of shape. You will often see antique 22k gold jewelry in museums.
- 18 karat (75% gold) 750 STAMP Excellent for use in fine jewelry with a rich, deep color. 18K gold is a little softer than 14K and will usually wear a little more.
- 14 karat (58.5% gold) 583 OR 585 STAMP Great for use in traditional jewelry. This is a hard, resilient metal that will maintain much of its original look (polish and detail) for many years.
- 12 karat (50% gold) 500 STAMP We do not use nor recommend below 14k as the color is not an attractive, rich hue at this percentage.
- 10 karat (41.7% gold) 416 OR 417 STAMP Although this is the minimum legal karatage allowed to be called gold in the US, we do not use nor recommend it for jewelry.
White vs Yellow Gold
Yellow Gold
- Considered the classic color of gold
- Less people are allergic to yellow gold compared to white gold
- “Softer” than white gold
- Not very popular nowadays
White Gold
- For people who prefer the color silver
- Rhodium coated – would fade thru time so re-rhodium treatment is necessary
- More durable than yellow gold
- Looks better with diamonds