Gold
Gold is a precious metal that has been valued by people since ancient times. People use gold for coins, jewelry, ornaments, and many industrial purposes. Until recently, gold reserves formed the basis of world monetary systems.
Gold is a very soft metal when it is pure (24 Kt. is pure gold). Gold is the most malleable (hammerable) and ductile (able to be made into wire) metal. Gold is usually alloyed (mixed with other metals, often silver and copper) to make it less expensive and harder. The scientific abbreviation of gold is Au.
The purity of gold jewelry is measured in karats. Some countries hallmark gold with a three-digit number that indicates the parts per thousand of gold. In this system, "750" means 750/1000 gold (equal to 18K); "500" means 500/1000 gold (equal to 12K).
| Karat | Percent Gold |
|---|---|
| 24 Kt. | 100% Gold |
| 18 Kt. | 75% Gold |
| 14 Kt. | 58.3% Gold |
| 12 Kt. | 50% Gold |
| 10 Kt. | 41.7% |
Rating Scale
The rating scale is based on the quality of the gold and it also part of the equation that determines the value. It is easy for a first time buyer to be confused by "24 Kt. Plated" and think they are buying a solid gold ring. This is not the case. See the terms below to understand more:
Gold Plated
Gold-plated metal has a very thin layer of gold on the surface, usually applied by the process of electroplating. Pieces that are gold plated are often marked G.E.P., gold electroplate, gold plated, or electro-plaqué d'or.
Gold Filled
Gold filled (abbreviated G.F. or written as "doublé d'or") jewelry is made of a thin outer layer of gold atop a base metal. For example, jewelry marked 1/20 G.F. 12 Kt. is at least 1/20th gold and is layered with 12 karat gold. To be classified as gold-filled, a piece must be at least 1/20 gold by weight.
Electroplate
Electroplating (also called Galvanotechnics after its inventor, Luigi Galvani) is a process in which one metal is coated with another metal using electricity. In jewelry, inexpensive metals are frequently electroplated with more expensive metals, like gold (gold plating), copper (electrocoppering), rhodium (rhodanizing), chromium (chromium plating), or silver (silver plating). The thickness of the metal coat varies. Electrogilded coating is the thinnest (less than 0.000007 inches thick); gold-cased metals have a coating thicker that 0.000007 inches.
Rolled Gold
Rolled gold is a very thin sheet of gold that is laminated to a lesser metal (usually brass). The two layers of metal are heated under pressure to fuse them together. The sheet is them rolled into a very thin sheet and then used to make jewelry or other objects. Jewelry made from rolled gold wear well over time. Rolled gold pieces are marked rolled gold plate, R.G.P., or plaqué d'or laminé.Alloyed Gold
| Colored Gold | Alloy Metal(s) Added to the Gold |
|---|---|
| Yellow Gold | 50% silver and 50% copper |
| White Gold | Nickel, zinc, copper, tin and manganese |
| Pink (rose) Gold | 90% copper and 10% silver |
| Green Gold | High proportion of silver or cadmium |
| Blue Gold | Some iron |
| Grey Gold | 15-20% iron |
Alloyed Gold comes in many colors. Many people don't realize that "Yellow Gold" is actually mixed with silver and copper or that "White Gold has nickel, zinc and other metals.
Before you buy your next piece of gold jewelery, make sure you understand the terms. If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask your Jeweler. Contact Modern Jewelers if you have any questions. Modern Jewelers is located on Bay Street in Beaufort, SC