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Gold
Gold is the oldest precious metal
known to man, which has an unparalleled combination of chemical and physical
properties that makes it invaluable. Gold has been one of mankind’s most
revered substances since the beginning of time and has been ascribed miraculous
powers.
The factors that have driven gold's
everlasting, universal appeal are numerous:
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Gold is extremely rare - It is
estimated that all the gold ever mined would fit underneath the Eiffel Tower in
Paris. It takes several tones of ore to produce just one ounce of gold.
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Gold is beautiful - Jewelers
throughout history have preferred gold to all other metals for its warm golden
color. The metal also takes well to alloying with other metals, which has
allowed metalsmiths to create a rainbow of shades for gold. For instance,
mixing gold with copper creates rose gold; mixing gold with silver creates
green gold; and mixing it with palladium produces white gold.
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Gold is durable - The sheer amount
of gold jewelry, coins and artifacts from ancient cultures on display in the
world's museums is a testament to the metal's enduring beauty. It is extremely
heavy, with one cubic foot weighing half a ton. Although pure gold is
relatively soft, it becomes exceptionally strong when alloyed with other
metals. Because of its indestructibility, gold is used by the electronics
industry to create 10 billion tiny electrical contacts each year
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Gold is pure - Because of this
purity, it is not affected by air, heat or moisture and is resistant to
tarnish. These properties have helped make gold bullion such a valuable
commodity
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Gold is extremely malleable - Gold is so easy to work with that a single ounce
can be drawn out into an unbroken strand approximately 60 miles long. It can be
melted or shaped to create any design.
Shades of gold
The most common picture formed in the mind regarding gold is that it is a metal
with a soft, yellow glow. In fact, gold itself is only yellow in color.
However, based on the mixture of pure 24K yellow gold with various other metals
(to form alloy), it takes on different colors because of which it comes in
variety of shades and different hues. The percentage of other metals (copper,
silver, zinc, nickel, etc.) produces the different shades of gold. The main
shades of gold are as follows:
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Yellow gold: This is gold in its
natural shade, which is 24K pure gold. How yellow a piece is will depend on its
gold content. Generally, 14 karat gold has a brighter yellow than 10 karat
gold; 18 karat gold has a deeper yellow than 14 karat gold, and so on.
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White gold - White gold has become
very fashionable in recent years. White gold has the same properties as yellow
gold, but is mixed with different alloys to give it its white color. Generally,
white gold is created by using a nickel or palladium alloy, zinc and copper.
Sometimes, white gold is plated with an even whiter metal, such as rhodium (a
rare member of the platinum family) to enhance its appearance.
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Rose gold - By alloying just copper
with yellow gold, it is possible to create gold with a pink, blush-like tint,
which experts say lends a soft, flattering effect to the skin.
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Green gold – An alloy of pure yellow
gold and pure silver produces the green tint. For durability, harder metals
such as nickel or zinc can be used.
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Gold purity – Karats
Gold is very soft and malleable and it can be melted and shaped to create
virtually any design. However, pure gold is too soft, which makes it less
durable. So it is usually alloyed with other metals such as copper or silver to
make it stronger and more durable.
The gold content in a particular alloy is expressed in karats (abbreviated as K
or KT). So karat actually measures the purity of gold.
Here are some common gold karatages (karat weights) and the corresponding
percentages of actual gold:
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24K represents pure gold (100%) and
is rarely used in jewelry.
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21K is 21/24ths gold content, or
87.5% gold. Jewelry of this karatage or higher is rare in the United States,
although it is far more common in parts of Europe, the Middle East and
Southeast Asia.
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18K is 18/24ths gold content, or 75%
gold. This is a popular karatage for higher end jewelry in the United States,
Europe and other regions, and its usage is expanding in North America.
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14K is 14/24ths gold content, or
roughly 58.5% gold. This is by far the most commonly used karatage in the
United States (and perhaps the world) and provides a nice balance between gold
content, hardness/durability and affordability.
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10K is 10/24ths gold content, or
41.7% gold. This is an increasingly popular karatage sold by many U.S. mall
jewelry chains, department stores, discount stores and other mass-market venues
because it offers budget-conscious consumers precious metal jewelry at more
affordable prices than the standard 14K. It is also the lowest gold content
that can be legally marked or sold as gold jewelry in the United States. Often
used in rings because they tend to be worn every day and experience many knocks
and thus require an exceptionally strong alloy.
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9K is 9/24ths gold content, or 37.5%
gold. This is a popular karatage sold by mass marketers in England and other
regions, although it cannot be marked or sold as gold jewelry in the United
States.
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When buying gold, it is always important to look for
karat mark that appears on the back of the golden item. All other things being
equal, the higher the karat, the more expensive an item is.
Taking care of gold jewelry
Gold jewelry should be protected from harsh chemicals
such as chlorine, acids, abrasives, and other cleaning fluids. Gold can lose
its luster over time if repeatedly exposed to dust, moisture, perspiration and
makeup. So make sure to clean your jewelry regularly. To clean gold jewelry,
use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap and wash gold gently with
a soft-bristled brush (a dull tooth brush works well). After cleaning and
rinsing, always dry and polish jewelry with a chamois or soft cloth to avoid
scratches and bring out its shine.
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