About Gold

Gold is probably the most popular metal in the world when dealing with jewelry. Gold can range from 24K to 10K (lowest in U.S.) and it won't tarnish, rust, or corrode. And though it's very strong, it is also the most malleable of all metals.

Gold in its pure form (24k) is too soft to withstand abrasions caused from extensive daily wear, so it is alloyed with other metals to give it strength. This strength makes gold an excellent choice for a ring setting though most rings still have the diamond set in a platinum head. Common gold alloys are silver, copper, nickel, and zinc.

Gold color is determined by the percentage of alloys that are included in the metal. When gold is alloyed with silver, copper, and zinc, the shade of color will vary. For instance, 24K gold is very rich in the color yellow/gold, while 14K gold is a little more lighter in color. When gold is alloyed with nickel, copper, and zinc, it becomes white gold. Yellow gold and white gold have very similar strength and malleability. White gold looks very similar to platinum, but the two have very different properties and prices.

Purity

The purity of gold is measured in karats, which are expressed in 24ths. Thus, 24-karat gold is pure while 12-karat gold is 50 percent gold and 50 percent alloy. Here is a table that explains how gold is used depending on the number of karats used:

# of Karats	Percentage	Comments
24	100% Gold	Pure gold. Too soft for jewelry.
22	91.7% Gold	Very soft. Not recommended for jewelry.
18	75% Gold	Recommended for fine jewelry.
14	58.3% Gold	Acceptable for jewelry.
12	50% Gold	Not acceptable for jewelry.
10	41.7% Gold	The legal karat limit considered as real gold in the United States.

Gold Pricing

The price of gold jewelry is dependent upon the purity of the gold used or karat weight, as well as the design and construction of the piece of jewelry. When the karat weight or the gold percentage of the jewelry is high, the yellow color of gold is brighter, raising the value of the jewelry.

Care

Keep your gold jewelry away from harsh chemicals such as chlorine and cleaning fluids. This will reduce daily abrasions and prolong gold's luster.

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).

Store gold pieces separately in soft cloth bags or original boxes to protect them from the exposure to harsh daily elements.

Consider 18k gold for jewelry and ring settings because it is rich in color and durable. White gold is also a good substitute for platinum and it is much more affordable.