If you are looking for a new ring, or considering investing in gold, it can be useful to understand some of the basics around this alluring substance considered the most prized of precious metals for centuries.
While gold is of course available in bars and coins we will focus here on the interesting world of gold jewelry and what gives it its fascinating variations.
In terms of simple monetary value (what pure gold is worth on the market) we need to understand what carats (or karats) are. Gold Karats then lead us directly to color which is part of what gives gold jewelry its great appeal.
The purity of gold is measured in Karats (carats). Pure, 100% gold is 24K(arats). All karat ratings show how many parts of gold are in a particular metallic mix. On jewelry this will be stamped somewhere on the piece. If you see something that says 18k you will know that 18 parts of the mixture is gold and the other 6 parts (to make 24) are of some other metal or combination of metals. (More about what they are later)
Nearly all gold jewelry will be either 9,10, 14 or 18 karats. In the United States 10K is the lowest rating that is considered as ‘real gold.’ The ways you will often see gold jewelry stamped as a rating is as: 18K, 18ct, 18kt, 750. The 750 is basically a percentage, in other words 18K gold is 75% pure (9K is 375 and 14 is 585). It is worth noting that while 18K is more pure, and therefore worth more in straight terms of gold value, it will be slightly softer and therefore easier to damage than 10K.
Pure gold in its natural form is the familiar, and always popular, yellow color. When it comes to jewelry the metals used as alloys. Most shades of yellow gold will use metals such as palladium. Nickel has often been used as an alloy too as it is cheaper than palladium, but is not commonly used now as around 1 in 8 people have an allergic reaction to it. If you should develop a rash from your gold jewelry you can be sure it contains nickel.
To make white gold other white alloys such as palladium and or silver are used. Even with white gold its natural color has a grayish tinge to it so white gold is often plated with rhodium which is both very white and very hard. Rhodium plating will eventually wear off and need to be replaced.
Pink, rose, and Russian red gold gets its color from the addition of copper in the alloy mix. The more copper is used the redder the gold will appear.
Green gold is certainly not as popular as yellow, white or pink, but it made without any copper, just gold and silver. A typical greenish yellow gold would be 75% gold and 25% silver.
Purple gold can be made using gold and aluminum while blue gold is produced by using either indium or iron as an alloy. These golds tend to shatter easily so are not often used in jewelry that is likely to be worn often.
Using laser technology even black gold is now available. The special process results in a very dense black color that is gaining in popularity, particularly when mixed with other gold colors.
Mixes are very popular especially in rings and necklaces. Gold color is always of course a personal choice and does not affect the cost of the gold itself.
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I love the Russian red gold,looks so beautiful. But wondering how a black gold would look like and Yes it is true gold is gold no matter the color. it doesn’t change the cost.
Gold prices fluctuate like the stock market. Don’t be confused by carat or karat. They mean the same thing, simply different spellings. One karat is equal to one twenty-fourth part.