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Archive for the ‘Gold Education’ Category
Beware of bad bullion dealers: It may be a scam
By admin October 19th, 2010
Three nonprofit organizations involved with gold coins are offering suggestions to investors and collectors who did not receive merchandise ordered from gold sellers, received merchandise that were not as described when they ordered it or didn’t receive payment for gold they submitted to sell.
In a recent case, “Howard” in Mississippi wired $20,000 several months ago to a California coin and bullion dealer to purchase gold coins. With the recent run-up in bullion prices he would have made a nice profit, except that he still has not received any gold from the dealer. Howard says, “All I’ve gotten is the run-around.”
“If you don’t know gold coins, you’d better know your gold coin dealer,” is the advice to collectors and investors from three nonprofit organizations websites: www.money.org, www.ictaonline.org and www.pngdealers.com.
There are many reputable and professional numismatists in the country. Before you make a purchase or sell, do your homework and check the dealer’s credentials.
A listof Better Business Bureau accredited and rated companies nationwide can be found online at www.bbb.org.
Tags: bullion, dealers, gold, scam
Posted in Gold Education, Gold Parties, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Repair your broken jewelry on your own
By admin October 11th, 2010
Soldering is a way to connect metal object using heat and solder. Using the metal, particles move apart and tiny spaces are made. The solder then moves into these spaces and connects the broken metal pieces.
Soldering is a great way to fix your broken jewelry provided you are careful while soldering. It requires great precision. You can use a variety of solders available to fix your jewelry. Silver is the most common one used. It is used to solder gold and copper.
There are variety of solders available depending on the hardness required. Hard, soft and medium are used commonly used by silversmiths.
Soldering your jewelry can recover your precious jewelry or can ruin it if you are not careful enough, so be careful when soldering your jewelry. So practice first on other broken objects before trying it out on your precious jewelry.
Tags: fix, gold, jewelry, repair, silver, soldering
Posted in Gold Education | No Comments »
Hallmark
By admin July 17th, 2010
A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of precious metals — platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium. Old articles are evaluated and tested at an official Hallmarking Centre and then certified that the metal used conforms to the national and international standard of fineness and purity.
Notwithstanding the hallmarking systems themselves, many nations require, as a prerequisite to official hallmarking, that the maker or sponsor itself mark upon the item a responsibility mark and a claim of fineness. Responsibility marks are also required in the U.S. if metal fineness is claimed despite the fact that there is no official hallmarking scheme in this country. Nevertheless, in nations with an official hallmarking scheme, the hallmark is only applied after the item has been assayed to determine that its purity conforms not only to the standards set down by the law but also and with the maker’s claims as to metallurgical content.
Tags: hallmarks, standards
Posted in Gold Education | 8 Comments »
Diamonds Are No Longer The Hardest Natural Substance On Earth!
By admin February 15th, 2010
While polishing a piece of the Havero meteorite that fell to Earth in Finland in 1971, researchers discovered an intensely rich carbon-loaded spot that could not be smoothed by a diamond containing polishing paste. A closer look at the meteorite revealed two completely new kinds of naturally occurring carbon structures that are harder than diamonds formed within the Earth.
Such “super diamonds” had been predicted to exist decades ago but have never before been found in nature. Researchers found that these “super diamonds” consist of fused graphite sheets similar to artificial diamonds. The discovery will help scientists gain a better understanding of carbon polymorphs and give them material to investigate and possibly synthesize super diamonds.
Will this devalue the worth of your diamonds! Of course not! Diamonds are still beautiful! Just an interesting little tidbit of new information 
Tags: diamonds, diamonds hard, diamons, Havero meteorite, super diamonds
Posted in Gold Education | 8 Comments »
Carat, Color and Other Things Gold
By admin February 3rd, 2010
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.
Tags: gold color, gold karat, sell gold jewelry
Posted in Gold Education | 2 Comments »
Popular Precious Metals
By admin February 1st, 2010
There is no doubt that gold is still considered number one as far as most investors are concerned, and the gold market continues to thrive. In fact, since the great economy crash more and more people are both selling gold and buying gold. While gold continues to be popular for jewelry, and especially wedding rings, other precious metals are gaining, or even overtaking gold, in the popularity stakes. Let us take a look at the main metals used in jewelry today.
Platinum
Platinum has made a huge impact on the jewelry market over the last decade, particularly in men’s wedding rings. Platinum is much harder than gold and so is seen not only as attractive but also more hard wearing. Platinum is also a lot heavier than gold and quite a lot more expensive. Because of its expense many designers choose to incorporate platinum into designs that use gold as well, particularly white gold. The cool whiteness of platinum also makes it a very popular choice in engagement rings as it accentuates the brilliance of diamonds. Where once diamonds and gold seemed the ultimate combination platinum has taken over.
Titanium
Titanium is the hardest metal known to man. It is incredibly tough but also very light. For a long time titanium was used only for things like space technology and for bone replacements and plates in surgery. Now it is finding its place as a choice in jewelry. Like platinum it is a popular choice for men because of its durability and tough image. Many women are also leaning towards titanium because of its lightness. Titanium is naturally a grayish white color but special technologies are also used to produce black titanium as well. While men seem to really like titanium it could be some time for most women to let go of our love for gold jewelry in all its color forms.
Tungsten
This relative newcomer to the jewelry scene again plays on the ‘tough’ aspect. Tungsten looks attractive, is virtually scratch-proof and does not carry as high a price tag as Platinum, Gold, or Titanium. Tungsten carbide jewelry is polished after forging and stays polished. This no-dent, no-scratch, permanent polish is admired for its low-maintenance as much as its looks.
Silver
Many people prefer wearing silver to gold, especially for everyday wear. Traditionally silver is not seen as appropriate for engagement or wedding rings, but is fine for just about any other kind of jewelry, from nose studs to toe rings and everything in between. Just as you would look for a karat stamp on gold jewelry sterling silver will be marked with the numbers 925. Silver can be very attractive, but it does tend to tarnish easily and so needs to be cleaned frequently. Some silver jewelry, especially necklaces, will be electroplated with radium or other metals to keep them looking shiny for longer.
Gold
For many people gold remains the metal of choice when it comes to jewelry, with or without diamonds or other precious stones. Gold jewelry comes in a variety of colors and mixes of colors and an almost unlimited number of designs.
If you can’t make up your mind which precious metals you prefer you could of course always buy chains, and rings that combine one or more of the metals in different colors.
Tags: gold jewelry, platinum, precious metals, silver, tungsten
Posted in Gold Education | 3 Comments »
The Symbolism of Gold
By admin January 29th, 2010
Gold has been part of the history of mankind since just after the Neolithic age, before recorded history. This beautiful colored metal has been cherished for so long. It is rich in symbolism for cultures past and present and still is.
While many people are turning now to wedding bands of platinum and titanium, gold wedding bands still hold its glittering place as the number one choice.
For some people and cultures gold represents sunshine and happiness. The alchemists who sought to turn lead (and other elements) into gold used the Chinese symbol of the sun, a dot enclosed in a circle, as the representation of gold. The sun is life, the sun is powerful, and gold is the color of the sun.
While gold was considered very plentiful in ancient Egyptian times it was still the chosen treasure to bury with the great Pharaohs to take to the God’s on the other side of the river.
Sacrifice and eternity are a part of gold’s appeal for many people. Gold in wedding rings represents eternal love and yet gold is also associated with evil.
The evil side of gold in nearly every religion or culture in the world is not so much about the gold itself but rather about man’s own greed. Without doubt there have been millions who have succumbed to the allure of gold, often at the peril of their own lives, the taking of other’s lives and the loss of their own humanity for the greed of wealth. Is it the allure of gold itself that makes it so wanted and precious, or simply the ‘wealth value’ man has placed upon it? Throughout history gold has continued to be precious although its monetary value rises and falls.
The bible shows gold as both evil and good. While it was evil to worship the golden calf (money rather than God), we also see in Revelations that the streets of Heaven itself will be made of gold.
India consumes around 25% of the world’s gold resources. It is sacred to most of the country’s main religions, and is perhaps the most precious gift man can find to offer a god – apart from the self.
It cannot simply be gold’s scarcity that has made it so revered and precious? There have been countries so rich in gold it was almost disposable like plastic is in our society now. Perhaps everyone sees something different in gold.
If you were to look on a dazzling array of perfectly formed gold bars sitting in a bank, do you see the beauty of gold or do you see wealth? When you see a well designed piece of gold jewelry do you see wealth or do you see beauty, or do you see both? What symbolic images does gold gilding in a book bring up for you?
It is not exactly a glass half-empty or half –full situation but what would you think if you found a gold ring while cleaning out the attic or basement? Would your thoughts be – oh that’s beautiful, I could keep it or maybe sell it to pay the bills? Or would your thoughts be – hey that looks like real gold I can get cash for gold, and its quite pretty too?
Gold has a special allure and affects all of us in different ways. What are your thoughts?
Tags: gold evil, gold symbolism
Posted in Gold Education | 2 Comments »
Gold Coin Mystery
By admin January 21st, 2010
Every holiday season the Salvation Army collects millions to aid the poor and needy. Volunteers can often be heard ringing a bell before being seen beside their large red kettles. This past holiday season was a bit rough for the Salvation Army as donations were not as numerous as in the past, however, the mystery donation of gold coins have helped the charity come closer to its yearly goals.
Since 1982 the Salvation Army has mysteriously received a total of 307 gold coins in various kettles. Just this past holiday season gold coins worth over $1200 were found in kettles in Annapolis, York, and Farmington Hills. Many of the gold coins found in Salvation Army kettles have been South African gold krugerrands and Canadian coins. In most cases the gold coin is wrapped in a dollar bill and there are some accounts of the donor making an anonymous phone call to the charity informing it to expect a surprise.
People speculate that the gold coin donations are made by individuals who have benefitted from the charity in the past. Others suspect it is a publicity stunt created by the Salvation Army itself because the mystery donations usually occur when donations are lagging and the publicity gives the charity a boost in donations. In any case, the charity is always thankful for any donations and continues to try to solve the mystery behind the donation of gold coins.
Tags: Gold Coins, Gold Donations, Krugerrands, Salvation army
Posted in Gold Education | 3 Comments »
What Do We Buy At Gold Parties?
By admin January 19th, 2010
Below are the types of precious metals that we buy at our gold parties, and some information about each you may find helpful!
GOLD
Gold can be found in a variety of colors and karats depending on the type and amount of metal that is mixed in with the pure gold to give it strength, durability, and color. Usually the item will be stamped with a karat # (10k, 14k, 18k, 22k), but if it isn’t we can determine the gold content (karat) through testing.
PLATINUM
This is a white/silvery colored metal similar to that of white gold. It will be stamped with Plat950, 950, PT950, Platinum, PLAT, 5%Irid-Plat, 10% Irid-Plat, or Iridium Platinum. As with Gold, we will test the platinum so there is no need to worry should your piece not be stamped.
SILVER
Silver pieces will be stamped Sterling, Sterl., 925, 950, 965, 999, 999 Fine, or Fine Silver. Many items such as dinnerware and household items are weighted which means they are hollow on the inside.
COSTUME JEWELRY
These items have no value and unfortunately we do not buy costume jewelry.
The Markings on Your Jewelry
On most items of jewelry you will find a marking or “stamp”. This corresponds to the metal content of the piece. On gold, the markings will generally be in percentages or karats, platinum will be marked as such, and silver will have sterling or sterling silver if it is pure silver.
Typical markings:
GOLD:
- .977 = 22K
- .750 = 18K
- .585 = 14K
- .417 = 10K
- .375 = 9 K
- .333 = 8 K
PLATINUM
- PT950
STERLING SILVER
- 925
MARKINGS THAT INDICATE NO GOLD CONTENT OR VALUE:
| Gold Filled (GF) |
Heavy Gold Plated (HE) |
| Gold Plated (GP) |
10K Gold Filled (1/10) or (1/10 GF) |
| Rolled Gold Plated (RGP) |
Gold Filled (1/20) |
| Rolled Plated (RP) |
Electroplated (EP) |
MARKINGS THAT INDICATE NO SILVER CONTENT OR VALUE:
| Mexico |
900 |
| 800 |
915 |
| International Silver |
Rogers Silver |
| Silver-Plated |
Coin Silver |
Tags: gold markings, platinum, silver, what we buy
Posted in Gold Education, Gold Parties | No Comments »
Uses and Applications of Gold
By admin January 16th, 2010
Gold Uses and Applications
Gold has been used throughout the world as a vehicle for monetary exchange. Gold has long been used as a mechanism that was used to accentuate power and respect. Inadvertently, in many prehistoric cultures gold was the only thing that symbolized their respect.
The amount of gold in the modern day world is finite. However, you will not hear about anyone digging for gold in this modern day and age. Gold mines and things of that nature have become a thing of the past, instead gold is used now for different decadent things, than opposed to just being a source of monetary exchange many years ago.
Pure gold is actually stated to be too soft to use for day to day monetary expenses. This particular type of pure gold has to be hardened utilizing other base metals in order to be operable at all. This method of hardening gold is referred to as alloying.
Gold content alloys are measured in carats. Pure gold is designated to be 24 carats. While, gold coins that were circulated for monetary exchanges, were made with a standard 22 carat alloy, and were avidly referred to as crown gold because of their hardness.
Today one of the most apparent uses for gold is in gold jewelry. The gold jewelry that you obtain for the purpose of wearing as a fashionable piece are available in lower alloys. Typically, you can obtain gold jewelry that is 22 carats, 18 carats, 14 carats or 10 carats. The lower the carat is the more copper was used in order to harden the material, and a very small amount of pure gold was actually used to make the jewelry.
Gold has also been used in many medicinal practices throughout its existence, and presently is still used for these same practices today in many different countries. During the medieval times people would avidly utilize gold for medicinal reasons. These people believed that nothing as beautiful as gold could have ever made it to the earth if it were not meant to be healthy and benefit mankind.
Gold alloys are still utilized today in many dentistry procedures. In fact, one thing that is catching on with gold alloys in your mouth are grills. These grills as they are called are simple gold outlines of your teeth that you can set on top of your teeth to give you a prestige appearance.
Gold can also be used in food and drinks. Gold is avidly utilized in many countries to give food as well as different drinks a decorative appearance. In the medieval times many kings and queens would not eat their food unless it was adorned with some kind of gold on top of it.
These days we also use gold in electronics as a main conductor of energy. Gold has many uses for our modern day existence; many people have just ceased to forget about all the great things that gold can inadvertently do for humanity.
Tags: gold jewelry, gold uses
Posted in Gold Education | No Comments »
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Gold
Parties. You have my promise that I'll do everything I can
to make your party
fun, easy, and profitable! If you are interested in hosting
a gold party, call me at 516-513-0830 and let's talk! My
team of professional gold party planners handle all the
party planning so it's a lot easier than you think, and with
the price of gold at record-setting prices you can make a
lot more than you'd expect! Between the free food,
drinks, and leaving the party with cash, you'd be shocked at
how much fun a gold party can be! Call today and ask to
speak with "Joyce." I look forward to talking with you!