Our Free Gold Guide : the ABC’s of Gold

Before the invention of the American Dollar, the British Pound, or the Indian Rupee, what did people use to denote currency? One of the timeless ways to denote one’s wealth was often by how much gold he/she owned. Heavy and rare, it’s been used as a status symbol and symbol of wealth throughout the ages. This is our free gold guide, and we hope you enjoy our journey into the world of this precious metal. Enjoy…

Gold is one of the worlds most valuable and precious metals.  It is so malleable and soft that a mere ounce of this substance can be stretched into a 5 mile long wire. This same ounce can be hammered into a sheet so think that it could cover 100 square feet. Since it doesn’t corrode or rust, it can last indefinitely. It can also be found everywhere around us. It’s in the seas and rivers, in the crust of the earth, and in the plants as well. Alas, it is also very expensive and difficult to extract, and this is why it is so expensive. It takes approximately 2.5 to 3 tons of gold ore to extract one single ounce of pure gold.

Do you know what is the most popular metal being used in jewelry today? Gold of course and heart jewelry is no exception. Most of this gold probably goes into the simple gold wedding band. Since pure gold is so soft and malleable, it is usually mixed with other metals in order to make it stronger and not as able to bend so easily. Do you know what the result is when you mix two or more metals together? It is called an alloy, and most of the gold that is used in jewelry is an alloy. What types of jewelry you ask? How about:

• Gold jewelry
• White gold jewelry
• 24k gold jewelry
• 22k gold jewelry
• 18k gold jewelry
• 14k gold jewelry
• Rose gold jewelry
• Wholesale gold jewelry
• Gold body jewelry
• Indian gold jewelry
• Gold horse jewelry
• Gold plated jewelry
• Gold charm jewelry
• Other fine gold jewelry items

The word karat is derived from the word for the fruit of the carob tree.  For example, in Arabic the word qirat, in Greek the word keration, and in Italian the word carato.  The seeds of the fruit from the carob tree were used in ancient times for measuring precious gems.  Since the pure gold Byzantine coin called the solidus weighed 24 karats, the 24 karat mark (24 KT or 24K) became the mark used to indicate that an object was pure gold.

When we talk about gold we often hear the term carat (or karat). Bugs bunny preferred to be paid in carrots, but that’s another item all together. When you are paid in carats, well, then you are really talking about some major money. In jewelry terms, the carat has a double meaning. It is used as a measurement of weight for gemstones (one carat is usually equivalent to 1/5 gram), but in some countries it can also be used to denote the amount of pure gold in a piece of gold jewelry. In the United States, when we want to indicate the gold content rather than the weight, we use a “k”, such as “karat”, to avoid any confusion that may arise.

In most instances 24K gold is too soft to be used in jewelry.  In some parts of the world they prefer to use 18K or 20K because of its brighter yellow color and the simple fact that it is closer to being pure 24K gold.  In the United States 14K or 18K is preferred because it is more durable.

There is a new alloy on the way that we should mention. Gold 990 is an alloy of pure gold and only a small amount of titanium. This means you have almost pure gold, with greatly increased durability. This alloy is of “straw color”, and is similar to the look of 14K gold, so those looking for that 24K gold look should look further. Still, if you are looking for a way to have “almost pure” gold and better durability, this alloy may suit you great.

This brings us to the question “In order for something to be called gold, how many carats must the item be?”  The rules for this vary, depending upon the country.  In the United States, in order for an item to be called “gold” it has to be at least 10K.  In France and Italy it must be 18K, while in Canada and England the number is 9K.

Many think that gold’s only color is yellow. Well, they are partly correct. Pure 24K gold is always yellow in color. Since pure gold is too soft and malleable for jewelry use, and since countries have different standards for what “gold” means, you can change the color of “gold” by the alloys that you happen to add to it. Yellow gold is made up of gold, silver and copper. White gold is comprised of gold, zinc, nickel, silver, palladium and platinum. Green gold is made up of gold, silver, copper, and zinc. Pink (or red) gold is composed of gold, copper, and sometimes a small amount of silver.

Oh, one thing we should talk about before leaving this subject of carats and karats. When you are purchasing a piece of jewelry you should be aware of underkarating. This is a serious problem around the world, so make sure that you purchase your jewelry from a reliable jewelry store or reliable jewelry online outlet. Underkarating means that the jewelry item is marked to indicate a certain amount of jewelry content, but in actuality it contains less than the amount indicated. Jewelers who sell underkarated jewelry will sometimes boast about the fact that you are getting a bargain…but in actuality you are not. Since the jewelry item they are selling you contains less gold and more alloy than indicated, what kind of a bargain is that? As always, the buyer must beware. Only purchase your jewelry items from reliable sources.

Another way that you can ensure that the gold jewelry item you purchased is legit is to look for a manufacturer’s registered trademark. It is stamped near the karat mark, and manufacturers take this trademark very seriously. As more and more jewelers get concerned about being held liable, they are willing to only purchase jewelry items from manufacturers who are willing to stand by what they sell. Since this trademark can be traced back to the people who made this jewelry, their reputation is on the line. They won’t dare mess up in this area.

Did you know what causes your skin discoloration with some forms of gold jewelry? It’s not the pure gold that is doing this. Pure gold does not tarnish, and will not discolor the skin. It’s the alloys that are added to the pure gold that are causing this effect. This happens mostly under damp or moist conditions. These alloys, along with the fatty acids that are present in your perspiration, can set up a corrosive reaction. This problem can be even worse in areas where there is salt in the air, so if you plan a trip to the beach…beware.

Metallic abrasion that is caused by some makeup is another common cause of discoloration.  Did you know that some makeup contains compounds that are actually harder than the jewelry in which they are coming into contact with?  As these compounds rub against the jewelry they can cause some of the gold to flake off.  This forms a dark looking “dust”, and when this “dust” makes contact with your sweaty skin, a black smudge is the result.

So what is the solution if you happen to have discoloration resulting from jewelry? The solution is quite simple actually. You need to get into the habit of removing the jewelry often and washing the skin that it is coming into contact with. Plain old soap and water is preferred. It’s also a good idea to keep your jewelry clean as well. You should wipe the jewelry periodically with a soft cloth to remove any tarnish that may build up. It might also be a good idea to use a body powder (the absorbent type that is free of abrasions) on all areas of your skin that will be in contact with the jewelry you wish to wear.

If you happen to like a certain piece of jewelry, why not see if a similar piece is available from another manufacturer?  You may find that one piece causes discoloration while another does not.  This doesn’t mean that one piece is inferior to another.  Jewelry manufacturers often use different alloys, or different combinations of alloys.  This means that although the look may be the same, one piece of jewelry will cause discoloration while another may not.

You know, you can always switch to a more pure form of gold jewelry.  This could resolve the problem.  After all, it is these alloys that are causing the problem, and if you move more in the direction of pure gold…problem solved.

We hope you enjoyed our Free Gold Guide Tour into the World of Gold Jewelry and Skin Discoloration. If you would like to learn a bit more, please visit our blog on heart jewelry or open heart jewelry We do focus on heart jewelry primarily, but we also provide general information regarding the history of jewelry, and where you can purchase other great jewelry items.