Gold won't tarnish, rust, or corrode,
and though it's very strong, it is also the most malleable
of all metals.
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| Gold, element Au, was one of
the first known metals. The gold standard defines
the world's currency system, whereby money represents
a value in gold. |
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24 karat = 100%
Gold
Too soft for jewelry |
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22 karat = 91.7%
Gold
Very soft — not recommended for jewelry
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18 karat = 75.0%
Gold
Recommended for fine jewelry |
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14 karat = 58.3%
Gold
Recommended for jewelry |
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12 karat = 50.0%
Gold
Not acceptable for jewelry |
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10 karat = 41.7%
Gold
The legal karat limit considered as real gold
in the United States |
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Pure gold is too soft to withstand the stresses of every-day
wear, so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like
silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength
and durability. Karatage, noted by a number followed
by "k" indicates purity, or how much of the
metal in a piece of jewelry is gold. Karatage is expressed
in 24ths, making 24k gold 100% gold.
The color of gold is determined by two factors:
- The type of metal alloys included in it
- The percentage of each metal alloy
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| In jewelry at Blue Nile, you'll find 18k
and 14k yellow gold. 18k gold contains more precious
metal than 14k gold. It is composed of 75% gold, which
is alloyed with other metals to make it strong enough
to withstand every-day wear. Because 14k gold is composed
of only 58.3% gold, and 41.7% other metals that give
it strength, its gold color is not as rich as 18k gold.
14k gold is most commonly found in cases where strength
is most important, like in earring backs and bracelet
clasps. |
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| Because 18k white gold is 75% gold, and
14k white gold is 58.3% gold, jewelry made from these
metals has a slight yellow color. To enhance the whiteness,
almost all white gold is plated with rhodium, a shiny,
white metal which is extremely hard. Depending on the
amount of wear to a piece of jewelry, over time this
rhodium plating may wear off, revealing the original
metal color. Re-plating is a simple process that can
be done to restore your jewelry's whiteness if needed. |
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| Rose gold gets its color from a larger
proportion of copper in the metal alloy. This gives
the gold a beautiful pink color. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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