GOLD EDUCATION

From the beginning of time man has desired gold worldwide. Not only is it a beautiful metal but it is also portable and valuable, its value fluctuates with market conditions and presently it is at an all time high. Gold was used as currency in Crete and it is thought the Egyptians discovered gold around 3,000 BC. Since then it has been a symbol of wealth as well as being used for decorative purposes and adornment. The Romans were the first to add gems to gold jewellery.

 

Because pure gold is soft it is usually alloyed with other metals to increase its strength. Gold is measured by the proportion of gold in an alloy, and the measurement is best known as a carat. Most quality jewellery is made using 18 carat gold, which means there is 18 parts of pure gold to 6 parts of alloy material. Pure gold which is 24 carat is considered too soft to make rings or other pieces of jewellery that are to be worn every day. Gold is made into various colours to cater for a range of customer preferences. The most popular gold colours are:

White gold is an alloy of gold and at least one white metal, usually nickel or palladium. Since this alloy is never truly white, it is almost always plated with rhodium, a shiny, white metal which is also extremely hard. Wear and tear on jewellery will cause the rhodium plating to wear off, revealing the original metal colour. This is easily remedied by having your jewellery replated to bring back the whiteness and make it look new again.

 

The natural colour of gold. It is used to create jewellery as it is the most malleable and ductile pure metal known. It is dense, soft, shiny, and does not tarnish, rust, or corrode. For jewellery it is measured in karats. See karat.

 

Also known as pink gold. It gets its pink colour due to a higher percentage of copper in the metal alloy.