Gold has an extraordinary heritage with unique qualities. As an enduring element found naturally in a distinct yellow color, gold is res...
Gold has an
extraordinary heritage with unique qualities. As an enduring element found
naturally in a distinct yellow color, gold is resistant to rust, tarnish, and
corrosion. Although gold is very strong, it's also the most malleable of all
precious metals.
Purity
Pure gold is too
soft for everyday wear, so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver,
copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability. Karatage, denoted
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.
We craft our
jewelry using both 18k and 14k gold. 18k gold is composed of 75% gold, which is
alloyed with other metals to make it strong enough for everyday wear. 14k gold
is composed of 58.3% gold and 41.7% of other metals.
Color
The color of gold
is determined by two factors:
The type of
metal alloys included
The percentage
of each metal alloy
Colored Gold: Gold can take different colors depending
on the metals it is mixed with. The different gold hues are generally for the
purpose of jewelry. To give you a quick idea here are some different types of
gold colors and how they are made:
1) Yellow gold: Yellow gold is the most common type of
gold used in jewelry.
It should be
noted, however, that although yellow is the natural color of gold, yellow gold
is not the same as pure gold.
Since this metal
is very soft, it is not suitable for jewelry making unless it is mixed with
other metals to make it harder.
2) White Gold: For gold to take a white color, it must
be mixed with a white metal such as manganese or palladium. Standard
White gold is usually 14K of gold (58.5% purity) while the rest is divided as
21% copper, 7.84% zinc, and 12.73% palladium. and White gold can often be rhodium
plated to give it a more shiny and white appearance.
3) Rose, Pink, Red Gold: Gold can take these colors when mixed
with copper. The more copper in the alloy, the darker the tone of red that will
surface. A common rose gold alloy composition is 18K (75% gold) mixed with 25%
copper while a 50/50 mix of gold (12K) with copper results in what we would
call red gold.
5) Green Gold: Green gold, otherwise known as electrum,
is a natural forming alloy which combines gold and silver. The greenish color
varies depending on the exact mixture but back in the 73% gold, 27% silver
6) Purple Gold: The purple color of this alloy is achieved
by adding aluminum and pure gold together. Purple gold is, however, not very
durable and can break easily because the compound is relatively brittle.
7) Blue Gold: One way to produce blue gold is to mix
indium with pure gold. Like purple gold, the resulting blue gold compound tends
to be brittle.
8) Black Gold: A gold alloy can be turned black by
using several methods. One way is to simply cover the surface of the piece with
a black compound (such as black rhodium).
Care
Since gold is a
natural element, it is affected by harsh chemicals such as chlorine or other
cleaning products. We recommend that you remove your jewelry when using
chemicals to reduce daily abrasions and prolong the luster. To clean gold
jewelry, use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap with a
soft-bristled brush. When not worn, store your gold pieces in soft cloth bags
or the original box to protect them from the elements of daily exposure.
