Gold Karat Info
Gold has meaning beyond its beauty, value beyond its price. Throughout history, kings have prized it, wars have fought over it, countries were conquered for it. In today's world, the allure of gold is expressed in fine jewelry. Of all the precious metals, only gold combines rich, warm luster with rarity, durability and the ability to be worked into the most intricate designs. Today's gold is accessible. Modern manufacturing techniques make real gold available in every price range. Gold jewelry has emotional value beyond its price. The woman who buys it herself or receives is as a gift feels special, important, and cared for. In fact, more than 60% of gold jewelry is bought by women to enhance a new outfit, to build a wardrobe of gold basics, and to reward themselves. But whether she purchases it for herself or receives it as a gift, every woman looks and feels good in gold.
Because gold can come in so many forms, there is a grading system designed to alert the goldsmith and the buyer how valuable the item is, and what it is made of. Because pure gold is extremely soft, other metals are mixed with the gold to make the piece more durable, less expensive, and to alter it’s color. All jewelry is required by law to be stamped so consumers will know the quality of gold used. Jewelry made in North America is typically marked with the karat grade (10K, 14K, etc.), and jewelry made in Italy is typically marked with the "fineness" such as (417, 583, etc.). So if your jewelry does not have a karat grade stamped on it, check for a 3-digit fineness number. Chances are the ring on your finger is marked 18K, 14K, or 10K, with the K standing for karat, the system used to describe the percentage of pure gold an item contains. 24K 100% pure gold. No other metal has been mixed. 18K 75% gold. Contains 18 parts gold and 6 parts of one or more additional metals. 14K 58.3% gold. Contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts of one or more additional metals. 12K 50% gold. Contains 12 parts gold and 12 parts of one or more additional metals. 10K 41.7% gold. Contains 10 parts gold and 14 parts of one or additional metals. Minimum karat that can be called “gold” in the United States.
You'll find examples of pure gold jewelry, but pure gold is soft and isn't practical for daily wear. Other metals are mixed with it to make it more durable (and to lower its cost). Metal Alloys Adding other metals to the mix also allows metallurgists to change the color of gold. Palladium or nickel can be added to create white gold. Adding copper produces a rose or pink tint, while silver gives gold a greenish cast. When metals are added to the gold the result is an alloy, a blended mixture of the metals that you can think of as a very expensive cake batter. Solid gold is a term that can be used to describe an item that's at least 10K (in the US) gold all the way through. Even though it's a gold alloy--18K, 14K, or anything down to 10K--it can be called solid gold. Gold jewelry never goes out of style, and for good reason, because gold is as wearer-friendly as it is beautiful. Pure gold doesn't react with other elements to create tarnish, the residue that accumulates on some metals before transferring to your skin as a stain. Sometimes people have allergy or staining problems with metals that are combined with gold, but the gold itself is rarely a problem. Gold can be worked into nearly any shape, from tiny strands that do not break easily to very thin sheets. One ounce of gold can even be hammered into an ultra thin sheet that's ten feet square. Gold can be manipulated nearly any way the artisan desires. Gold is one of the most precious metals in the world. It is present in the rivers, seas, and the earth's crust and trace amounts are present in plants and animals. It is, however, difficult and expensive to extract. In modern mining operations approximately 3 tons of ore are needed to extract one ounce of gold. The many desirable qualities found in gold, along with its scarcity, have made it the most popular metal for use in jewelry today.
Gold Colors Pure gold comes in yellow, but it can be produced in shades of rose, white, green, and even two-tone. None of these additional colors are natural, and instead produced by mixing pure 24K yellow gold with various other metals. The percentage of the other metals (copper, silver, zinc, and nickel) produces the different shades of gold. Rose Gold Rose gold is also known as pink gold or red gold, and is a mixture of pure yellow gold with a high percentage of copper. It has a very subtle and delicate color that may intensify somewhat with age due to a slight, but commonly regarded as attractive, tarnishing of the copper alloy. Rose gold is created by increasing the copper-colored alloys mixed with the gold, and decreasing the silver-colored alloys. 14K rose gold contains as much pure gold as 14K yellow gold but, because of the increased copper, is slightly pinker in color.
White Gold White gold is created by increasing the silver-colored alloys (zinc, silver, nickel) normally mixed with gold and decreasing the copper-colored alloys. 14K white gold contains as much gold as 14K yellow gold but is nearly white in color.		Green Gold Green gold is created by mixing an alloy of pure yellow gold and pure silver. For rings, harder metals such as nickel or zinc are sometimes added to make the gold more durable. The green color, like rose gold, is very subtle and is most noticeable when it is used in a piece of jewelry next to areas of yellow, white, and pink gold.
We have a few more frequently asked questions about gold. You can find them on our FAQ page. Fabulous Finishes The surfaces of gold jewelry is treated in many ways to enhance the design. Finishes may be combined to create exciting, contrast effects. Hammered - A bright, irregular surface texture. Satin, Brushed & Matte - Soft, lustrous looks that range from gently glowing to velvety. High Polish - Bright, smooth, shiny and highly reflective. Diamond Cut - Tiny angled facets give it a brilliant sparkle. Diamond Laser - Highly reflective finish, produced with a diamond-tipped tool. Choosing Chains Every jewelry wardrobe needs an assortment of gold chains in a variety of lengths and styles. Chains can be worn singly for a subtle fashion accent or in multiples for drama. Many look great with pendants. "A gold so hard, the decision to buy it becomes easy" If love lasts a lifetime, shouldn't your gold jewelry? People who buy gold jewelry look for the trademark that symbolizes Leach & Garner Gold. It's an assurance that their gold jewelry will last a lifetime. Classique! carries a wide variety of Aurafin's Leach & Garner Gold and we can help you pick the perfect piece for that special occasion. Superior, patented technology Aurafin's Leach & Garner Gold is such a perfect combination of superior strength and beautiful natural color that it earned a U.S. Patent, #5,180,551. It's more durable than ordinary 14K gold, so it resists scratching, stretching, breaking and denting. When made with Aurafin's Leach & Garner Gold, even delicate chains and safety catches on bracelets can withstand accidental tugging and twisting that comes with today's active lifestyles. And because the gold is nickel-free, it's hypoallergenic for those sensitive to nickel. Beautiful forever Wear Aurafin's Leach & Garner Gold for years, and it will still look new. The rich, natural color will remain true. It's remarkably uniform in color that each piece of jewelry in the collection perfectly matches the others, including bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings and bangles. Infinite possibilities Thanks to the unique, patented characteristics of Aurafin's Leach & Garner Gold, exciting new designs will constantly become available. That way, you can continue to add new pieces of jewelry to your collection. Peace of mind for life We're so confident about the quality of jewelry manufactured with Aurafin's Leach & Garner Gold that each piece is covered with a lifetime limited warranty, which protects it against failure during normal use. That protection instills an even greater confidence in those who select our brand of jewelry. They know that nothing on earth is stronger, except, of course, love.