Gold Crosses - How to Find one that is as Good as Gold
Is any other metal as good as gold? Gold has become the epitome of excellence in today’s world. There are gold medals that athletes strive to earn at the summer and winter Olympic Games. There is the Gold Standard, which many economists argue is an ideal monetary system for countries to use. There are also gold coins, gold pens, gold electrical wires, and even gold teeth! In many regards, gold itself has become a standard of excellence in society.
Likewise, gold has become an extremely popular material for various types of jewelry. Most jewelry is not pure gold (24 carats), as it is too soft to be effective. However, when manufacturers combine gold with base metals (i.e. copper or silver), they alter several of the properties of gold, including its color, ductility (flexibility), hardness, and melting point.
Several types of gold alloys create jewelry with carat values of 10k, 14k, 18k, or 22k. The "K" in the values reveals how much pure gold the jewelry contains. Copper is the most common type of base metal that forms a gold alloy for jewelry. Other base metals that create gold alloys and the colors that they form include:
A. White Gold Alloys
Jewelry manufacturers produce this type of alloy for items (such as gold crosses), by blending gold and (nickel or palladium). While palladium is pricier than nickel is, it is less likely to form "dermatitis," causing the skin to become red and painful.
B. Black Hills Gold Alloys
This type of gold includes 10k or 12k gold alloys. Their colors can include pink red, yellow, and green.
C. Red and Pink Gold Alloys
By adding more copper to a gold alloy, its color becomes deeper.
D. Green Gold Alloys
Adding silver to gold creates an alloy that is green in color
The process of creating gold alloys is somewhat complex. Manufacturers must first determine how the gold will react with other metals. For instance, adding too much of a particular metal can make the alloy too soft, too hard, or difficult to form into jewelry. Thus, manufacturers work to determine which recipes will produce alloys that are strong, attractive, and flexible.
Both pure gold and gold alloys are perfect for creating jewelry, such as gold earrings. One of the primary reasons is that gold is easy to shape into a multitude of jewelry types of shapes. One can even shape gold into strings that are narrow yet sturdy! Another major benefit of gold is that significantly fewer people have allergic reactions to it than other types of metals. Finally, unlike other types of metals, gold does not discolor and stain after it reacts with other elements on the periodic table.
Due to gold’s being an outstanding metal for jewelry, one of the blessings in disguise is having numerous pieces of gold jewelry from which to choose! Here are some tips that can help you to choose the perfect gold jewelry:
1. Determine how pure the gold jewelry is
Gold jewelry includes a carat rating, which indicates the percentage of pure gold that the jewelry contains. The higher the jewelry’s carat number is, the higher percentage of gold the jewelry contains. Pure gold is 24k, but is typically too brittle for most jewelry. Meanwhile, 18k gold is 75% gold, 14k gold is roughly 58% gold, and 12k gold is 50% gold. Finally, 10Kkgold is nearly 42% gold, and the lowest carat value for jewelry that jewelry sellers in the United States can label as "gold."
2. Recognize other markings on gold jewelry
While American jewelry (such as a gold bracelet) includes carat (K) markings, the European system includes the percentage of gold in the jewelry. For instance, 18k is valued at 750 (75%), 14k is valued at 585 (58.5%), and 10k is valued at 417 (41.7%).
Other types of markings on gold jewelry can include its country of origin, and a trademark or hallmark that indicates the jewelry’s producer.
3. Know the benefits of gold alloys
Because pure gold is so soft, gold jewelry manufacturers often create alloys by blending the gold with other metals. This results in several benefits:
• The cost of the jewelry drops
• The gold can change color
• The gold becomes sturdier
"Solid Gold" is not only a TV series from the 1980s, but also a term that jewelers use to classify certain gold jewelry. If a piece of jewelry is gold from its surface to its core; and is at least 10k gold (in the United States), then it can have the label of "solid gold." Thus, it is technically possible for gold alloy jewelry to have the classification of "solid gold."
4. Know the unique processes of gold plating, gold coating, and gold filling
Each of these processes involve specific techniques for adding gold to other metals (such as for gold crosses). Gold-plated jewelry involves various methods, which ultimately result in a gold covering that is somewhat thin. Be particularly cautious about purchasing gold jewelry that is "gold washed," as the layer of gold on the jewelry is extremely thin and brittle. Secondly, gold-coated jewelry involves several methods for mechanically adding a layer of gold onto cheaper metal. The thicker the coating of gold is, the better protected the metal underneath will be. Finally, "gold-filled" jewelry indicates: A) the type of gold that layers the jewelry, and B) how much gold the piece of jewelry contains.
5. Ask the right questions before buying gold jewelry
Always ask the right questions before signing on the dotted line:
• What is the gold’s carat value?
• Which features determined the gold jewelry’s price?
• Which type of clasp does the jewelry (bracelets and necklaces) have?
• Is the jewelry gold plated, coated or filled?
In modern times, gold has several applications, including various types of jewelry (such as gold earrings). When shopping offline or online for jewelry, consider the aforementioned tips to find the perfect jewelry for you or someone else. It is a golden opportunity!
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