Golden Rules for Buying Gold Jewelry

Gold: Gold is a type of Precious metal whose chemical symbol is AU.

Temperature: The melting temperature of Gold is slightly lower than that of copper at 1945 ° F or 1063 ° C ( Iron is 2802°F and Copper is 1981°F )

Specific Gravity: of gold is 19.32 Density: One cubic inch of pure gold weighs 10.18 troy ounces. Weight: Gold for Jewelry purposes is weighed in Grams, Pennyweight (DWT) or Ounces (troy) 1 Troy ounce is equal to 31.10348 grams or 20 DWT (pennyweight) 1 DWT (pennyweight) is equal to 1.555 grams or 0.05 troy ounces. Karat: The most popular jewelry made in gold is 10 karat,14 karat, 18 karat and 22 karat gold Jewelry.

Purity: The purest form of Gold considered 24 karats is equal to roughly 99.9 percent purity.

22 karat gold : Being 91.3 percent in purity and hence very soft and malleable, very intricate designs of gold jewelry with beautiful work can be made in 22 karat gold.



Know your karats

Karat: When we say 24 kt. Gold jewelry, we mean that all the 24 parts in the gold are just pure gold without traces of any other metal(s) or 99.9 percent pure. When we say 22 kt. Gold Jewelry we mean that 22 parts of the jewelry, is gold and the balance 2 parts are some other metal(s)or equal to 91.3 percent gold plus 8.6 percent of some other metal alloy When we say 18 Kt. Gold Jewelry, we mean that 18 parts of the jewelry is gold and the balance 6 parts is some other metal or equal to about 75 percent gold plus 25 percent of some other metal alloy.

Look for the karat mark, which will tell you that the piece is real gold and the percentage of pure gold it contains. Pure gold, or 24K, has a deeply warm and rich color, but it is extremely soft and easily damaged. For this reason, 24K gold is not commonly used for jewelry purposes. Oftentimes, gold is alloyed with other metals, such as copper, silver, nickel and zinc to give it strength and durability. Different proportions of these alloys also give gold its rose, green, or white coloration.

22K gold is 91.3 % gold mixed with other metals to give it strength and durability. 18K gold is 75% gold; 14K is 58.5%; and 10K is 41.6%. The higher the karatage, the richer the color will be and the more costly. In the U.S. jewelry must be at least 10K to be legally sold as real gold. (In Canada and Mexico, the minimum legal standard of karatage is 9K and 8K respectively.) Imported gold jewelry may be stamped with different numbers. For example, the European markings for 14 karat gold jewelry is 585; for 18K it is 750.

Note: Don't be confused with "carats," the weight and measure used for diamonds and other gems.

Evaluate the price

In addition to karat weight, the price of gold jewelry is determined by several factors: total weight; design and construction; and ornamental detailing, such as engraving or Florentine finish. Although nearly all gold jewelry today is made with the help of special machines, some handwork is always involved. The more there is, the higher the price. The good news is that through modern manufacturing technology, large, lightweight, and exciting pieces can be surprisingly affordable.

Check the clasp

When buying a gold necklace or bracelet, make sure you examine the clasp to see if it is strong enough to support the chain, especially if the piece does not have a hallmark. Run your hand over the chain and look for any rough edges. A well-made piece of gold jewelry should look and feel like the quality piece it is. And if you take the time to look it over, you will have a piece that, with good care, can last a lifetime.