Gold
Purity
Gold, in its most pure form, is 24 karat, meaning 24 parts out of 24 are gold or 1000 parts our of 1000 as many Europeans tend to calculate it. In its purest form, gold is quite soft, so it is often mixed with other metals in order to make it stronger. In order to make durable and long lasting gold, jewelers combine gold with other alloys that strengthen the metal and change its color. To achieve a balance between the strength of each alloy and the value of gold, jewelers have standardized several different karat gold combinations. All karats are available in white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, and green gold with the exception of 22k and 24k which are only available in yellow.
- 24k Gold: 99%-100% pure gold. Gold in its purest form. This is, quite literally, pure gold, and is only available in a very rich yellow color. Often times found in jewelry made in Asia and the Middle East.
- 22k Gold: 90% pure gold. Gold slightly diluted. Often used in gold coins for stability also very rich in a yellow gold and only available in that color. Often times found in jewelry made in Asia and the Middle East.
- 20k Gold: 83% pure gold. Used previously in historic times, sometimes made in a white form or rose form. In modern times 20k is not used as there is not an advantage to working in a metal this pure, in time this purity often become brittle and 18k is preferred. Historically used in items found made in New England and Europe circa 1880-1940
- 18k Gold: 75% gold and 25% alloy. 18k gold is one of the most expensive types used in jewelry today because of its high gold content. Typically used in higher-end jewelry like diamond rings or platinum. Although 18k gold will show wear sooner, it is still the preferred quality of gold in most of the world. It can be mixed into any color gold!
- 14k Gold: 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloy. Considered the standard for pieces made in the United States. It still has a good mix of safety, beauty, and durability and can be mixed into any color gold!
- 10k gold: 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy. As the only karat gold that contains more alloy than gold, 10k gold is the least pure and therefore the most affordable of the karat grades. Typically the preferred metal for lower cost pieces. Good for lower cost and durability and can be mixed into any color gold!
Colors
|
Yellow:
Yellow gold can be mixed with alloys to bring the purity down. This is generally done for strength reasons. |
White:
White gold is generally yellow gold mixed with nickel. The use of nickel does two things: Makes the color white and makes the gold harder and more durable. After alloying gold with nickel in any purity, it is still not completely white and will have a slight yellow color to it as gold comes out of the ground yellow! Often times a metal called rhodium is plated over the gold alloy to make the final product look super bright white. White gold gives off a similar shine as platinum for a fraction of the cost. However for a stronger, whiter, hypoallergenic metal, try platinum or palladium. |
Rose:
Rose Gold is generally yellow gold mixed with copper. The use of copper does make the color a pinkish to reddish color. After alloying gold with copper in any purity, it is still not complete red or pink and will still have a yellow color to it. |
Green:
Green gold is achieved by mixing gold and silver together. Although silver does not have a green color by itself, when mixed with gold it creates a greenish color. It is actually more of a greenish-yellow color. Cadmium in small amounts can also be added to gold to make gold have a greenish color. Green gold does exist naturally and its use in jewelry has been around for almost 3,000 years. |
Platinum
Purity
Just like gold, platinum in its purest form would be .9999 platinum or 999 out of 1000 parts.
|
0.9999 platinum
platinum in its purest form |
0.999 platinum
platinum extreemly close to its purest form, and until recently was considered the purest form |
0.950 platinum
platinum mixed with a 5% alloy generally of Ruthenium or Iridium and generally the highest purity found in jewelry |
0.900 platinum
platinum mixed with 10% alloy generally of Ruthenium or Iridium or a comination and some of the most common platinum used in jewelry. |
Platinum vs. White Gold
Platinum is naturally mined white metal while white gold is not. White gold is actually pure yellow gold mixed with alloys that overpower the gold color to create an almost-white hue. Platinum is tough and durable however it is malleable. It's also one of the heaviest metals, weighing about 66% more than 14K gold. This property gives platinum jewelry the substantial hefty feel that many people prefer. Platinum is also hypoallergenic.
Platinum is naturally mined white metal while white gold is not. White gold is actually pure yellow gold mixed with alloys that overpower the gold color to create an almost-white hue. Platinum is tough and durable however it is malleable. It's also one of the heaviest metals, weighing about 66% more than 14K gold. This property gives platinum jewelry the substantial hefty feel that many people prefer. Platinum is also hypoallergenic.
Silver
Silver is a naturally occurring white metal. However due to silvers extreme softness is not generally preferred for jewelry items intended to last. Just like the other metals silver also comes in different alloys of fineness.
|
Ultra Fine Silver
99.99% Silver (999.9). Similar to platinum this is the purest form at 9999 pure |
Fine Silver
99.9% Silver (999). Also similar to platinum as this form for many years was considered the purest form until we were able to calculate purity further |
Sterling Silver
92.5% silver (925)92.5% of the object by weight is silver and 7.5% will be another alloy, usually copper. Usually jewelry and silverware are sterling silver. This is the most common used from of silver in jewelry. |
Coin Silver
900 or 90% was originally formed by melting coin down and making pieces out of it. Found more frequently in older jewelry
800 Silver
800 or 80% pure was used many years ago in jewelry but is not used today.
900 or 90% was originally formed by melting coin down and making pieces out of it. Found more frequently in older jewelry
800 Silver
800 or 80% pure was used many years ago in jewelry but is not used today.
Palladium
Palladium jewelry gained popularity during WWII, when platinum became a strategic metal
and reserved only for military use in during World War II. Grouped in the platinum medal family, palladium typically contains 95% palladium and 5% other alloys.
Palladium becomes a viable choice when you want something hypoallergenic where
white gold will not work, but you do not have the finances to spend on platinum.
and reserved only for military use in during World War II. Grouped in the platinum medal family, palladium typically contains 95% palladium and 5% other alloys.
Palladium becomes a viable choice when you want something hypoallergenic where
white gold will not work, but you do not have the finances to spend on platinum.
To learn about Alternative Metals Click Here
For a daily dose of our latest finds, stories and historical insight,
follow
follow
