Undoubtedly, gold remains as the ultimate medium
of jewelry expression. For thousands of years, gold has
beguiled man with its beauty, its warm luster and glow and its
amazing attributes. Artisans and jewelers have crafted gold into
stunning pieces of jewelry that are priceless and eternal. Gold
is one of the most precious of earth's metals. It can be found
almost anywhere but it is very difficult to extract pure gold.
Although platinum is more expensive, gold remains unsurpassed
as the most popular jewelry metal. As it does not corrode or rust,
gold jewelry is exceptionally durable. It is also very malleable
and pliable: a single ounce of gold can be drawn into a thin wire
stretching almost 5 miles. In fact it is the most malleable and
ductile metal known to man.
Pure Gold / 24 Karat Gold
Pure gold or 24-karat gold is
soft and pliable. That is why it is mixed with other metals to
increase its durability. Karat quality determines the purity of
gold. For instance, 14-karat gold is 14 parts pure gold mixed
with 10 parts of a base metal. The higher the karat rating is,
the higher the proportion of pure gold. Most gold jewelry pieces
are marked with its karat quality. This helps you verify that
the product you are viewing are truly made of gold. Gold is crafted
into an endless myriad of jewelry pieces such as rings, chains,
bracelets, charms, pendants, brooches, earrings and others. Moreover,
because of the many amazing qualities of gold have many other
uses. It is used in dentistry, coinage and for industrial purposes.
The value of gold forms the base of monetary standard by many
nations.
Buying gold jewelry is an excellent investment.
Any jewelry collection would not be complete without any gold
jewelry. Its radiant, sensual and warm quality make it the preferred
metal used in wedding rings and other jewelry meant to be given
to a loved one. When buying gold jewelry there are some important
things to consider. One of these is the karat quality, as mentioned
above. The different karat qualities include 10-karat gold, 14-karat
gold and 18-karat gold. However, some gold jewelry is not necessarily
purely made of gold. Jewelry can also be plated with gold. This
means that a base metal is coated with a layer of gold. In time,
the layer of gold will wear away depending on how often the piece
is worn. Other terms you should know about gold jewelry include
gold-filled, gold overlay, and rolled gold plate.
When choosing gold jewelry, it is important to
know its qualities and characteristics. Gold jewelry has many finishes
such as matte gold, which is achieved by using an abrasive, resulting
in a dull and non-reflective surface. Another kind of finish is
the high-polish finish, where the jewelry is polished to an almost
mirror-like shine. Gemstones and other metals that can be inlaid
with the gold itself add another dimension of beauty and value,
although gold is simply stunning by itself. Choose a piece of gold
jewelry that matches your personality. Whether it is a simple gold
chain, a ring engraved with your names or a chunky gold bracelet,
you will find the gold jewelry piece that exudes your personality.
Moreover, wearing it also enhances the way you look, giving you
class and style. Without a doubt, gold continues to enamor men and
women, and continues to be the ultimate jewelry metal.
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