Gold was among the first metals to
be mined because it commonly occurs in its native form, that is,
not combined with other elements, because it is beautiful and imperishable,
and because exquisite objects can be made from it. Artisans of ancient
civilizations used gold lavishly in decorating tombs and temples,
and gold objects made more than 5,000 years ago have been found
in Egypt. Particularly noteworthy are the gold items discovered
by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon in 1922 in the tomb of Tutankhamun.
This young pharaoh ruled Egypt in the 14th century B.C. An exhibit
of some of these items, called "Treasures of Tutankhamun,"
attracted more than 6 million visitors in six cities during a tour
of the United States in 1977-79.
The graves of nobles at the ancient Citadel of Mycenae near Nauplion,
Greece, discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1876, yielded a great
variety of gold figurines, masks, cups, diadems, and jewelry, plus
hundreds of decorated beads and buttons. These elegant works of
art were created by skilled craftsmen more than 3,500 years ago.
Pure (100%) gold is too soft, and it is usually mixed with other
metals (gold alloys) to make it stronger and more usable for jewelry.
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What is a karat? Karat - indicates the amount of pure gold in the
metal. The higher the percentage of pure gold the higher the karat.
Table of US
& European Karatage
|
| |
100% |
75% |
58.3% |
41.6% |
| US |
24 karat |
18 karat |
4 karat |
10 karat |
| EUROPEAN |
999 |
750 |
585 |
417 |
Why is 18k gold is more valuable than 14k gold?
Content of pure gold: 18k contains a higher (75%) percentage of
pure gold than 14 k (58.3%).
What kind of markings
can I see on the back of jewelry?
You could see a karat mark to assure you that the karat marking
is accurate, you should also see the manufacturers registered trademark
and find the country of origin.
What is the difference
between yellow, white, and rose gold?
Pure gold ( which is always yellow ) is too soft for jewelry use.
The metals that are mixed with pure gold for strength can also modify
the color of gold resulting in different shades of yellow, white,
and pink gold.
White gold was originally developed to imitate platinum, and is
usually an alloy containing 25% nickel and zinc. If stamped 18 karat,
it would be 75% pure gold.
Why is there a difference in price, in similar pieces of jewelry?
There are a few factors that determine the value of a gold jewelry
piece:
weight - gold is sold by weight - grams(gr) or pennyweights(pwt),
the heavier the piece, the higher the gold content, therefore it
is more expensive. design - designer jewelry is more expensive,
especially if it is a one of a kind piece. finish - special finishes
to the metal such as matte, or sand-blasted finish add to the cost
of the gold jewelry piece.
How do I care for my
gold jewelry?
You could take good care of your jewelry by following a few simple
steps : avoid contact with soap, perfume, cosmetics and hairsprays.
Take chains and bracelets off at night, store chains flat, to prevent
them from breaking. Use soft cloth to polish gold jewelry after
wearing. |
