Used for centuries to make jewelry, gold is a metal whose rarity never ceases to seduce. Its luxurious yellow color makes it one of the world’s most coveted metals. Would you like to buy a piece of gold jewelry? Planetys online jeweler gives you all the information you need on this precious metal.
What is gold?
Gold is a bright yellow metal that has been used for thousands of years for its many properties. It is pure, soft, ductile and malleable. Its chemical symbol is “Au”, derived from the Latin aurum, and its atomic number is 79.
Indeed, it is a precious metal that has played an important role in human history as a decorative, monetary and industrial material. Today, it continues to have significant economic and symbolic value.
Its appearance
Gold is a colored metal, brilliant yellow in its raw state. However, it can be combined with other materials such as palladium, silver or copper. In these cases, it can take on other colors such as pink, black or white.
Gold is stainless and inalterable. In other words, it does not rust in contact with water or air, and cannot tarnish. It can be found in coins, ingots, bars and jewelry.
Its special features
First and foremost, this metal has a cubic structure with centered faces. It has a density of 19.3 kg/m³ and a high atomic weight of 196.9665 gr per atom. Gold also melts at a temperature of 1064°C and evaporates at 2960°C. In its raw state, it is found as granules, impregnations, dust or nuggets.
In goldsmithing, it is the material of choice for the manufacture of many valuable objects. Its purity is expressed by the number of carats. These correspond to the titration or percentage of gold in the object.
One of the reasons it’s such a special metal is its safe-haven value in investment terms. It is a very dynamic asset, particularly in times of inflation and economic crisis.
Gold in history
Gold has played a central role in human history for thousands of years. It is said to be as old as the Earth itself. Its rarity, malleability and durability have made it a highly sought-after precious metal for a variety of uses, from coinage to decoration to technology. Here’s an overview of gold’s importance in different periods of history:
It was first used by Egyptian civilizations, who exploited the Nile deposits. In those days, gold was used for the finery of powerful members of high society and for religious ceremonies. In fact, gold amulets have been found in Egyptian tombs from every period of antiquity.
Gold has also served as a currency of exchange in many cultures. In 950 BC, for example, it was used as a currency by the Phoenicians. They used it for their trade in the Mediterranean basin. The first reference to this metal in history was in 600 BC.
At that time, King Alyattes established the value of gold in terms of wheat. His son Croesus, in turn, imposed a correspondence between silver and gold. Thus began bimetallism, in which one gold coin was worth 10 silver coins. Many peoples, such as the Greeks, Romans and Persians, subsequently maintained the gold/silver exchange rate.
Today, gold is mainly used in jewelry, medicine, technology and aerospace, but its history goes back to the dawn of time. Its stellar origin explains its purity and resistance. It is also used as an investment to secure savings, particularly in times of economic crisis.
What are the different qualities of gold?
You’ve probably already heard of 9-carat, 14-carat, 18-carat or 24-carat gold, but what’s the difference between 9-, 14-, 18- and 24-carat gold?
First of all, the word “carat ” has a different meaning depending on whether it’s used for a stone or a metal.
The carat of a stone corresponds to its weight. It’s a measure equal to 0.20 grams. For gold, the word corresponds to its titration. This is the percentage of pure gold present in an alloy.
In the case of gold, the carat, sometimes represented by the letter “K”, is used to determine the percentage of pure gold contained in the alloy. For pure gold jewelry, you need a metal with a high carat content.
Titer in thousandths and carats Percentage of pure gold
375 thousandths or 9 carats 37.5% pure gold
585 thousandths or 14 carats 58.5% pure gold
750 thousandths or 18 carats 75% pure gold
833 thousandths or 20 carats 83.3% pure gold
916 thousandths or 22 carats 91.6% pure gold
999 thousandths or 24 carats 99.9% pure gold
In jewelry, there are three main categories of gold grade:
- 9 carats for 375/1000
- 14 carats for 585/1000
- 18 carats for 750/1000
Why choose 375 thousandths (9 carat) gold?
9-carat gold is composed of 375 thousandths of pure gold and 625 thousandths of other metals. This is why it is often referred to as a gold alloy rather than solid gold. The advantage of 9-carat gold is its affordability. Its percentage of pure gold gives it an appearance and brilliance comparable to that of 18-carat jewelry.
9-carat gold is composed of 375 thousandths of pure gold and 625 thousandths of other metals. This is why it is often referred to as a gold alloy, rather than solid gold. The advantage of 9-carat gold is its affordability. Its percentage of pure gold gives it an appearance and brilliance comparable to that of 18-carat jewelry.
Why choose 585 thousandths (14 carat) gold?
14-carat gold is composed of 585 thousandths pure gold and 415 thousandths other alloys. Like 9-carat gold, it is not considered solid. Even though it is purer than 9-carat, it is still considered a gold alloy. It does cost more than an object containing 375 thousandths of pure gold, but is less expensive than 18 carat.
Why choose 750 thousandths (18-carat) gold?
18-carat gold has a high purity of 75%. It is reputed to be the strongest and noblest, earning it the appellation of solid gold. It is traditionally used by France’s finest jewellers.
18-carat or 750 thousandths gold is generally combined with silver and copper. This ensures an excellent balance between alloys and gold caratage. Its price is naturally higher than the other two.
What is 24-carat gold?
In general, 24-carat gold is considered the purest, with a concentration of 99.9%, but since gold is naturally soft, it is essential to combine it with other metals to make it stronger and more durable. This is why 24-carat gold is rarely used in jewelry.
What are the different colors of gold?
Pure gold is naturally bright yellow. However, in the jewelry industry, gold is alloyed with other metals to give it different hues and shades, depending on its purity and content. Here are the main colors of gold:
- Yellow gold: this is the best-known and most common gold color. Pure gold is bright yellow, but is often alloyed with other metals such as copper, silver or zinc.
- White gold: pure gold is alloyed with metals such as palladium, nickel or zinc, giving it a silvery color. It is often plated with rhodium to enhance its brilliance.
- White gold: with the same alloy base as bank gold, it is made by combining pure gold with silver, zinc and copper.
- Rose gold: made by alloying pure gold with copper, which gives it a pink color.
- Red gold: a variant of rose gold. This color is obtained by mixing pure gold with copper in a higher proportion than in rose gold.
- Black gold: this is a new trend in the jewelry industry, using gold alloys containing cobalt oxide or chromium oxide to obtain a black color.
- Green gold: an unusual color obtained by combining gold with silver. The amount of silver used influences the shade of green.
- Blue gold: this is a rare variety obtained by using a thin layer of iron oxide to give the gold a blue hue.
- Violet gold: also known as amethyst gold, it is composed of pure gold and aluminum.
What are gold hallmarks?
Gold hallmarks are marks affixed to gold objects to indicate their grade. For gold jewelry weighing less than 3 grams, no hallmark is required by law. In fact, the punching operation and the necessary handling could damage them. The hallmark indicates the percentage of gold in the jewel. Here are the four hallmarks used to determine the percentage of gold in objects and accessories: the seahorse for 24-carat gold, the eagle’s head for 18-carat gold, the scallop for 14-carat gold and the trefoil for 9-carat gold. The hallmark is still one of the best ways to recognize the quality of the gold in a piece of jewelry.
Hallmark Description Gold grade
24 carats Hippocampe, 24 carats or 999 thousandths gold, mainly used for ingots and new items. 999/1000ths
18 karat Tête d’aigle 3, 18 karat or 750 thousandths gold, most common on new and used jewelry. 750/1000th
14 carats Coquille Saint-Jacques: 14 carat or 585 thousandths gold. 585/1000 th
9 carats Trèfle: 9-carat gold or 375 thousandths. 375/1000th
How to recognize gold?
In addition to the hallmark, which determines the carat number of an object, there are a number of other ways to tell whether a piece of jewelry is gold or not. Depending on your needs and the resources available, there are a number of methods you can use to recognize gold. Here are a few commonly used methods for recognizing gold:
- Visual appearance: Pure gold is a bright, dense yellow metal. It does not tarnish and retains its brilliance over time. However, in its raw form, it may be associated with other minerals and impurities, which can affect its appearance.
- Scratch test: Gold is a relatively soft metal compared to other materials. You can perform a scratch test by rubbing the object on a hard, non-metallic surface, such as an unglazed ceramic plate. If the object leaves a golden trace, it could be gold.
- Magnetic test: Gold is one of the non-magnetic metals, so if the object is attracted by a magnet, it’s unlikely to be pure gold. However, some gold alloys may contain magnetic metals, so this test alone is not always conclusive.
- Electrical conductivity test: Gold is an excellent conductor of electricity. You can use a conductivity tester to check whether the object conducts electricity, which may indicate the presence of gold.
Bear in mind that some objects may be gold-plated rather than made of solid gold. It is strongly recommended to call in an expert for accurate testing.
Your questions:
– “How do I know the title of my gold jewelry?”
To find out the title of your gold jewelry, there are several solutions:
- Look for hallmarks: Gold jewelry is often marked with hallmarks that indicate the title of the gold. These hallmarks may be located on the clasp, inside the ring, or on other discreet parts of the jewel. Look for marks such as “18K” (for 18-carat gold) or “750” (indicating 75% pure gold).
- Consult a professional jeweler: If you can’t find hallmarks, or have trouble interpreting them, it’s advisable to consult a professional jeweler. Jewelers have the experience and knowledge to determine the grade of your gold jewelry by examining the marks present.
- Use a gold test kit: You can also use a gold test kit, available in many jewelry stores or online. These kits contain chemicals to test the gold content of the jewel. Follow the included instructions carefully for accurate results.
- Call in a gemological expert: If you own a valuable piece of jewelry or an antique piece, it may be useful to call in a gemological expert. These professionals specialize in the appraisal of precious stones and metals.
- Check the purchase certificate: If you’ve recently bought the jewel, check the purchase certificate provided by the jeweler. It should indicate the grade of gold used in the jewel.
Keep in mind that the title of the gold influences the value of the jewel, as it indicates the proportion of pure gold in the metal. It’s important to know this information for reasons of valuation and proper care of gold jewelry.
– “Why isn’t jewelry made of pure gold?”
Jewelry is generally not made from pure (24-carat) gold for several practical, technical and economic reasons:
- Too soft: Pure gold is a soft, malleable metal. This means it’s likely to warp, scratch and lose its shape with normal use. Pure gold jewelry would be less durable and more susceptible to damage.
- High price: Pure gold is expensive because of its purity. By adding other metals to gold, it is possible to obtain stronger alloys while maintaining a certain brilliance. Pure gold jewelry would be considerably more expensive, making it less accessible to most consumers.
- Color and hardness: Pure gold has a characteristic bright yellow color. However, to create different shades of gold (such as white gold, rose gold, etc.) and improve hardness, other metals, such as copper, nickel or palladium, are often added to the alloy.
- Ease of fabrication: Pure gold can be difficult to work with due to its malleability. Alloys enable jewelers to create more complex designs and fine details.
- Wear resistance: Gold alloys are generally more resistant to wear and scratches than pure gold. This ensures that jewelry remains in good condition despite regular use.
Gold jewelry is often made with alloys such as 18-carat gold (75% pure gold) or 14-carat gold (58% pure gold), offering a good balance between beauty, durability and cost. This allows consumers to enjoy the beauty of gold while benefiting from the enhanced properties of alloys.
– “What damages gold jewelry?”
Gold jewelry may be relatively durable, but it’s not completely immune to wear, discoloration or damage. Several factors such as friction, chemicals, perspiration, sea and pool water, chemical reactions with the skin as well as physical shocks can contribute to the wear and tear of gold jewelry.
To prolong the life of your gold jewelry, it is advisable to clean it regularly, remove it during physical activities or household chores, store it properly and inspect it periodically for signs of wear. If necessary, consult a professional jeweler for specific care advice.
