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.
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