If you are looking for fine jewellery then gold is a preferred choice.
Apart from its attractive appearance, gold is a durable metal that can be passed on from generation to generation if properly cared for.
If you’ve never made a purchase piece of gold jewelry Before that, you probably have questions before you buy, like the ones below.
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Consider these four questions and their answers.
An essential step to buying authentic gold jewellery is to ensure you are buying from a reputable jeweller. (iStock)
- What are the different colours in which gold jewellery comes?
- What are karats?
- Which carat gold is best for everyday use?
- What are the best ways to care for gold jewellery?
1. What are the different colours in which gold jewellery comes?
Gold jewellery comes in three primary colours: yellow gold, white gold and rose gold.
Although gold always starts out as yellow gold, it is often alloyed with other metals to create other colours, such as white and rose gold, as well as giving the jewellery greater durability.
“There are actually a number of different alloys that can be added to it. Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of different colors of gold in the market,” Amanda Gizzi, public relations and programs director at New York City-based Jewelers of America, told Fox News Digital in a phone interview.
“The primary golds that people see at the jewelry store are yellow gold, white gold and what we consider pink gold. Those would be your three primary golds.”
as far as engagement rings The trend right now is yellow gold, though Gizzi said platinum and white gold are also starting to grow in popularity.
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“We are starting to see a bit of a ‘cooldown’ effect, where we are seeing platinum and white gold make their way back into the mainstream markets,” Gizzi said.
Mainly gold jewellery comes in yellow, white and pink colors. (iStock)
2. What are Carats
Carat is a unit of measuring the purity of a gold alloy. The higher the carat, the more pure gold is in that alloy.
According to the Jewelers Association of America, the following is the percentage of pure gold in various gold alloys.
- 10 thousand – 41.7%
- 14 thousand – 58.3%
- 18K – 75.0%
- 24K – 99.99%
Generally pure gold (24 karat) is not durable enough for jewellery, but alloying gold with other metals increases its strength.
While buying gold jewellery, the caratage of the jewellery should be clearly marked.
“In the US, when gold is sold and manufactured it always has to be marked, so if it’s marked 10 karat gold it also has to have a stamp that says who made the jewellery so they can stand behind that karat,” Gizzi said.
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Gizzi said the main difference you will notice between jewellery of different carat levels is the colour, strength and durability of the jewellery.
3. Which carat gold is best for everyday use?
The best gold for everyday use is 14K, while 18K gold is usually reserved for more special items.
“Pure gold is softer than 14-karat gold, so people tend to use 14-karat for everyday use,” Gizzi said. 18-karat, on the other hand, is usually reserved for more special, less-worn jewelry because of its less durability.
4. What are the best ways to care for gold jewellery?
The first thing before buying gold jewellery is to ensure that you are buying it from a reputed jeweller.
Buying from a reputable jeweler will provide proper answers to all your queries, while also ensuring that the gold is authentic.
A bowl of warm soapy water will be enough to clean gold jewellery. (iStock)
You can also visit a jeweller to have your jewellery checked and cleaned, which Gizzi recommends doing once a year.
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Besides getting an annual check-up from a jeweler, there are a few things you can do at home to keep your jewelry in top condition.
“You can totally take care of yourself gold jewellery at home “Use a simple solution of warm water with a dishwashing detergent like Dawn,” Gizzi said, adding that a few drops added to a bowl of warm water will do the trick.
“Let it soak for a few minutes and then clean off any debris with a very soft toothbrush.”
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Gizzi said that after you wash your ring in water, don’t forget to close the drain.
When your ring is washed, pat it dry with a lint-free towel.
