Knowhow-Now Article

Help Guide For Buying Gold Jewelry

Gold has been one of the most highly preferred precious metals in the world, especially for jewelry. In fact, the consumption of gold produced worldwide is in jewelry. India is the largest consumer of gold jewelry in the world, followed by the United States. India accounts for approximately 18 percent of all global consumption, whereas the US accounts for around 14 percent.

Having said that, there are many kinds of gold jewelry that can be appropriate to buy for yourself or as a special gift for someone else. Earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets are very common choices. Whatever the occasion, a gold jewelry is a fantastic way to celebrate many of life’s most memorable times and emotions. If you’re planning to give your mom, your wife, or your daughter a gift of gold for Christmas or Valentine, it really helps to take some time to learn some of the most important terms used in the industry.

Before deciding on a gold jewelry, it is very important to be knowledgeable about the purity of gold you’re considering to buy. The very first thing that you need to know is that the purity of gold is indicated by karat quality marks. The rule of thumb is, the higher the karat rating, the higher the amount of gold present in the jewelry.

The purest form of gold is 24K gold, as it does not contain any other metal. Nevertheless, because gold is a soft metal, it is usually mixed with other metals (such as silver and copper) to make it more durable. Eighteen-karat gold, for example, is 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metal, making it 75 percent gold. Other variations include the following:

• 22K gold, which is 22 parts gold and 2 parts other metal, making it 91.6 percent gold
• 14K gold, which is 14 parts gold and 10 parts other metal, making it 58.3 percent gold, and
• 10K gold, which is 10 parts gold and 14 parts other metal, making it 41.7 percent gold

In general, the gold jewelry items that you might find in the market are combinations of pure gold and some other type of metal. Because pure gold (24K) is quite soft, it is rarely found outside of Bullion (bars, coins).

Gold has a bright yellow color and high luster. Aside from copper and cesium, it is the only non-white colored metal on earth. The attractive warm color of gold has led to its widespread use in jewelry and decoration. Today, white gold is very popular. It is usually available in 18- and 14-karat, but not in 22-karat as it is yellow gold.

White gold alloys are typically available either as white gold mixed with nickel or as white gold mixed with palladium. Nickel can be combined with gold to create a white or gray color. However, some people don’t like this mixture because of an allergy to nickel. Meanwhile, palladium is mixed with gold to create white gold. Palladium is less likely to cause an allergy but is more expensive.

To enhance the whiteness of color, nearly all white gold jewelry pieces are plated with rhodium, which is a shiny, extremely hard white metal. Depending on the amount of use, this rhodium plating may wear off over time, revealing the original metal color.

Once you are ready to buy a gold jewelry, shop around. Compare quality and prices. If you are not acquainted with the gold jewelers in your area, it is advisable to ask your friends, family members, and co-workers for recommendations. Better yet, try to find out the jeweler’s standing and reputation by checking with the Better Business Bureau.

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