Education

Gold won't tarnish, rust, or corrode like many other metals used in jewelry making.  Although it is very strong, it is also the most malleable and ductile of all the metals. 

Purity 

Pure gold is too soft to hold up against the stresses of everyday activities and wear.  To remedy this it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability.  The caratage of gold is indicated by a number followed by a "k".  This number indicates the purity, or what percentage of a peice of jewelry is gold.  Caratage is expressed in 24ths, making 24k gold 100% gold. 

Color

The color of gold is determined by two factors:

• The type of metal alloyed with the gold
• The percentage of each metal alloy

Yellow Gold

At goldjewelry4men.com our yellow gold jewelry mainly consists of pieces made of either 18k or 14k yellow gold.  18k gold pieces contain more precious metal than 14k.  18k gold jewlery is composed of 75% gold, which is alloyed with other metals to make it strong enough for every day use.  Becasue 14k gold is composed of less precious metal, about 58.3%, it contains 41.7% of other metals to give it strength; however, its gold color is not as rich as 18k gold.  14k gold is most commonly used when strength is important in a piece, as in the case of clasps and latches on earings, braclets or chains. 

White Gold

As in yellow gold, 18k white gold consists of 75% gold.  14k white gold consists of 58.3% gold.  Jewelry made with this much gold in them typically retains their yellowish coloring.  To enhance the whiteness it is usually plated with rhodium.  Rhodium is a white, shiny metal that is extremely hard.  Over time and depending on the amount of wear the rhodium plating can wear off the piece of jewelry revealing the yellow gold underneeth.   Re-plating is a simple process that can restore white gold appearance to a piece if needed.  The white color can also come from alloying the gold with palladium, silver, or some other light-colored metals.  When alloyed, versus plated, the piece is usually more expensive; however, you don't have to worry about the white-ness fading.   

Rose Gold

Rose Gold gets its color from a larger proportion of copper in the metal alloy.  This gives the metal a beautiful pink color.

Pricing

The price of gold jewlery depends on the purity of gold used or the karat weight, as well as the design and construction of the jewelry piece.

Care

Alway keep you gold jewelry away from harsh chemicals such as chlorine, amonia, and other household cleaning fluids.  Although the metal will not tarnish it will help reduce abrasions and prolong the luster of the piece.  To clean you gold jewelry use warm water and a detergent-free soap.  Gently scrub jewelry with a soft-bristled brush (a tooth brush works well).  When not wearing the pieces store them spereately in soft cloth bags, or original boxes to protect them and to prevent abrasion and exposure to harsh elements. 

Gold, element Au (Latin Aurum) in the periodic table, was one of the first known elements.   Gold is the basis for many countries economic currency.  Money represents a value in gold. 

24k= 100% gold -

Too soft for jewelry

22k= 91.7% gold-

Very soft--Not recommended for jewelry

18k=75% gold-

Recommended for fine jewelry

14k=58.3% gold-

Recommended for jewelry

12k=50% gold-

Not acceptable for jewerly

10k=41.7%gold-

The legal carat limit considered as real gold in the U.S.