Looking to buy a gold ring or necklace?
Before you start wearing gold jewelry, make sure you know exactly what you’ll invest in. Not all gold is the same, after all. Some cost more than others and it goes beyond the style and size of the piece of jewelry.
It’s about the types of gold.
Don’t worry if you can’t tell an 18k gold earring from a 12k one. We’re here to help you understand the differences and more with our guide below:
What’s a Karat?
When people think of gold options, they often consider gold’s karat first. A karat refers to the purity of gold.
Don’t confuse karat with a carat, which determines the weight value of a gemstone, such as a diamond.
24k means all 24 parts of the alloy uses gold. 18k means gold consumes 18 parts but other metals, like nickel or copper, comprise the other 6 parts. The karat also affects the value of the jewelry.
Types of Gold By Color
When determining the types of gold, it boils down to two variants: gold’s color and composition. In terms of color, there are three general options:
Yellow
Real yellow gold is when the metal is in its purest form. However, for jewelry use, smiths often turn it into an alloy by mixing it with either copper or zinc. This strengthens the gold to keep it from bending and breaking.
White
White gold is when you take pure gold and then turn it into an alloy with silver, nickel, or palladium. Jewelers may also coat it with a plating of rhodium to make it sturdier. Unfortunately, rhodium can rub off so you’ll need to take it to a shop for maintenance from time to time.
Rose
Like white gold, this is a type of alloy. The smith creates the signature pink hue by mixing pure gold with a large percentage of copper. Adding or reducing copper will alter the shade of pink.
Kinds of Gold By Filling
Found a nice gold ring? Before you purchase it, make sure you know whether that ring is all gold or if there are other metals used as a base.
Solid gold is when the piece of jewelry is gold from the outside to its core. Gold plated is when the jewel, like a ring, is mainly 95% brass or copper. There’s only a thin layer of gold on top.
Gold-plated jewelry doesn’t cost much but that’s because there isn’t much gold. The gold won’t corrode but it can rub off, exposing the base metal. That base can corrode and this can lead to skin irritations.
You can also find gold vermeil and gold-filled jewelry. Gold vermeil requires much more gold, plated on top of sterling silver. Gold-filled is similar but the jeweler bonds the gold, instead of plating it, on top of a base metal like brass.
Wear the Best Gold Jewelry Today
Now you know what to look for the next time you enter a jewelry shop. There are many types of gold and getting the right one depends on a lot of factors. Check how many karats of gold there are, the color, and whether it’s pure gold or if there is a metal base.
But why with gold?
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