Whether you are buying gold earrings as a gift or for yourself it is important to know the true value of the jewellery you are buying. The first thing to mention is the carat purity of the gold. This is the purity index used to evaluate the amount of gold in any piece of gold jewellery. At the very bottom of the scale is 1ct. This means that for every milligram of gold, other metals make up 23 milligrams. Normally jewellery begins at 9ct purity. Gold plated jewellery can have a carat value for the plating and different metals making up the bulk of the object. Any solid gold jewellery needs a hallmark to be sold in the United Kingdom but the hallmark alone does not guarantee the jewellery is gold. Silver and platinum jewellery also needs a hallmark to be sold in the United Kingdom. A three digit number should be engraved into the metal which indicates its purity. These numbers range from 375, which is 9ct and 999 which is 24ct.

Gold Earring Designs

Firstly, the classic hoop gold earrings are often too large to be made solid so they are hollowed out for comfort but the metal they are made from can still have high carat purity and this determines the price. Next is the classic tear drop shape gold earring. As opposed to hoop earrings these are normally smaller and can be made from solid gold. When the main section of the earring is attached directly to the bar which holds them in place, this is known as a stud earring. This design is also small enough to be made from solid gold and may be embellished with one or more precious stones.

Gemstones for Gold Earrings

Diamonds are a very popular stone to use for gold earrings. Depending on the carat mass of the diamond, the stone can account for the majority of the price. Although diamonds are one of the strongest substances known to man, they can be split from specific angles. Skilled jewellers are able to set diamonds in such a way that means none of these angles are exposed once the stone is in place. Another widely used gem is Peridot, this stone is vibrant green in colour and although Olivine (the constituent mineral) is a relatively abundant, gem quality Peridot is quite rare. You may also find earrings set with Opal. The majority of this mineral is produced in Australia. This gem can be found in a variety of colours ranging from white to black. The most common being white and green while black and red is the rarest. Amethyst is a precious type of quarts. Formed in volcanoes, these stones are generally violet but when exposed to heat they become yellow. Modern production techniques mean that this stone can be manufactured as opposed to being mined. Distinguishing natural and manmade amethyst is very difficult. Another gem commonly used in earrings is Topaz, at its purest Topaz is transparent but often impurities give the stone a hue. Topaz is often processed to give it a particular colour. Rubies are also used for earring decoration. Stones made from corundum which are not red are classified as sapphire.

At the time of writing this article, a gram of pure gold costs around £23-£24. You could expect to get a set of 9ct solid gold earrings, set with Opal, Topaz or Amethyst for under £100 whereas rubies or diamonds significantly change the price and depending on their size and quality can account for upwards of £200. The carat mass of the gold used will also make a significant difference but remember to check if they are simply plated or solid gold.

For a range of solid gold earrings. John Hollins Fine Jewellery is a great place to go

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Gold or silver cufflinks can form a subtle but integral part of an outfit and provide the wearer with confidence and an air of class. The very fact that the majority of people would rather do without allows you to make a statement with jewellery which is far more subtle than wearing a ring. With that said however, when combined with the correct type of jewellery they can allow you to exude even more style and class. There may be fewer opportunities for people to see your cufflinks but they convey sartorial elegance surpassing other types of jewellery.

Which Metal Gold or Silver?

Although it is a matter of preference it is highly recommended that you match the colour of your cufflinks to any other jewellery you may be wearing with them. Chromium plated or silver cufflinks are suitable for wearing with white metals such as silver, white gold, platinum or palladium whereas gold cufflinks will compliment gold jewellery nicely.

Designs and Decoration

The level of embellishment is a largely a matter of personal choice but the type of event they are being worn to should also be a factor. The outward facing side may have a design or a precious stone set into it. Cufflinks designed to be a novelty are only really suitable for informal events like parties or celebrations, otherwise you may want to choose a set which adds to a formal appearance. Plain gold or precious stones are most suitable for events that require a formal black outfit. Other occasions where you may be wearing different colour suits could accommodate either silver or gold. Seasoned jewellers will be able to engrave plain gold or silver cufflinks should you so wish.

What Cost?

As no one will actually appraise your outfit while you wear it, you may want to select a gold plated set of cufflinks with a precious stone however by choosing solid gold, possibly decorated with other precious metals or stones, adds to your own sense of self worth which in turn adds to your confidence.

As you will see most jewellers can offer you a spectrum of prices for cufflinks but the composition should pretty well dictate the price. A good starting point for gold plated cufflinks is around £20 whereas a set of good quality 9ct gold cufflinks may cost upwards of £200 and you could expect a precious stone such as ruby to add upwards of £200 to that depending on the size and quality. The costs of engraving vary between jewellers.

Whether you are buying cufflinks as a gift or for yourself, this guide will hopefully provide the background information you need to choose the right set for you and help you the value of the composition.

A great place to find a complete range of gold and silver cufflinks is John Hollins Fine Jewellery

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