Since ancient times people have recognised and cherished gold as a precious commodity. Gold jewellery never goes out of fashion. Unlike many other metals pure gold does not react with other elements to create a residue that accumulates on some of them before transferring to your skin as stain. There are people who are allergic or have staining problems with metals combined with it. Gold can be worked into any shape you want even into tiny strands and it does not break easily. One ounce of gold can be hammered and flatten into an ultra thin sheet that is ten feet square.

In the past, gold jewellery was worn only by wealthy people. But during the industrialisation period people of lower social classes became able to afford more than a gold wedding band. Today, people many people around the world are wearing beautiful gold jewellery pieces that their ancestors would have never dreamt of ever owning.
Today it is considered to be an important investment for some people. And has different types and varieties, thus, it is vital to know how to distinguish between them. What is it with gold jewellery that differentiate a piece from another and why is it so much cheaper similar than similar items? Let us all begin with caratage. Gold carat weight is not the actual weight of gold such as it is with gemstones but the proportion of gold in gold jewellery.

24 carat gold is 100% pure gold and it has a very rich gold colour. Gold jewellery is almost never made from 24 carat gold for one simple reason- 24 carat gold is far too soft and will dent and scratch easily. Often 24 carat gold is used in decorating tableware and wine glasses.

On the other hand 9 carat gold is only 37.5% gold and it contains other metals such as silver and copper that makes up the rest 62.5%. Thus, 9 carat looks a little lighter in colour and much less expensive.
Mixing different metals with gold can give it different colours and shades as well. Rich yellow is the original colour of gold. When mixed with white metals such as rhodium and titanium gold jewellery has a white gleam which is similar to platinum. A mixture of gold and copper turns into pinkish hue that is known as rose gold. Traditionally, only yellow gold and rose gold (Eastern Europe) was used but in recent times white gold has become very popular.
When buying gold jewellery, look for the Hallmark stamp of authenticity. This is different from the stamp of the jeweller or manufacturer and it is globally accepted authentication stamp that certifies the caratage of gold in jewellery piece.

And while shopping for jewellery it is important to choose a jeweller that you can trust. Check the gold prices on different stores before purchasing to establish an average prices of gold item you are after. You might see a gold jewellery piece in another store having almost the same style and type but with less or more expensive. It is important to remember that the price should complement the quality. You cannot get the highest quality piece of gold jewellery at a very cheap price.

Buying jewellery online can be great idea too if you have verified the details of the online seller, and it is best if you have already made a purchase from them. It is one way that you can trust the jeweller. In case of online gold purchase look for trust seals on the website and to be sure you might want to contact the certifying organizations.

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One thing you can say about gold earrings is that they are timeless pieces that are always in style. They are not only beautiful, but also wear-friendly since, unlike sterling silver, they don’t tarnish. Another great attribute is that people with allergies to certain metals, or find they have a problem with staining from metals that have been combined with gold, don’t have a problem with gold itself.

Gold is a versatile metal, able to be worked in virtually any shape, whether it be small, but sturdy, strands to thin sheets. In fact, just one ounce has the ability to be hammered into an extremely thin sheet measuring at ten feet square. Artisans, especially makers of gold earrings, can manipulate gold into any desired shape.

When choosing gold earrings you need to look at the gold’s karat factor. Different karat numbers are what describe just how much pure gold is in the earrings. The percentage of gold in the earrings is higher when the karat number is higher.

For example, 24K earrings are pure gold, 18K is 75% gold with 18 parts of gold and 6 parts of another metal, 14K, the most common, is 58.3% gold with 14 parts of gold and 10 parts of another metal, 12K is 50% gold with 12 parts of gold and 12 parts of another metal, and, lastly, 10K, the minimum karat that can be described as gold, is a mere 41.7% gold with 10 parts gold and 14 parts of another metal.

Gold earrings made in Europe will have different markings. For example, 18K will be marked as 750, 14K will be marked as 585, and 12 K will be marked as 417. These marking stand for the percentage of gold the earrings contain.

Most gold earrings aren’t made of pure gold since it can be quite soft and not very practical for daily wear. In mot cases, other metals will have been mixed with the gold in order to heighten the durability, as well as lower the price.

When metallurgists add other metals to gold it allows them to change the gold’s color. To create white gold Palladium, also known as nickel, is added. The addition of copper products creates a rose/pink color, while adding silver can give gold a greenish tint.

When choosing the type of gold earrings that is right for you, you must decide how often you will wear them and what type of karat number will fit this need. If you are allergic to such metals as nickel, you should choose gold earrings that have a higher gold content. This means that gold earrings marked with 18K or 22K are best for you.

If you plan to wear your earrings only on occasion, and don’t necessarily have to have the best gold there is, then you have the option of choosing gold earrings that are gold filled or even gold plated. This would not be a good choice if you do plan to wear the gold earrings on a daily basis since a lot of use will reduce the gold layer, therefore exposing the metal that is underneath and possibly causing staining or even an allergic reaction.

If you plan to purchase gold earrings that you want to last a very long time, then make sure you buy a high quality item.

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