Question 1

What's the difference between Carat and Karat?

Accepted Answer

When shopping for jewelry, it's not unusual to start wondering what the difference is between a Carat and a Karat. Both the terms are used for the purpose of measurement. The term 'Carat' refers to the weight of a diamond. It is derived from the carob seeds, which are remarkably consistent in weight and shape and so were the favored scale balances in ancient times. This was standardized in 1907 and after that 1 carat became 0.2 grams. Furthermore, each carat is divided into 100 points. Therefore, 1/4 carat diamond is considered as 25 points and 1/2 carat diamond is considered as 50 points and so on. Carat is also used in its abbreviated 'Ct' form. On the other hand, a 'Karat' is a measurement used to measure the purity of gold, with 24 karat being the purest. The measurement gauges how much gold vs. how much alloy is in the piece of jewelry. If a jewelry item contains 18 Karat Gold that means it has 750 parts pure gold and 250 other metal alloys. Karat is also used in its abbreviated 'kt' form.

Question 2

What is rose or pink gold?

Accepted Answer

Rose or pink gold is created by alloying pure 24KT gold with copper. Pure 24KT gold is a rich yellow color by nature and copper exhibits red tones. By melting the two metals together the result is karat gold with a pink rosy tint. In addition to copper, silver is sometimes added to give the metal more workable properties and durability.
Typically 18KT rose gold will consist of 75% pure gold mixed with 25% copper.
Gold Colors
Throughout history, most people have preferred the color of gold jewelry to remain close to that of pure gold itself, and so most jewelry has historically been made using yellow gold alloys. Other metals mixed with gold to produce alloys include copper and silver, which are the common components of most yellow gold alloys, and nickel, zinc, and palladium to produce white alloys. Red, pink, and pale greenish yellow can easily be made. There are more exotic colors which can be produced, such as blue or purple, but this is only possible using additions such as aluminum or iron, which have a harmful effect on the working properties of the alloy, and therefore are not commonly found.

Question 3

Do 18k white gold rings turn yellow over time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, very slightly. In order to give 18kt white gold a pure white color, it is plated with rhodium. This is a standard practice for 14kt and 18kt white gold jewelry. Over time, the rhodium plating may wear off. When that occurs, the true color of the white gold (a slightly buttery off-white) will appear.

Question 4

How can I tell if my items are gold?

Accepted Answer

The simplest way is to read the karat markings on each piece. Any one of these indicates that your jewelry is gold:
For 14 karat- 14k, 14kt, .585
For 18 karat- 18k, 18kt, .750
For Platinum- 950PT, Platinum, 950PT 10%IR
For Silver - Sterling, .925, SILVER
Vermeil refers to gold plated on Sterling Silver and will be valued as silver.

Question 5

What is yellow gold?

Accepted Answer

Gold is an extraordinary and rare precious metal, with an unmatched combination of chemical and physical properties. Gold is the most non-reactive of all metals and it does not oxidize under ordinary conditions. No other metal is as malleable as gold. Pure gold is very soft and pliable, and alloys of different other metals are combined with pure gold to enhance its durability and strength, as well as creating a blush in the gold’s appearance with different color tones. 24 karat is 100 % pure gold, and it is more expensive and less durable than gold that is alloyed with other metals.

Question 6

What is precious metal?

Accepted Answer

A precious metal is a metal with rare metallic chemical element and due to that is of high economic value. Precious metals are less reactive than most elements, have high luster, and have higher melting points than other metals. Gold, platinum and silver are considered as precious metals and used extensively in jewelry.

Question 7

What is gold jewelry made from?

Accepted Answer

Gold jewelry is never made of only gold. Gold in its purest form is too soft. In Belgium, most jewelry is produced in 18kt gold. This means that the alloy consists of 75% pure gold and 25% other metals.
White gold is an alloy consisting of gold, silver and palladium. Nickel is no longer allowed. Therefore, a white gold alloy is never pure white but rather gray-white. In order to obtain a beautiful white color, we put on a rhodium layer by electrolysis. Over time, this rhodium layer can wear off.
Rings and bracelets require more maintenance than earrings and pendants.
Gold is the currency of love and everlasting affection.

Question 8

Why 18 karat gold?

Accepted Answer

Because it’s the best! It's as simple as that!
If you want to know what makes it the best, then read on about gold alloys.
Gold itself is a yellow metallic element but, in its pure form, it is too soft to be used for general jewelry purposes, although there are some cultures which wear pure gold.
So for most jewelry, gold needs to be alloyed with other metals to provide the best combination of strength, appearance, and resistance to tarnishing.
The traditional way to describe the proportion of gold in alloys is "karats".  Eighteen karat gold is 750 parts gold per thousand.
The karat mark tells you the percentage of pure gold to the alloy. In Europe the karat markings are : 999 is 24K gold, 750 is 18K gold and 585 is 14K gold.
These stamps are of no value without a registered master stamp.
See master stamps for more info.

Question 9

What's wrong with 9 or 10 karat?

Accepted Answer

Nine karat gold only contains 37.5% gold, so there is more base metal than gold. Therefore, like copper, it tarnishes, turns green or black, and does the same for your skin and clothes. It can also be brittle, and is not as durable as 18 karat.

Question 10

What about 14 karat?

Accepted Answer

Fourteen karat is an improvement on nine karat and it contains more gold (58.3%).
If you look at the percentage by volume, 14 karat still contains more base metal than gold!

Question 11

Why is 24k gold not good for jewelry?

Accepted Answer

When buying gold jewelry, it is advisable to go for either 14 karat or 18 karat gold jewelry. You should never buy 24 karat gold jewelry because it is too soft, less durable and more expensive. You should also avoid buying less than 10 karat gold jewelry, as it appears dull.

Question 12

Can you tell me what the difference is between white gold and platinum?

Accepted Answer

White gold is made from yellow gold with addition of other metals such as silver and palladium. White gold is a harder metal then platinum and is not as dense, so when it is scratched it will loose content. Platinum is a naturally white metal. It is more dense then gold, which is why it is heavier. Both white gold and platinum require some kind of maintenance in the long term. Platinum needs polishing to bring it back to its new condition and white gold requires polishing and rhodium plating.

Question 13

What is platinum?

Accepted Answer

Platinum is an extremely rare and expensive metal, is a silvery gray precious metal often used for setting or mounting high quality diamonds and gemstones. Platinum is a strong, durable and dense metal which is valued for its white color and purity.