The Gold Rush

There is so much to be said about this most precious very precious metal. The mention of gold conjures up images and thoughts that range from “old-timers” panning the streams of the wild west, all the way to an elegant gold pendant strung along a beautiful gold chain.

Well, it is the latter upon which this article will focus. What should you know before purchasing gold jewelry? Just what are you buying? Perhaps one choice offers 14K Gold and the other, equally attractive choice says 18K gold. What’s it all about?

If an item were all gold, it would be identified as 24 karat or 24K gold. However, as we know from watching the old ”Westerns“ where the cowboys bite down on the gold coin to test its authenticity, gold is a very soft metal. As such, 24 karat gold is not well suited for many pieces of jewelry.

The solution is to blend gold with metals that will enhance its strength and its durability. When this is done, the gold karat quality is adjusted accordingly. For example, an item that is identified as 18 karat (or 18K) gold, is 18 parts of gold and 6 parts copper, silver or another base metal. The higher the karats, the more the gold content.

So, have you come to the conclusion that more karats mean more value? Not so fast, check back and look for an article about white-gold. You’ll be surprised.