Category: Jewelry Education
According to Forbes magazine, the coveted gold medals being handed out at this month’s PyeongChang Winter Olympics only contain about 6 grams of 24-karat gold. The rest of that medal weight comes from sterling silver, with the medal’s overall value worth about $570 in today’s market. But the awards going to these elite athletes aren’t the only gold objects that aren’t “pure,” and for very good reasons that don’t necessarily include price considerations.
Your Precious Metal Mix
“Pure” gold is 24K or “karats,” a purity measurement that shouldn’t be confused with the “carat” in a diamond which actually refers to the weight of the stone. That 24K ring, at a degree of purity of 99.95+%, might sound prestigious. But the reality is that rings made of pure gold will bend and scratch much more easily because pure gold is a softer metal.
Most wedding bands and engagement rings are probably 14k (58.3% gold) or 18K (75% gold) which means that the gold is mixed with other precious metals to add strength. These rings contain a bit less than 60% gold in order to hold up better with less signs of wear. They’re a perfect compromise for appearance, price and durability.
Gold-plated jewelry means a thin layer of gold is applied (bonded) on top of a base metal such as copper. Gold-plated jewelry will show wear and tear since, over time, the thin outer layer of gold fades and tarnishes. Gold-Filled is a name that’s a bit misleading since the “fill” or core is actually brass, copper or occasionally silver. A thicker gold layer (at least 5% to be considered “gold-filled”) assures longevity of up to 30 years.
A Rainbow of Colors
Yellow Gold is combined with alloys like copper and zinc to add strength. White gold is often combine with palladium, nickel (the nickel makes it harder; palladium is a softer metal) or silver and then covered (plated) with rhodium which gives it the whiter color. Both yellow and white gold can be good for long-term and constant wear.
Silver looks like white gold, and, while less expensive, is a softer precious metal and may tarnish over the years. That’s why “white” wedding rings, which are usually worn daily, are made of white gold or platinum (a rarer metal that’s even more expensive than white gold) instead of silver. “Rose” gold contains copper – the more copper added the stronger the “red” look of the gold.
We could go on and on. If you’re interested in finding your perfect piece of gold jewelry, come on in and speak to the experts at David Craig Jewelers. There’s David himself— he’s got a HEART OF GOLD— and a whole team of certified consultants —they’re also veritable GOLD MINES of information! We’d love to answer your inquiries about gold, diamonds, gemstones, appraisals, or any other jewelry-related questions. You can also give us a buzz at 215-968- 8900.
Just like a doctor or dentist, the initials behind a jeweler’s or appraiser’s name mean a lot, especially since not all retail jewelers are certified gemologists or appraisers. David Craig is proud to be a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and certified gemologist and certified appraiser with the American Gem Society (AGS). David Craig is the ONLY certified American Gem Society Diamond Dealer Selling Forevermark diamonds within a 90-mile radius of Bucks County, PA, including Philadelphia, York, Harrisburg, and parts of New Jersey. Continue reading The Advantages of Buying Diamonds & Gemstones From a Certified Gemologist
Don’t Buy Diamonds Where You Eat Your Dinner
It has recently come to our attention that some jewelers are illegally selling Forevermark diamond jewelry in local restaurants and other places of business; basically not in a jewelry store. For starters, these merchants DO NOT have a legal mercantile ID# and are therefore selling these diamonds illegally by using the restaurant location. Continue reading Be Smart About Where You Buy Diamonds
Buying a piece of fine jewelry is unlike buying any other product. What other product comprises materials that are often billions of years old? The natural gemstones and precious metals from which fine jewelry is created have a uniqueness and complexity that require special knowledge–and often gemological equipment–not readily accessible to the average consumer. No two gemstones are alike; design and quality vary greatly from piece to piece. Most consumers could not evaluate a strand of quality cultured pearls, distinguish between a blue topaz and a sapphire, or recognize a one-carat diamond. And even if they do know the difference between carats and karats, how do they know they are getting what they’re paying for? Continue reading How To Shop For Fine Jewelry
Gems and precious metals are gifts of nature, which need special care. Even though a gem may be millions of years old, once mined and worn, it is exposed to conditions and chemicals that can damage it.
The harder the gem, the less vulnerable it is to potential damage. A diamond, for example, is the hardest gem known to man, and that’s one reason why “it is forever.” Continue reading Tips For Care And Cleaning Of Fine Jewelry
How to Buy Gold Jewelry
1. Know Your Karats* (*Not to be confused with “carats,” the weight measure used for diamonds and
other gems)
Look for the karat mark, which will tell you that the piece is real gold and the percentage of pure gold it contains. Continue reading Golden Rules For Buying Jewelry
The conditions that created diamonds have not existed on this planet for millions of years. Very early in the earth’s history, as solid matter became condensed into a sphere, the material at the heart of the planet became subjected to unbelievable extremes of temperature and pressure. It was the conditions in those deep layers that caused deposits of pure carbon to begin crystalizing into a diamond. A Diamond consists of pure carbon, and although there is no chemical difference between carbon powder and the diamond, the physical difference between carbon powder and the diamond crystal is both enormous and miraculous. Continue reading All About Diamonds