The precious metal jewellery gold is a timeless classic that accentuates the wearer’s natural beauty and enhances self-confidence. It’s also a symbol of prosperity, wealth, and good health.
Gold in its pure form is too soft to be made into jewellery, so it’s mixed with other metals, notably silver, copper, nickel and zinc to increase its strength and durability. These other metals also influence its colour. The proportion of other metals in a gold alloy is referred to as the “karat” or fineness. The higher the karat, the more pure and expensive the gold is.
From Mine to Masterpiece: The Journey of Gold in Jewelry Making
Jewellery in solid gold comes in a variety of colours, tones and textures. Bright and luxurious yellow gold jewellery, usually adorned with semi-precious or precious gemstones, is always popular. Rose gold is a warm and feminine option, featuring a blend of pure gold with red-toned metals like copper. White gold is very versatile, offering a clean and contemporary look, or the perfect partner for diamonds and other coloured gemstones.
Jewellery gold is a precious material, so it must be treated with care. It will tarnish and scratch if exposed to water, chemicals and perspiration, but can be protected by careful cleaning. To prevent this, keep your jewellery in a dry place and wipe it with a soft cloth when not wearing it. Gold-plated and gold-filled jewellery are more durable than solid gold but will scratch over time too. They are still a wonderful choice for jewellery you love to wear, but need more care than solid or plated gold pieces.
