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the most malleable of all metals.
PURITY
Pure gold is too soft to withstand the stresses of every-day wear, so it is
alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it
strength and durability. Karatage, noted by a number followed by "k"
indicates purity, or how much of the metal in a piece of jewelry is gold.
Karatage is expressed in 24ths, making 24k gold 100% gold
Gold, element Au, was one of the first known metals. The gold standard
defines the world's currency system, whereby money represents a value in
gold.
24 karat = 100% gold 22 karat = 91.7% gold
Very soft — not recommended for jewelry
18 karat = 75.0% gold
Recommended for fine jewelry
14 karat = 58.3% gold
Recommended for jewelry
12 karat = 50.0% gold
Not acceptable for jewelry
10karat=41.7%gold
The legal karat limit considered as real gold in the United States
COLOR
The color of gold is determined by two factors:
** The type of metal alloys included in it
** The percentage of each metal alloy
Yellow
In jewelry at Lasting Impressions, you'll find 14k yellow gold. 14k gold
contains more precious metal than 10k gold. It is composed of 58.3% gold,
which is alloyed with other metals to make it strong enough to withstand
every-day wear.
White
Because 14k white gold is 53.8% gold, and 14k white gold is 58.3% gold,
jewelry made from these metals has a slight yellow color. To enhance the
whiteness, almost all white gold is plated with rhodium, a shiny, white metal
which is extremely hard. Depending on the amount of wear to a piece of
jewelry, over time this rhodium plating may wear off, revealing the original
metal color. Re-plating is a simple process that can be done to restore your
jewelry's whiteness if needed.
Rose
Rose gold gets its color from a larger proportion of copper in the metal
alloy. This gives the gold a beautiful pink color.
Care
Keep your gold jewelry away from harsh chemicals such as chlorine and
cleaning fluids. This will reduce daily abrasions and prolong gold's luster.
To clean gold jewelry, use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap
and wash gold gently with a soft-bristled brush (a dull tooth brush works
well). Store gold pieces separately in soft cloth bags or original boxes to
protect them from the exposure to harsh daily elements
