Pure 24 karat gold is rarely used in jewelry because it is too soft for frequent wear. Gold is mixed with alloys like copper, silver, nickel, and zinc to give different colors, strength, and durability. Gold's purity is measured in karats, which indicate out of 24 parts how many parts are gold. Gold is traditionally seen in yellow and white colors, but can also be available in rose or green on occasion. Sterling silver is usually Silver is much more plentiful than platinum or gold and is much less expensive.
It takes on a much higher polish than any other metal, but it does tarnish. The tarnish can be removed, but silver requires much more care than other metals.
Titanium is a light, strong, and corrosion-resistant metal. It is the hardest natural metal on earth and therefore offers more scratch resistance than gold or silver. In addition, titanium is also hypoallergenic.
When ordering titanium rings, be extra sure about your ring size. The biggest drawback of titanium rings is that they cannot be sized by traditional ring sizing methods. Stainless steel is a low cost alternative to traditional metals. It is naturally hypoallergenic and will not rust or tarnish. It has to be forged with other metals such as copper, silver and platinum to increase its durability.
The first known use of gold in transactions dates back more than years — gold coins were minted under the order of King Croesus of Lydia a region of present-day Turkey in about BC. Today, many governments, individuals and institutions hold investments of gold in the convenient form of bullion. The electronic age: Did you know your iPhone is a virtual gold mine?
Well, not quite — mobile phones contain about 0. Arguably the most important industrial use of gold is in the manufacture of electronics. Gold is a highly efficient conductor which can carry tiny currents and remain corrosion-free. Palladium is also used as semiconductor.
Therefore, prices for these metals tend to move in synch with the global economy. Market Price for Gold is lower than that of Platinum. Pure gold is found in more places and quantities in the world with more supplies available in the market. These combinations of gold and alloys also make to finished jewelry more affordable than platinum. The price for Gold is also affected by economic fluctuations.
While Gold is common in jewelry, its use for industry is limited. The key demand driver is investors looking for some protection against inflation and currency risks. When fear in the economy is high, gold prices are typically high too. If you are buying your jewelry from a reputable jeweler, it is relatively easy to check to see if the jewelry you're buying is platinum or gold.
All jewelry sold in the U. These marks are, most commonly: Platinum, Plat, or Pt. Other common platinum alloys are: Pt or Plat or Pt which is parts per thousand platinum and 50 parts other metals; Pt or PIat or Pt which is parts per thousand platinum and parts other metals; and Pt or PIat or Pt which is parts per thousand platinum and parts other metals.
Any jewelry item containing parts platinum or better could be marked with only Platinum or Plat. If you look closely at both white gold and platinum, you will see that the color and the look are not entirely the same although they both have a white metallic appearance.
When new, it is very difficult and sometimes impossible to tell the two metals apart. We do not recommend having two rings, one made out of gold and the other made in platinum side by side since the color differences will be enhanced this way.
Your personal life style, family traditions, expectations and budget are important considerations In your personal research and selection of your jewelry. Share your ideas with your personal jeweler who will help you analyze which metal is best for you now and for the future.
For more information about platinum jewelry: www. Or call us at or email us at hannon hannonjewelers. Your may think that faulty manufacturing or underkarating might be the problem when a ring "turns," blackening or discoloring the skin and clothing, or the jewelry itself. Hannon Jewelers can test the metal in your jewelry to verify its content.
However, if underkarating is not the case, this is a brief discussion on understand the causes, and how to prevent them. The most common reason is metallic abrasion , caused by makeup on skin or clothing. Cosmetics often contain compounds harder than the jewelry itself, which wear or rub off very tiny particles.
Very finely divided metal always appears black rather than metallic, so it looks like a jet-black dust. When this dust comes into contact with absorbent surfaces such as skin or clothing, it sticks, forming a black smudge. To prevent this, you should try switching cosmetics. If this is not possible, we recommend that you remove rings and other jewelry while applying them, and clean skin areas in contact with jewelry with soap and water.
Another cause is actual corrosion of the metals. Gold itself does not corrode, but its primary alloys of silver or copper will do so—forming very dark chemical compounds—under moist or wet conditions. When your perspires, fats and fatty acids released can cause corrosion of karat gold, especially when exposed to warmth and air. This problem can be worse in seacoast and semitropical areas, where chlorides combine with perspiration to form a corrosive element that discolors skin. Smog fumes gradually attack jewelry and are evident as a tarnish that rubs off on the skin.
We suggest to remove jewelry often and use an absorbent powder, free of abrasives, on skin that comes into contact with jewelry. The same can be said about allergy reactions to the alloys used in gold jewelry. We know of allergy reaction to silver, cooper, and nickel. In this case, we often suggest to use a purer gold alloy like 18K or a white gold with no nickel content. We know of no allergy reaction to Platinum as this metal in its traditional form is a pure metal.
Even the design of jewelry can be an influence. Wide shanks have more surface area to contact abrasives or corrosives. Concave surfaces inside a shank form collection points that trap moisture and contaminants, also causing a type of dermatitis. It may be a good idea to remove all rings before using soaps, cleaning compounds or detergents, and clean their rings frequently. In addition to these corrective actions, we do recommend that customers with this problem may switch to karat gold or platinum.
My Wishlist Select My Wishlist. Metal Buyer's Guide. Types of Metals At Hannon Jewelers, we offer a wide variety of metals and metal purity. Gold Platinum Palladium Silver Gold Definitions for white gold filled, yellow gold filled, nickel plate, and yellow plate: Pure gold: fine gold is softer than pure silver but harder than tin. The higher the percentage of pure gold, the more expensive the jewelry. Gold Color Variations: Pure gold, or 24 Kt.
White Gold Any alloy selection for the creation of White Gold is a compromise between color or appearance, alloy properties in jewelry fabrication, and cost. High Nickel Content: Provides a bright, metallic white gold color but is not as malleable as lower nickel alloys.
Also this resulting mix is more susceptible to cracking. This is specially important on prongs which may be brittle and may crack easier that other alloys. Low Nickel content: Jewelers may prefer this mix because it can work better for fabrication. It is prone to stress corrosion. May have a yellowish tin and may require rhodium plating. High Palladium Content: This alloy has a soft white color; it is more expensive but it is nickel free and less hypoallergenic.
It is also resistant to stress corrosion and cracking. Low Palladium Content: Off-white color and may require rhodium plating.
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