About Gold Jewelry

For centuries people have loved to wear jewelry, for beauty, status and ceremonial reasons. Of all the types and styles of baubles people wear, gold jewelry has become a favorite around the world. Its limited availability, deep luster and shine have also made it a symbol of wealth and prosperity.

Types

Gold can be crafted into many types of jewelry, such as earrings, necklaces, rings and brooches, but there are also different mixtures of gold used in the crafting process, creating four standard types of gold jewelry. These include 10 karat, 14 karat, 18 karat and 22 karat gold pieces. In its pure form, gold is 24 karats; however, it is too soft to be made into jewelry and so it must be mixed with other metals. The number of karats indicates how much gold is used in a particular piece of jewelry, for example, 18 karat gold is 18/24 gold, or 75-percent gold. Different shades of gold are produced by using different metals or alloys, such as silver to create a green tone or iron to create a blue tone.

Significance

While people in most modern day societies wear gold jewelry mostly for ornamentation, it has a different significance in history and in many cultures. Not only did it symbolize power and wealth, but gold jewelry also was an instant indicator of a person's status in society. Gold jewelry has also been used in ceremonies, and in some cultures, certain jewels believed to have healing properties are set in gold to heal and protect the wearer. Some cultures even used gold jewelry with hidden compartments to transport other valuables.

Misconceptions

The supply of gold is limited, but it's not as scarce as many might believe. There is plenty available to make gold jewelry for centuries to come. Much of the world's gold supply is not accessible, however, because it is held by governments around the world. This keeps the value of gold, and therefore gold jewelry, up in relation to consumer demand.

Considerations

There are a number of things to consider when purchasing gold jewelry. The value of a piece is determined not only by the quantity of gold, but also by the quality of the workmanship, the gemstones included in the piece, and the beauty of the jewelry. History and age can also add value to gold jewelry. Many antique hand-crafted pieces command much higher prices than the exact same modern replicas. In addition, pieces can have a historical value, such as a gold ring worn by Marilyn Monroe or the crown jewels of Europe, that have not only gold value, but an even greater value created by their history.

Identification

There are a few minerals that look similar to gold in its natural state, but not many good imitators once it is turned into gold jewelry. To identify real gold, look for a soft gold tone, that's not overly shiny or brassy. Gold should not be dark unless it has been intentionally antiqued. It can be difficult to tell some gold plated products apart from solid gold, but if it seems to be a bit shinier than you expect, or has silver or another color showing through on the corners or edges, consider that it might be gold plated. Solid gold jewelry is always stamped with a mark that indicates its purity, such as 10k, 14k or 18k.