Designed gold jewelry - how to identify that the jewelry we purchased is made of real gold?
We love gold – there’s little doubt about it. The fascination with gold is nothing new and we’re pretty adept at the art of buying gold jewelry, or so we think. For most of us, buying gold means one thing – jewelry. Buying gold jewelry serves a dual purpose, both as an investment and as a great fashion accessory.
The mere mention of this precious metal is enough to grab our attention and make us forget everything else. And this distraction is all it takes to turn the purchase of a dream gold necklace displayed in a store into a bitter disappointment.
The somewhat maddening enthusiasm to purchase a new piece of gold jewelry can also lead to mistakes. But if you just know a few simple facts, you'll ensure that your choice of a pair of beautifully designed gold earrings doesn't cost you much more than their actual value.
What is the difference between 14 karat and 18 karat gold jewelry?
To make an informed purchase, you must first check the karat rate of the gold jewelry you are interested in.
- 24 karat gold contains 99.9% pure gold.
- 22 karat gold contains 92% pure gold.
Every 1 carat of gold is equivalent to 4.2% pure gold. Therefore:
- 14 karat gold contains 58.33% pure gold.
- 18 karat gold contains 75% pure gold.
Another important point to know is – 24 karat gold is not suitable for making jewelry, it is too soft! This means that most jewelry designers use 14, 18 or 22 karat gold to make their jewelry.
Whether you are looking for gold rings or gold rings with diamonds – never purchase gold jewelry without checking its karat grades. It always pays to check the purity of the gold before purchasing a piece of jewelry that catches your eye.
Since the jewelry marking is an indication of the gold content, it is recommended to purchase only marked gold jewelry, as these have been tested by authorized entities.
How do I know that the jewelry I purchased is made of real gold?
The difference between real gold jewelry and gold-plated jewelry has to do with the composition of the metals. While real gold jewelry is made entirely of a gold alloy, other jewelry is made of a metal other than gold, and is plated with a thin layer of gold.
Here are a number of parameters that will allow you to find out whether the gold diamond rings you are currently considering are made of gold or gold-plated:
Look at the gold marking.
The standard stamp used to mark gold-plated jewelry is GP – Gold Plated. Therefore, this is one of the quickest ways to determine what the jewelry is made of.
You may also see the symbol GEP, which stands for Gold Electroplated, meaning that the metal the jewelry is made of is plated with gold using an electrolysis process.
However, if there is no such mark on the piece of jewelry, it does not mean that the piece is not made of real gold. It is possible that the piece of jewelry was simply not stamped even though it is gold-plated.
Acid test
The most reliable method for determining the gold content of a piece of jewelry is through an acid test. Although you can purchase a home acid test kit, interpreting the results can be complicated and depends on the gold alloy being tested. Therefore, it is best to leave the test to a professional jeweler.
The jeweler will apply acid to a corner of the piece of jewelry to see if there are any color changes that will indicate the types of metals the piece is made of. Incidentally, if you scratch off a little of the plating you will be able to see the base metal. This will confirm whether the piece is made of real gold or gold plated.
Note: Real gold does not mean pure. Remember that the purity level of the alloy depends on the percentage of gold it contains.
Magnetism test
Another way to check the types of metals a piece of jewelry is made of is to use a magnet. Since gold is not magnetic, if the piece of jewelry reacts to a magnet, it probably contains another metal.
However, this test is not conclusive for several reasons, such as:
- It is possible for the jewelry to be made of real gold and still react to a magnet – because the alloy includes low-karat gold and magnetic metal.
- It is possible that the jewelry is gold-plated and still will not respond to a magnet – because the gold-plated core metal is not magnetic.
The color of gold as an indicator
The color of the gold can be an indicator of whether the jewelry is made of real gold or plated.
- Gold-plated jewelry is often plated with 24 karat gold.
- Real gold jewelry is not made from 24-karat gold, because it is too soft (in fact, real gold jewelry is made from an alloy that contains both gold and other metals, which give the alloy the required hardness).
Therefore, if the gold jewelry you are considering has a bright yellow color similar to the shade of pure gold, and is relatively inexpensive, it is probably gold-plated.
Additionally, you can check the surface of the jewelry to see if it is a uniform shade of gold or not. If the gold plating has worn away in certain parts of the jewelry, you will be able to see the base metal peeking out underneath.
What is the difference between white and yellow gold?
There are many similarities between white and yellow gold and both work well with almost any type of diamond. The main difference between white, yellow, and even rose gold is the metal blend used to make them.
The most common metals used to alloy gold are: copper, silver, nickel, palladium, and zinc. This means that the gold hue of the jewelry will depend on the type and proportion of each metal contained in the alloy.
How do you preserve gold jewelry over time?
Although gold jewelry is made of metal, it can be exposed to regular water, pool water, and sea water without causing damage, in order to maintain the high level of finish of this jewelry, it is recommended to follow a few preventive and maintenance steps:
- Preventive actions
- To preserve your gold jewelry, be sure to store it in a jewelry box or sealed plastic bag, after removing all the air from it. The lack of oxygen in the bag will help preserve the gold's luster.
- To prevent scratches, put only one piece of gold jewelry in each box or bag.
- To prevent jewelry from becoming bent and tangled, it is recommended to remove it before going to bed, especially necklaces, bracelets, or dangling earrings.
- Cleaning and maintenance operations
The market offers cleaning products specifically designed for cleaning gold jewelry. Therefore, avoid chemical products such as acids, which are not intended for cleaning jewelry.
It is recommended to clean the gold jewelry, at least once every six months, from the layer of dirt that has surely accumulated on it over time.
This way you can ensure that your gold jewelry remains sparkling and lustrous for years to come.
