Gold

Gold has always been, and will probably always remain the metal par exellence used by jewelers.  Gold and jewelry, in fact, are almost synonymous because of its ancient use for this purpose.

In a pure form, its color is a unique bright yellow, which has given gold an ancient symbolic connection with the sun.

Because it is chemically inactive when pure, it is almost incorruptible and will not oxidize in air.

This quality gave gold a mystic significance, and a symbolic association with the idea of immortality.

Since  gold, in its pure form, is too soft for most uses in jewelry, it is alloyed (mixed) with other metals to achieve a desired hardness.  These added metals are also responsible for the different gold colors.  White gold, for example, can be achieved by adding nickel or palladium to the gold.

The relative amount of pure gold (fine gold content) in an alloy, is called the karat (K), and has to be marked, by law, on each piece of jewelry.

The most commonly used gold-alloys are:

         • 14 K        58.5 % gold

         • 18 K        75.0 % gold

         • 22 K        91.6 % gold

         • 24 K        99.9 % gold (fine gold)

In our jewelry designs we are using mostly 18K and 22K gold, sometimes 24K gold for inlay works or accents.