| y"> | | | | trademark of the company that will stand behind the |
| Without a doubt, Gold is one of the world's most | | | | mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, |
| precious metals. It is also a certainty that gold enjoys | | | | symbol or initials. If you don't see a trademark |
| an unsurpassed popularity as a medium for jewelry | | | | accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, |
| expression. Both jewelry artisans and consumers alike | | | | look for another piece. |
| are "in love" with gold. There seems to be no end to | | | | Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if |
| the range of colors, finishes and styles available and | | | | the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of |
| gold remains a perennial favorite setting for | | | | gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the |
| gemstones. | | | | karat mark. |
| Gold can last forever, will not corrode or rust and can | | | | Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. |
| be found anywhere. Gold exists in plants, rivers, | | | | Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically |
| oceans, mountains, it's nearly everywhere but it is | | | | plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means |
| extremely difficult and costly to extract this amazing | | | | with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating |
| metal. Did you know that a single ounce of gold can be | | | | wears away, but how soon will depend on how often |
| pulled into a thin wire that stretches nearly five miles | | | | the item is worn and how thick the plating is. |
| long? An artisans hammer can work that same ounce | | | | Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms |
| into a very thin sheet that can cover a 10ft x | | | | used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 |
| 10ft(100sq. ft.) area. Also, it takes nearly 3 tons of gold | | | | karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the |
| or to extract a single ounce of pure gold. Well if you | | | | jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term |
| didn't now you know! | | | | or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the |
| Gold Basics | | | | gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K |
| The word Gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 | | | | RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of |
| karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, it's usually | | | | the total weight of the item, any marking must state |
| mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and | | | | the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K |
| durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the | | | | Gold Overlay. |
| karat quality should accompany any claim that the item | | | | Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer |
| is gold. | | | | (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat |
| The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of | | | | gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic |
| gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat | | | | process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed |
| (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in | | | | describe products that have an extremely thin |
| throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the | | | | electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This |
| karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the | | | | will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled |
| piece of jewelry. | | | | or gold electroplate. |
| Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although | | | | Vermeil (ver-may), a special type of gold plated |
| marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality | | | | product, consists of a base of sterling silver that is |
| mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered | | | | coated or plated with gold. |