Gold

For many thousands of years, gold has fulfilled the human urge to own and wear objects of beauty. Its beautiful colour and lustre, its resistance to atmospheric change and its rarity have all contributed to make it the ultimate precious metal through the ages.
As the most malleable of all metals, gold is ideally suited to the craftsman's purpose. In its pure state it would be too soft to withstand wear. Therefore, the jeweller works with an 'alloy' of gold in which it is combined with another metal such as silver, copper, nickel or zinc.
What does 'carat' mean?
The relative proportions of gold to other metals in an alloy are described by the term carat, one carat being equal to 1/24th part by weight. 18ct is therefore 18 parts in 24 pure gold, 9ct gold is 9 parts in 24 etc. The legal standards for gold alloys are 22ct (.916), 18ct (.750), 14ct (.585) and 9ct (.375).

COLOUR

Gold won't tarnish, rust, or corrode, and though it's very strong, it is also the most malleable of all metals.
Gold in its pure form (24ct) is too soft to withstand abrasions caused from extensive daily wear, so it is alloyed with other metals to give it strength. This strength makes gold an excellent choice for a ring setting.
Common gold alloys are silver, copper, nickel, and zinc.
Gold colour is determined by the percentage of alloys that are included in the metal. When gold is alloyed with silver, copper, and zinc, the shade of colour will vary. When gold is alloyed with nickel, copper, and zinc, it becomes white gold.
Yellow gold and white gold have very similar strength and malleability. White gold looks very similar to platinum, but the two have very different properties and prices.

PURITY
The purity of gold is measured in carats, which are expressed in 24ths. So 24-carat gold is pure while 18-carat gold is 75 percent gold and 25 percent alloy.

The price of gold

The price of gold jewellery is dependent upon the purity of the gold used or carat weight, as well as the design and construction of the piece of jewellery.
When the carat weight or the gold percentage of the jewellery is high, the yellow colour of gold is brighter, raising the value of the jewellery.

Caring for gold

Keep your gold jewellery away from harsh chemicals such as chlorine and cleaning fluids. This will reduce daily abrasions and prolong gold's lustre.
To clean gold jewellery, use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap and wash gold gently with a soft-bristled brush (a dull tooth brush works well).
Store gold pieces separately in soft cloth bags or original boxes to protect them from the exposure to harsh daily elements.