Jewelry = Metal

Gold

Pure gold is soft and isn't practical = for daily=20 wear. Other metals are mixed with it to make it more durable (and to = lower its=20 cost). Adding other metals to the mix allows metallurgists to change the = color=20 and hardness of gold.

Palladium or nickel can be added to create = white=20 gold. Adding copper produces a rose or pink tint, while silver gives = gold a=20 greenish cast.

Gold = Carat=20

When metals are added to the gold the result is a gold alloy. We = often=20 see the mark-=E2=80=9DK=E2=80=9D in our gold alloy jewelry. The K stands = for karat, the system=20 used to state how much pure gold is found in an item.

24K gold is pure gold.

18K gold contains 18 parts gold and 6 parts of one or more = additional=20 metals, making it 75% gold.

14K gold contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts of one or more = additional=20 metals, making it 58.3% gold.

12K gold contains 12 parts gold and 12 parts of one or more = additional=20 metals, making it 50% gold.

10K gold contains 10 parts gold and 14 parts of one or more = additional=20 metals, making it 41.7% gold. 10K gold is the minimum karat that can be = called=20 "gold" in the United States.

9kt gold contains 375 parts per thousand parts, making it 37.5% pure = gold.

Solid gold is a term that can be used to describe an = item=20 that's at least 10K (in the US) gold all the way through. Even though = it's a=20 gold alloy--18K, 14K, or anything down to 10K--it can be called solid = gold.=20
Solid gold is durable, so it is a better choice for jewelry you'll = wear=20 regularly. If you have allergies to nickel or other metals, choose items = that=20 have high gold content, such as 18K or 22K gold jewelry. Gold Color

White Gold

Nickel can be mixed with gold to create = a white=20 (or gray) color; it can cause dermatitis in people who are sensitive to = nickel.=20

Palladium is another metal used to create white gold alloys. = Related to=20 platinum, it is more expensive than nickel.

Rose or Pink Gold

Copper is added to make = gold-colored=20 alloys, but additional copper creates pink and rose tones--the more = copper, the=20 deeper the effect.

Green Gold

Greenish shades are created by adding = silver to=20 gold.

Black Hills Gold

Black Hills Gold jewelry is a good = example=20 of colored gold alloys. Most Black Hills Gold jewelry uses 10K or 12K = gold=20 alloys in shades of yellow, pink, rose, and green. =

Other Kinds of Gold = Jewelry

Gold Plated Jewelry

The gold layer in gold plated = jewelry=20 is typically thinner than the gold in gold filled jewelry, so it usually = wears=20 away more quickly. Plating is done in different ways.

Gold Filled Jewelry

Newer gold filled items have = markings=20 that indicate how much and what type of gold was used for the layer.=20

Gold filled or plated jewelry is suitable for jewelry that you = wear=20 occasionally. Everyday use would eventually diminish the gold layer, = exposing=20 the metal below, which might stain your skin or cause an allergic = reaction. For=20 pieces that will last a lifetime and beyond, buy the highest quality = gold your=20 budget allows.

Platinum=20

Content and Platinum = Marks=20

Platinum is a rare precious metal that's used to create fine = jewelry.=20 Its heavy weight and durability make platinum a metal that will not wear = away=20 with constant use. Platinum holds fine gemstones firmly in place for the = life of=20 the jewelry when used as prongs and other setting components. =

Platinum's=20 natural white luster provides a rich backdrop for pearls. Platinum make = the=20 pearl jewelry more stunning and elegant.

The Platinum Group of Metals =

Six=20 related metals belong to the Platinum Group of Metals, or PGM:
Platinum

Iridium

Palladium

Ruthenium

Rhodium

Osmium

Jewelry that contains at least 950 parts = per=20 thousand of pure platinum may be marked or described as=20 "Platinum"

Jewelry that contains 850, 900 or 950 parts per = thousand of=20 pure platinum may be marked "Plat" or "Pt" if a number is used in front = of the=20 term to disclose the amount of pure platinum in the mix, such as "850 = Pt", " 900=20 Plat" or "950 Pt".

Jewelry that contains at least 950 parts per = thousand=20 of platinum group metals, with at least 500 parts per thousand of the = total pure=20 platinum, may be marked as platinum as long as the numbers of each metal = are=20 disclosed. For instance:

"600 Pt. 350 Ir." or 600 Plat. 350 Irid." for 600 parts pure = platinum and=20 350 parts iridium

"550Pt. 350Pd. 50Ir." or "550Plat. 350Pall. 50Irid." for 550 parts = pure=20 platinum, 350 parts palladium and 50 parts = iridum

Sterling Silver

Silver is a soft metal in its pure form, too soft = to be used=20 for jewelry and other items, so it's mixed with other metals to make it = more=20 durable. A popular silver mixture is known as sterling silver. =

The=20 minimum silver content is often stated as 925 parts per thousand of pure = silver,=20 so you might see the figures 925 or 92.5 used to mark silver content.=20

Jewelry metals