How to Buy Gold
Buying Gold Jewelry (Jewellery in theUK or Canada)
Here at EDJ we often get emails requesting information on how to purchase gold jewelry. This question comes, most often, from men who have little experience in purchasing jewlery ,especially for the woman in their life.
To begin, why buy gold? For starters, gold is a precious metal that has be valued around the world throughout history. Over the centuries people have gone to extreme lengths to acquire it, even risk their lives to obtain it. In recent years, it value on financial markets has steadily increased.
Physically, it has properties that most other metals do not possess like the fact that it does not react to oxygen or other elements which create tarnish. Gold is versatile as it can be moulded, worked and/or hammered into virtually any shape. For most people with sensitive skin, gold is one of the few metals they can wear without experiencing a reaction. If a rash or skin irritation does occur, it is usually from one of the other alloys which are often mixed with gold to make it harder or more affordable.
Gold Purity
Gold purity is measured in karats, or K, which describes the how much or how little gold exists in the item. The minimum requirement for gold content in a “gold” item is just under 42% which would be considered 10K gold. The maximum, meaning the item is pure gold, is 24K. So if we take something that is 10k what this means is that whatever the item is it contains 10 parts gold and 14 parts other metals such as nickel, platinum or palladium.
This mixing of alloys with gold is done for several reasons. One reason is that pure gold is very soft and easy to dent or bend. Adding alloys to the gold makes the item harder and more durable. Another reason may be cost. Gold is quite expensive while the other metals are worth less so by melting the gold with these various other metals in varying amounts, the cost of the item goes down. Yet one more reason is for design. When mixing various other metals with gold, the color can be changed quite significantly making the gold turn more white which in the extreme becomes white gold or maybe if a pinkish color is desired then copper can be added.
Sold Gold/Gold Plated/Gold Coated
If something is labelled solid gold, then it does not mean it is pure gold unless it is 24K solid gold. Solid Gold means that the item is gold throughout but maybe as low as 10K (which means other metals have been added to gold).
If an item is gold plated, it means that a very thin layer of gold has been coated over another form of metal. This is not typically recommended as the layer easily wears off.
White gold is often coated with palladium, rhodium or platinum to add and protect the lustre of a white gold item. Palladium is the best choice for those who have metal allergies.
How to decide what you should buy?
When buying gold you have to consider several things. What is your budget? Who are you buying for and do they possess metal allergies? Will the item be worn often or occasionally? Does the person like yellow gold or white gold?
Obviously, budget is an important one. The simple answer is try to get the highest gold content your budget will allow. Following this rule will increase durability and lessen the likelihood of a skin irritation/allergic reactions. If the item will not be worn often, you may be able to get away with a gold plated item if budget is a concern.
Obviously if it is a gift such as an engagement ring or something of that nature, you will want to do your homework, shop around and get as much expert advice as possible. If unsure about yellow or white gold, look at the jewelry the person already possesses to get an idea of their preferences. While some people love the rich look of yellow gold, many people find it does not suit their character or style.
