The Free Gold Guide To Beautiful Heart Jewelry

Before the invention of the American Dollar, the British Pound, or the Indian Rupee, what did people use to denote currency? One of the timeless ways to denote one\’s wealth was often by how much gold he/she owned. Heavy and rare, it\’s been used as a status symbol and symbol of wealth throughout the ages. This is our free gold guide, and we hope you enjoy our journey into the world of this precious metal. Enjoy…

Most of us already know that gold is one of the world\’s most precious and valuable metals. It is also very soft and malleable. Did you know that? A mere ounce of it can be stretched and stretched until it forms a long string of wire over 5 miles long. If you would rather pound it, it can be pounded so thin that it forms a sheet of gold that will cover 100 square feet. It won\’t rust or corrode either, meaning that it can last indefinitely. It\’s also all around us. It\’s in the crust of the earth beneath our feet, it\’s in our seas and rives, and it\’s also in our plants as well. Because it is so difficult to find and extract, it\’s also very expensive. It takes 1.5 – 3 tons of gold ore to make 1oz of pure gold.

Jewelry\’s Most Popular Metal is…

Do you know what is the most popular metal being used in jewelry today? Gold of course and heart jewelry is no exception. Most of this gold probably goes into the simple gold wedding band. Since pure gold is so soft and malleable, it is usually mixed with other metals in order to make it stronger and not as able to bend so easily. Do you know what the result is when you mix two or more metals together? It is called an alloy, and most of the gold that is used in jewelry is an alloy. What types of jewelry you ask? How about: (1) Gold jewelry, (2) White gold jewelry, (3) 24k gold jewelry, (4) 22k gold jewelry, (5) 18k gold jewelry, (6) 14k gold jewelry, (7) Rose gold jewelry, (8) Wholesale gold jewelry, (9) Gold body jewelry, (10) Indian gold jewelry, (11) Gold horse jewelry, (12) Gold plated jewelry, (13) Gold charm jewelry, (14) Other fine gold jewelry items.

Karat (the word) comes from: \”the word for the fruit of the carob tree\”. Here are some examples: in Arabic the word qirat, in Italian the word carato, and in Greek the word keration. This all got started because the seeds of the fruit from the carob tree were used in ancient times for measuring precious gems. Since the pure gold Byzantine coin (i.e.: the solidus) weighed 24 karats, the 24 karat mark (24 KT or 24K) became the mark used to indicate that an object was one of pure gold.

Which is Which: Karats or Carats?

When we talk about gold we often hear the term carat (or karat). Bugs bunny preferred to be paid in carrots, but that\’s another item all together. When you are paid in carats, well, then you are really talking about some major money. In jewelry terms, the carat has a double meaning. It is used as a measurement of weight for gemstones (one carat is usually equivalent to 1/5 gram), but in some countries it can also be used to denote the amount of pure gold in a piece of gold jewelry. In the United States, when we want to indicate the gold content rather than the weight, we use a \”k\”, such as \”karat\”, to avoid any confusion that may arise.

24K gold (at least in most instances) is too soft to be used in jewelry. In some regions of the world they prefer to use 18K or 20K because (A) of its brighter yellow color and (B) for the simple fact that it is closer to being pure 24K gold. In the United States 14K or 18K is preferred above the others because it is more durable.

What is Gold 990?

A new alloy is on the way that we should mention. It\’s called Gold 990, and it is an alloy of pure gold and only a small amount of titanium. What does this mean? This means you have \”almost\” pure gold, with greatly increased durability. This \”straw colored\” alloy is similar to the look of 14K gold, so those looking for that 24K gold look should look a bit further. If color is not that important, and if you are looking for a way to have \”almost pure\” gold and better durability, this alloy may be just what you need.

Can you answer the following question? In order for something to be called gold, how many carats must the item be? The rules calling something \”gold\” vary from country to country. In the United States of America, in order for something to be called \”gold\” it has to be at least 10K gold. In Canada and England the number is 9K. In France and Italy it must be 18K.

Does Gold Have To Be Yellow?

Many think that gold\’s only color is yellow. Well, they are partly correct. Pure 24K gold is always yellow in color. Since pure gold is too soft and malleable for jewelry use, and since countries have different standards for what \”gold\” means, you can change the color of \”gold\” by the alloys that you happen to add to it. Yellow gold is made up of gold, silver and copper. White gold is comprised of gold, zinc, nickel, silver, palladium and platinum. Green gold is made up of gold, silver, copper, and zinc. Pink (or red) gold is composed of gold, copper, and sometimes a small amount of silver.

Underkarating

Before we leave this subject of carats and karats, there is one more thing that we should discuss. When you are purchasing a piece of jewelry you should always be concerned about underkarating. This is a serious problem in many regions of the world, so be sure to purchase your jewelry from a reliable jewelry outlet or a reliable jewelry store. Underkarating means that although the jewelry item is marked to indicate that it has a certain amount of jewelry content it can contain less than the amount indicated. Jewelers who sell underkarated jewelry will sometimes boast about the fact that you are \”getting a great bargain\” In actuality you are not getting any bargain. Since the jewelry item they are selling you contains less gold and more alloy than what is indicated, what kind of a deal is that? As always, the buyer must beware when purchasing jewelry. Only purchase jewelry items from very reliable sources.

Ever Heard of the Manufacturer\’s Registered Trademark?

You should always look for a manufacturer\’s registered trademark on any gold jewelry item you purchase. It is located near the karat mark, and manufacturers take this trademark very seriously. In addition, as more and more jewelers get concerned about being held liable, they are willing to only purchase jewelry items from manufacturers who are willing to stand by what they sell. This trademark can be traced back to the very people who made this jewelry, and their reputation is on the line. They won\’t dare mess up in this particular area.

Skin Discoloration

Did you know what causes your skin discoloration with some forms of gold jewelry? It\’s not the pure gold that is doing this. Pure gold does not tarnish, and will not discolor the skin. It\’s the alloys that are added to the pure gold that are causing this effect. This happens mostly under damp or moist conditions. These alloys, along with the fatty acids that are present in your perspiration, can set up a corrosive reaction. This problem can be even worse in areas where there is salt in the air, so if you plan a trip to the beach…beware.

Oh and one more thing we should talk about. Metallic abrasion that is caused by some makeup is another common cause of discoloration. Some makeup contains compounds that are actually harder than the jewelry in which they are coming into contact with? Did you know that? As these compounds rub and grind against the jewelry you are wearing they can cause some of the gold to flake off. The result is a dark looking \”dust\”. When this \”dust\” makes contact with your sweaty skin, a black smudge is what is left over.

So, What\’s the Solution?

Now that we have identified the problem, what is the solution to discoloration resulting from jewelry? You need to get into the habit of removing the jewelry often and washing the skin that it is coming into contact with. Plain soap and water is the preferred solution. Oh and remember to keep your jewelry clean as well. You should wipe the jewelry periodically with a nice soft cloth to remove any tarnish that may \”build up\”. It might also be a good idea to use a body powder that is free of abrasions on all areas of your skin that will be in contact with the jewelry you wish to wear.

If you happen to like a certain piece of jewelry, why not see if a similar piece is available from another manufacturer? You may find that one piece causes discoloration while another does not. This doesn\’t mean that one piece is inferior to another. Jewelry manufacturers often use different alloys, or different combinations of alloys. This means that although the look may be the same, one piece of jewelry will cause discoloration while another may not.

Why not switch to a more pure form of gold jewelry? This could resolve the problem entirely. After all, it is these alloys that are causing the problem, and if remove more of these alloys, \”problem solved\”.

The Conclusion of the Matter

We hope you enjoyed our Free Gold Guide Tour into the World of Gold Jewelry and Skin Discoloration. If you would like to learn a bit more, please visit our blog on www.BeautifulHeartJewelry.com. We do focus on heart jewelry primarily, but we also provide general information regarding the history of jewelry, and where you can purchase other great jewelry items.

Betsy Johnson has two great blogs: heart jewelry and open heart jewelry if you would like to learn more.

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