A LITTLE BIT ABOUT METALS
While Wonder Jewelers uses only the highest quality precious metals in their fine jewelry collection, we understand that the choice between the various metals can seem confusing. Each metal has its advantages and disadvantages. Read through this section to determine which metal is best for you. You will have to consider the characteristics of each metal, the price, and the care required to maintain the metal at its optimum beauty.
Platinum:
This is an excellent choice for metal because of its durability. An interesting fact about platinum is that unlike other precious metals such as silver and gold, which are easily scratched, platinum is virtually impossible to wear down. This makes it an excellent choice as every time that you polish your jewelry you will not have to worry about the wear down that can occur with other metals.
Typically there are other small components, Iridium and Ruthenium which are added to platinum to increase its hardness and help in retaining the original pure platinum quality and appearance. The beauty of this metal makes it a perfect setting for any diamond as it really enhances the brilliance of the stone. Additionally, platinum is a hypoallergenic which is ideal for anyone with sensitive skin or allergy to metals.
Gold:
Gold is one of the most rare elements in the precious metals family, and in the world. The fine metal is able to resist tarnish and rust, and is also unaffected by oxidization, corrosion, and acids. The lifespan of gold can far outweigh even that of a diamond.
Karats themselves are what measure the percentage of the gold to the alloy contained in the gold jewelry. For example if something is marked 18kt gold than this means that it contains 75% pure gold in its makeup.
There are different colors of gold, all are obtained in alloying other metals with the gold itself.
Silver:
Pure silver is usually combined with other metals to allow more durability as 100% of the metal itself is more soft and easily damaged. Copper is what is added to the silver to add more durability, however, when you select sterling silver the composition is about 92.5% silver to 7.5% copper.
The metal has an ideal combination of beauty to durability. It is also ideal to setting stones, and may be a more affordable alternative to platinum with the same stunning appearance. Not available at Wonder Jewelers.
Gold Purity
As the most malleable of all precious metals, gold is an excellent choice when crafting designs with very intricate details. Plus, it’s resistant to rust, tarnish and corrosion. Pure gold is too soft for everyday wear, so it’s alloyed with a mixture of silver, copper and a trace of zinc, to give it strength and durability. This hardens the final product enough to last for many generations.
Karatage, denoted by a number followed by “k”, indicates purity, or how much of the metal in a piece of jewelry is gold. Karatage is expressed in 24ths, making 24k gold the highest karat gold. It has a rich and luxurious gold-yellow color, but unlike 14k or 18k gold, it’s far too malleable for everyday wear. If you’re unsure what karat your jewelry is, you can find out by looking for a number followed by a lower case “k” stamped somewhere on the piece.
Wonder Jewelers Gold
We carry jewelry that’s crafted in both 18k and 14k gold. Our 18k gold is an alloy of 75% gold with other metals to make it strong enough for everyday wear, and our 14k gold is an alloy of 58.3% gold and other metals. The minimum karat that is allowed to be sold as gold jewelry in the U.S. is 10k—an alloy of 41.7% pure gold. If you’re one of our European customers, you may be accustomed to a different gold karat scale. 585 is equivalent to our 14k gold, while 750 is the same as our 18k gold.
The Colors Of Gold
Although it’s true that the color of pure gold is yellow, gold jewelry or objects are almost always alloys. The metal they are alloyed with changes their color to a variety of shades depending on:
- The type of metal alloys included
- The percentage of each metal alloy
- The metals used to alloy gold, which include: zinc, copp er, nickel, iron, cadmium, aluminum, silver, platinum and palladium
Our fine jewelry comes in 3 colors: yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold.
What Is Yellow Gold?
A mixture of silver, copper, pure gold (and a trace of zinc) gives yellow gold jewelry its rich shine. Although the percentages of each metal used to create the alloy vary, all formulas starts with 75% pure gold for 18k gold and 58.3% for 14k gold. The result gives off a classic warm glow that makes an especially good setting for lower color grade diamonds with a faint yellow tint.
If you’re interested in 14k yellow gold, which is slightly less rich in color than 18k yellow gold, it’s important to note not only the difference in color between the two karatages, but also the difference in durability and hardness. 18K is softer and will therefore show scratches more often. 14K is harder which makes it a little more resistant to scratching.
What Is White Gold?
In order to give white gold jewelry its modern silvery-white color, pure gold is often alloyed with a mixture of nickel, or palladium and silver, plus other whitening alloys. The piece is then plated (meaning it’s covered with a layer of another metal) with an extremely hard element called Rhodium. While Rhodium plating is relatively long-wearing, some occasional replating may be required. It’s not uncommon after a few years to see a slight champagne-colored tint in your white-gold jewelry. This can be a sign that your jewelry needs replating to restore its original whiteness. We recommend routine cleaning and annual maintenance.
What Is Rose Gold?
The romantic pink hue of rose gold jewelry is createdby using a copper alloy. The more copper in the alloy, the rosier the hue. Rose gold has the same amount of pure gold as yellow or white gold. What’s different is the ratio of other metals that make up the remaining percentage of the alloy mix. Rose gold is a beautiful and unique choice for engagement ring, and its modern-vintage appeal has been a hot trend in the last few years. The preference of one karatage over another comes down to whether people want a lighter (18k) or slightly deeper (14k) rose color for their setting or band.
How Do You Determine The Price Of Gold?
Gold is traded on a public exchange and therefore the price is subject to many external influences. That’s why the price of gold jewelry is largely dependent on three factors:
- Purity of gold used (the karatage), combined with the physical weight of the item
- Current market value of gold
- Detail of the design and craftsmanship of the piece
Gold Karat Chart
24 karat = 100% gold
22 karat = 91.7% gold
Both 24k and 22k are considered too soft for fine jewelry, though prized and worn in some cultures.
18 karat = 75.0% gold
Considered to be the luxury end of fine jewelry.
14 karat = 58.3% gold
Ideal for fine jewelry, balancing wearability and value.
10 karat = 41.7% gold
Not available at Wonder Jewelers.
What Karat Gold Is Best?
The karatage that’s right for you may be a personal preference or a matter of budget. Both 14k and 18k jewelry from Wonder Jewelers are sure to impress, so you don’t necessarily need to go for the higher karatage. Here are some factors to consider when deciding which to choose:
14k Gold
- Good balance of durability and price because of the higher percentage of alloys used.
- Our most popular choice.
18k Gold
- Luxurious choice with a precious appeal
- Slightly softer and less durable than 14k because of the higher amount of malleable pure gold in the alloy
Care Tips For Your Gold Jewelry
Prolonged or repeated exposure to chlorine or other chemicals in cleaning products can harm gold jewelry. We recommend that you remove your jewelry when gardening or cleaning.
