For years gold has been known to be the most precious of all metals. The desire to own gold dates back to the history of mankind. Gold in its pure form is very soft. Yellow gold is used for various utility functions like- electronic appliances, dentistry, medical and chemical fields while its association with jewellery
Gold is measured in terms of karats and is denoted by K. The karat weight informs us the amount of gold present in the metal alloy. 24K gold is 100% pure with no added alloys. The following chart will help you ascertain the percentage of gold, referring to different karat weights:
24 karat = 100% gold
22 karat = 91.7% gold
18 karat = 75.0% gold
14 karat = 58.3% gold
12 karat = 50.0% gold
10 karat = 41.7% gold
Colour
Gold in its pure form is yellow in colour. It is mixed with other metallic elements to form alloys which give gold its strength and durability. The alloying of gold is likely to alter the colour producing various hues and shades. Gold alloys occur in shades of yellow, white, pink, green, blue and grey. These colours of gold are determined by two main factors- The combination of elements within each metal and the percentage of each element within the metal.
Yellowgold
Even though gold is yellow when pure, the intensity of yellow colour depends on volume of other metals alloyed with it. The more the karat weight, more intense is the colour.
Rosegold
Rose or Pink Gold is another popular coloured gold used in jewellery. The pinkish hue of gold can be owed to a larger proportion of copper in the gold alloy, making it more durable simultaneously.
Whitegold
The term "White Gold" refers to alloys of gold which is white in colour. Unlike yellow gold, a 24K white gold can never exist as the white colour of gold is obtained by mixing other elements. To make it shimmering white, gold is plated with Rhodium and this process is called Rhodium Flashing. Depending on the wear, this rhodium plating may fade, revealing the original colour of the metal. Re-plating can be done to restore the white sheen.
Platinum
Platinum has always been valued for its purity, rarity and strength, making it one of the most precious metals. Its beautiful colour and elite looks make it an ideal choice for jewellery lovers.
Platinum vs. Whitegold
Although they appear similar, platinum must never be mistaken for white gold. Not only do the two differ in strength but also in colour and lustre. White gold is produced when yellow gold is alloyed; whereas platinum is naturally white in colour. Therefore, the sheen of platinum in actuality is whiter than white gold.
Compared to gold, platinum is five times rarer and purer when used in jewellery. For instance, gold must contain 41% of pure gold or it won't be considered pure gold, whereas to be considered as Platinum, the metal must contain at least 90% of pure platinum. '950 Plat' or '900 Plat' stamped on our platinum jewellery is important for our quality guarantee.
Platinum Care
Platinum is known not to tarnish easily. It ages beautifully by developing a lustrous patina- a lustre that develops on the surface of the platinum due to daily wear and tiny scratches. Platinum jewellery is very easy to care for. Soak your platinum jewellery in a mild solution of soap water and softly remove the dirt using a soft brush.
Sterling Silver Guide
Since ancient times Silver has been considered highly valuable. Besides its other miscellaneous uses, its relation with jewellery and accessories has been unavoidable.
Sterling Silver
Silver in its natural unalloyed state is 999/1000 pure, making it highly malleable and difficult to use. Thus, in order to be used in jewellery, it is often combined with metallic alloys, such as copper to increase its strength and durability. When pure silver or fine silver is mixed with less than 7.5% of alloy it is known as Sterling Silver. It also improves the metal's hardness and durability without affecting its beautiful colour. Sterling Silver therefore is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper as well as significantly more durable than regular silver.
Sterling silver jewellery is stamped in various ways such as 'Sterling', '925', 'steer', 'sterling silver' to indicate its quality. The stamping of sterling silver is done to denote superior quality.
Sterling Silver Care
Silver jewellery is prone to tarnishing. It is a dulling effect that naturally occurs when silver reacts with sulphur or hydrogen sulphide in ambient air. It is important to clear tarnish before it causes rust or any harm to your jewellery. Silver scratches very easily, so it is important to safeguard your silver jewellery from any substance that is likely to scratch it. Regular polishing treatments are the ideal solution to keep your silver jewellery shining.
