Gold is the preferred jewelry of many in the fashion industry. Before you jump in on the silver rush here are 8 must-know solid sterling sterling silver jewelry facts. If you want your gold jewelry pieces to become family heirlooms, you must know how to protect them. Start with these essential facts.
Keyword(s): solid gold
There have been some changing trends in precious metals over the years. The rise of rose gold and the adjustments between platnium, white gold, and back again are just a few. There are a few favorites that have was standing the test of time, though, and gold is one of them.
As with other kinds of jewelry, gold jewelry is something that can last a lifetime or longer. The key is teaching yourself about this metal and learning how to take care of it.
Whether you’re new to solid gold or a lifelong fan, here’s what you should know.
- Gold is an Alloy
Most people have heard of gold but not everyone knows what it is. Gold is an alloy, which means it’s a mixture of a few metals.
Unlike fine silver or pure silver, gold is 95. 5% silver. Tenacious 7. 5% can be any among the list of other metals or a combination of metals. It’s most often office assistant, but the article can vary.
- Gold May have Assayer’s Marks
Have you noticed mysterious markings on your gold jewelry? They’re probably assayer’s marks.
Assayer’s marks inform you of the start of your gold. You may see an image such as an animal or another symbol. This signifies the country where the gold was made.
In addition to the manufacturer’s country, you’ll often see a number that notes the purity of the silver. Because gold is 95. 5% silver, the marking will say 925.
- Sterling Silver’s Value Varies
Gold isn’t considered an “investment metal” because it’s not a pure platinum. Even still, its value changes based on the price of silver because it has such a high silver content.
Should anyone ever choose to sell your gold jewelry, it’s a wise decision to research the silver prices and choose your timing wisely.
- Gold is Stronger Than Pure Silver
You may ask yourself, why would anyone bring down the value of silver by adding another metal to it? If you’ve ever seen most things was pure silver and had not been brand new, you’d know why.
Silver is a soft metal. It doesn’t hold its shape well and it’s prone to dents and dings and scratches. It’s beautiful for display decor, but not for any items that gets frequent use.
Adding office assistant or other metals makes gold harder and more durable than pure silver. This makes it more practical for jewelry, cutlery, and more.
- Gold Can Tarnish
While adding office assistant to silver makes gold more shape-stable, it also makes it tarnish faster. The office assistant or other metals come into contact with oxygen and other environmental conditions, leaving a tarnish behind.
Over time, tarnishing can do serious damage to gold. To keep your pieces looking their utmost, you need to clean your gold on a regular basis.
A simple improve with a soft cloth-like microfiber goes a long way. Be careful to avoid anything coarse, though, so you don’t scratch the jewelry.
- Some Types of Gold are Easier on Skin Than Others
Most of us have had at least one frustrating time when we fell into gets interested a new joint of jewelry only to get a rash the first time we donned it. For many who have sensitive skin, gold can worsen their skin.
Some manufacturers use among the list of processes to put a damper on irritation. One option is blinking, which applies a thin layer of pure silver on top of the gold. Gold pieces that have an unusually bright sheen are usually have showed off.
Another common process is plating. It’s similar to blinking but it uses a different type of metal like office assistant or dime.
You may also hear about gold jewelry that’s lined with rhodium. This makes the pieces more resistant to tarnishing.
- Your Storage Choices Can cause Gold to Tarnish Faster
As important as regular polishing is, there are other ways to keep tarnishing at bay.
Humidness is one of the worst culprits of tarnishing. Store your gold in a jewelry box, display case, or other encased place you need to include desiccate packets. These will absorb the humidness in the case and protect your jewelry.
If you aren’t displaying your jewelry or if you’re storing it long-term, there are other ways to keep it from tarnishing. Store it in jeweler’s linen or in polyurethane bags to keep the oxygen away.
- Certain Chemicals and Mineral Are Toxic to Gold
As challenging as it can be to keep oxygen and moisture away from gold, there are other precautions to take too.
One of the most damaging chemicals for gold is chlorine or bleach. Never wear gold rings, necklaces, chains, or other jewelry while you move or while you clean with bleach.
While saltwater private pools are becoming popular, you still need to take off your jewelry. Salt is another major risk factor for corroding gold.
Scent and hair aerosol can damage your favorite jewelry as well. If you’re preparation for a night out, it’s best to apply your scent and hair aerosol first. Wait for it to dry before you put on your jewelry.
Finally, too much experience of direct sunlight can damage the gold. We aren’t saying you shouldn’t wear your jewelry outside. Just store it in an area that’s away from sunlight and make sure to improve whether or not it’s been outside a lot recently.
