Precious Metals

Precious Metals

Precious metals

Choosing a piece of jewellery can be daunting, there is so much choice around today, even once you have chosen a design you are quite often faced with a choice of metal and carat (also spelt Karat in the USA). So to help you make the right choice, we have compiled some information which we hope can help.

Gold

Gold comes in several shades and carats. What most people decide on first is which colour they prefer, traditional yellow gold or white gold (which appears silver), on some occasions you may see rose gold offered, this is a pinky-yellow colour. Some people already have a preference, some people own different shades and change the pieces to match their outfits at the time.

Each of these may be offered in a choice of carats, 12 ct, 18 ct, 24 ct etc. this is different to the carat numbers you will see associated with gemstones. these numbers are a measure of purity. Only yellow gold will be offered in 22 or 24 carats.

This is because white gold and rose gold are in fact gold alloys. This means that yellow gold has been mixed with other components such a silver to change its colour, hence it cannot be a ‘pure’ 24 carats. Most rings offered for sale will range between 9 and 18 carats. 24 carats is usually used for exchange and investment.

One carat is 1/24 pure

12 carats is ˝ pure (50%)

18 carats is 75% pure

24 carats is 100% pure

White gold will also be less expensive to purchase than platinum which is the upper end of the precious metals market. You will find many white gold pieces have a rhodium plating. This is to give it a better shine, and in fact many jewellers offer a service whereby old rings can be re-plated to bring them back to their original glory.

Silver

The price of silver compared to gold can vary greatly, though silver is often seen as a lesser metal. However it is apparently slightly harder than gold, so can wear better than white gold when used in items such as rings.

Platinum

Platinum is one of the most valuable and highly prized ‘silver’ coloured metals. It is more resistant to tarnishing than silver or gold so is most often used in rings which naturally get a lot of wear and tear. Platinum is the rarest of the precious metals and also the most expensive, however it has not yet replaced gold in popularity.

hallmarks

All precious metals should carry several hallmarks, for example 925, which is a fineness mark (relates to quality), this should not be confused with 925 alone which some manufacturers add voluntarily. There should also be an assay mark which is like a quality assurance seal by an independent and trusted body And lastly a manufacturer or makers mark.

below is an example of all 3 hallmarks together as they should be.

AB is the manufacturer, 925, the fineness mark and the lions head represents the assay house in london.

Other optional marks may also appear, such as date (often shown by letter) and a pictorial quality symbol which shows the type of metal. Shown below is the millennium mark, reserved for items made in 1999 and 2000.the lowercase letter ‘a’ is also a date mark representing the year 2000. the lion emblem shows the metal is sterling silver.