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History Of Gold Jewelry
By:
Published: July 25, 2006
Responsible for provoking wars, inspiring conquests and gaining fortunes since the beginning of civilization, gold has remained one of the most valuable metals in the world since its founding 5,000 years ago.
First mentioned in the Bible (Genesis chapter two), it has since been used as a worldwide symbol of wealth, status and power. Undoubtedly, gold was infamous from its beginning, remarkable for its naturally pure and workable state. Its shiny appearance and bright color immediately made the metal an object of exquisite beauty. Its permanence, without corrosion or tarnishing, linked gold jewelry with royalty and religion.
There was a worldwide effort to obtain it even before the existence of money, demonstrating the universal value attached to gold since ancient times. Throughout history, it was sought by all civilizations, with the exception only of Japan and China. This value has long withstood the test of time, remaining one of the most popular metals for jewelry, while maintaining its role in defining global currency standards. Even today, gold is accepted worldwide as a medium of exchange.
Ironically, gold has remained one of the most valuable and esteemed components of jewelry, while also retaining its status as the softest of all metals. To make it suitable for everyday wear, gold is usually mixed with several other metals (called alloys) to increase its strength and durability. Metals such as silver, copper, nickel and zinc often are combined to form such alloys. The type and percentage of each metal alloy also determine the color of the gold jewelry. Among others, nickel is responsible for giving the lighter, muted color of white gold jewelry, and copper is used to create a rose tone to the metal.
The purity of gold jewelry is expressed in karatage (represented by the letter K). Categorized in 24ths (24K gold being 100 percent pure), 18K gold is often the choice for fine jewelry. 10K gold is the lowest standard for real gold in the United States. Even though all gold jewelry contains alloys of other metals, solid gold jewelry can be a term used to describe any piece that is at least 10K.
The least expensive gold jewelry is made by pouring a gold coating over a much less expensive metal. Such coatings include gold-filled and gold-plated jewelry, the latter containing the thinnest layer of the two. Gold washing, which is not even substantial enough to even coat another metal, may be used to give jewelry a gold appearance without impacting its cost.
Its permanence makes gold jewelry a suitable choice for everyday wear. Though its wearers will never have to pay attention for signs of rusting or corrosion, care can be taken to maintain it to ensure that it will, indeed, last forever.
Gold jewelry should be washed in soapy, warm water, mixed with a mild detergent. If needed, a small toothbrush can be used to brush away dirt or other particles. When completed, the gold jewelry should be left to air dry.
First mentioned in the Bible (Genesis chapter two), it has since been used as a worldwide symbol of wealth, status and power. Undoubtedly, gold was infamous from its beginning, remarkable for its naturally pure and workable state. Its shiny appearance and bright color immediately made the metal an object of exquisite beauty. Its permanence, without corrosion or tarnishing, linked gold jewelry with royalty and religion.
There was a worldwide effort to obtain it even before the existence of money, demonstrating the universal value attached to gold since ancient times. Throughout history, it was sought by all civilizations, with the exception only of Japan and China. This value has long withstood the test of time, remaining one of the most popular metals for jewelry, while maintaining its role in defining global currency standards. Even today, gold is accepted worldwide as a medium of exchange.
Ironically, gold has remained one of the most valuable and esteemed components of jewelry, while also retaining its status as the softest of all metals. To make it suitable for everyday wear, gold is usually mixed with several other metals (called alloys) to increase its strength and durability. Metals such as silver, copper, nickel and zinc often are combined to form such alloys. The type and percentage of each metal alloy also determine the color of the gold jewelry. Among others, nickel is responsible for giving the lighter, muted color of white gold jewelry, and copper is used to create a rose tone to the metal.
The purity of gold jewelry is expressed in karatage (represented by the letter K). Categorized in 24ths (24K gold being 100 percent pure), 18K gold is often the choice for fine jewelry. 10K gold is the lowest standard for real gold in the United States. Even though all gold jewelry contains alloys of other metals, solid gold jewelry can be a term used to describe any piece that is at least 10K.
The least expensive gold jewelry is made by pouring a gold coating over a much less expensive metal. Such coatings include gold-filled and gold-plated jewelry, the latter containing the thinnest layer of the two. Gold washing, which is not even substantial enough to even coat another metal, may be used to give jewelry a gold appearance without impacting its cost.
Its permanence makes gold jewelry a suitable choice for everyday wear. Though its wearers will never have to pay attention for signs of rusting or corrosion, care can be taken to maintain it to ensure that it will, indeed, last forever.
Gold jewelry should be washed in soapy, warm water, mixed with a mild detergent. If needed, a small toothbrush can be used to brush away dirt or other particles. When completed, the gold jewelry should be left to air dry.
