By Adrian Harrison
This informative online gold karats FAQ (frequently ask questions) guide will give you the knowledge to not get ripped off next time you buy karat gold jewelery at an online jewelery store or at a regular jewelry store.
Gold Karats FAQ Guide
There are many different types of gold available from regular jewelry stores and online jewelery stores all around the world. Understanding the difference will help you make a better informed decision when purchasing your next piece of fine karat gold jewelry.
This is why I've put together this gold karats FAQ guide.
Gold Colour
The first thing I want to explain to you in the gold karats FAQ guide is the different gold colours. The most common gold colours found at online jewelry stores & offline fine jewelery stores is yellow gold, followed by white gold and rose gold. There are other colours available but these are less common.
The colour of the gold doesn't make a difference to the gold content (karat rating). This is because the alloy has the same amount of gold in it. The gold is mixed with different metals to achieve different colours. Yellow gold can vary in colour. 18k yellow gold will have a brighter yellow colour compared to 9k gold. Rose gold is achieved normally by mixing pure gold with other metals such as cooper into it.
White gold is made by mixing pure gold with metals such as silver and palladium. It is often coated with a metal named "rhodium". The rhodium gives jewelery a really white appearance. White gold jewellery normally needs to re-rhodium coated every 12-18 months. Your local jewelry store and even some online jewelry stores can easily do this for a reasonable price. When comparing metals of the same karat, white gold tends to be a little more expensive.
Gold Plated Jewelery (also known as GEP or GP)
Gold plated jewelery describes jewelery that has a layer of gold applied to a base metal by an electrolytic process. This gives a look similar to karat gold. The gold plating will wear off after time. Gold plated jewelery is a cheap alternative. This type of jewelery is widely available and can be found at online jewelery stores, online accessory stores and offline stores.
Gold Filled Jewellery (also known as Gold Overlay)
Gold filled jewelery is a solid layer of gold bonded with heat and pressure to a base metal such as brass. Gold filled jewelery is a great cost effective alternative to solid gold jewellery. Unlike gold plated jewellery, good quality gold filled jewelery wears as well as solid karat gold and has the same look and lustre. The layer of gold in gold filled jewelery must be 1/20th of the total weight of the product. This layer is 50 to 100,000 times thicker that gold plated jewelery.
Hardness
The difference in gold content also affects the gold's hardness. 18k gold is slightly harder than 9k gold but this difference in hardness offers little practical advantage as they are virtually the same hardness. However, overall, 18k gold does tend to wear a little better over the years. Most online jewelry stores & regular fine jewelery stores would advise you to choose 18k gold for a wedding band as it wears a little better.
Gold Karats FAQ Guide Conclusion
I hope you've learned a lot from this gold karats FAQ guide. No doubt you'll be far more confident whether purchasing from an online jewelery store or a regular fine jewelry store.
Gold Karats FAQ Guide
There are many different types of gold available from regular jewelry stores and online jewelery stores all around the world. Understanding the difference will help you make a better informed decision when purchasing your next piece of fine karat gold jewelry.
This is why I've put together this gold karats FAQ guide.
Gold Colour
The first thing I want to explain to you in the gold karats FAQ guide is the different gold colours. The most common gold colours found at online jewelry stores & offline fine jewelery stores is yellow gold, followed by white gold and rose gold. There are other colours available but these are less common.
The colour of the gold doesn't make a difference to the gold content (karat rating). This is because the alloy has the same amount of gold in it. The gold is mixed with different metals to achieve different colours. Yellow gold can vary in colour. 18k yellow gold will have a brighter yellow colour compared to 9k gold. Rose gold is achieved normally by mixing pure gold with other metals such as cooper into it.
White gold is made by mixing pure gold with metals such as silver and palladium. It is often coated with a metal named "rhodium". The rhodium gives jewelery a really white appearance. White gold jewellery normally needs to re-rhodium coated every 12-18 months. Your local jewelry store and even some online jewelry stores can easily do this for a reasonable price. When comparing metals of the same karat, white gold tends to be a little more expensive.
Gold Plated Jewelery (also known as GEP or GP)
Gold plated jewelery describes jewelery that has a layer of gold applied to a base metal by an electrolytic process. This gives a look similar to karat gold. The gold plating will wear off after time. Gold plated jewelery is a cheap alternative. This type of jewelery is widely available and can be found at online jewelery stores, online accessory stores and offline stores.
Gold Filled Jewellery (also known as Gold Overlay)
Gold filled jewelery is a solid layer of gold bonded with heat and pressure to a base metal such as brass. Gold filled jewelery is a great cost effective alternative to solid gold jewellery. Unlike gold plated jewellery, good quality gold filled jewelery wears as well as solid karat gold and has the same look and lustre. The layer of gold in gold filled jewelery must be 1/20th of the total weight of the product. This layer is 50 to 100,000 times thicker that gold plated jewelery.
Hardness
The difference in gold content also affects the gold's hardness. 18k gold is slightly harder than 9k gold but this difference in hardness offers little practical advantage as they are virtually the same hardness. However, overall, 18k gold does tend to wear a little better over the years. Most online jewelry stores & regular fine jewelery stores would advise you to choose 18k gold for a wedding band as it wears a little better.
Gold Karats FAQ Guide Conclusion
I hope you've learned a lot from this gold karats FAQ guide. No doubt you'll be far more confident whether purchasing from an online jewelery store or a regular fine jewelry store.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrian_Harrison
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