Gold jewelry is no new item. A much sought after metal, to most of us, gold represents wealth and prestige. The phrase “24 carat gold” means that we are talking about the best and most expensive form. However, what does 24 carat really mean? Why makes this the purest gold? How can gold be anything but yellow? Well, at Grand Jewelers, we sell exquisite jewelry featuring yellow, rose, and white gold. We want to help the jewelry shoppers of the world increase their knowledge of the different variations of gold available and understood what the beautiful necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets are made of.

The basic breakdown of types of gold is based on the percentage of pure gold within a piece of jewelry. The word carat was often used as a unit of measure referring to weight, but more commonly now carat refers to this percentage of gold. A work of gold in its purest form is 24 carats (or 24K) and thus 100% gold. A ring that is then 12K would equal to 50% gold, with the other 50% being made up of other metals. Whatever the carat value of a piece of jewelry you have, divide that number by 24 and multiply the outcome by 100 to get the full percentage. For example, an 18K bracelet would be 75% gold. Essentially, a piece of jewelry will be more valuable when it has a higher carat of gold. Well, expense is not the only way to value beauty.

While pure gold is beautiful, and makes for an elegant setting for pendant earrings, bangle bracelets, and engagement rings, like the ones sold at Grand Jewelers, it is not the only form of fashionable gold. When gold is cut with other metals, impacting the carat value, the color can be altered in very chic ways. White gold and rose gold are the results of this very process. White gold is made when some percentage of yellow gold is mixed with nickel, palladium, or another white metal. The most common version of white gold consists of 58.5% yellow gold with 7.84% zinc, 21% copper, and 12.73% nickel. Rose gold is created when copper is introduced into the mix, with higher levels of copper leader to darker shades of pink. Other shades of gold are also possible, such as blue gold with indium, purple gold with aluminum, and black gold with cobalt.

Yellow remains the most popular variation of gold and certainly represents the metal in its purest form. However, white and rose gold are growing in reputation and for those who might find the shade of purer gold a bit too harsh, these alternatives offer a subtler option. At Grand Jewelers we offer a range of jewelry made from each of these forms of gold. We believe that being able to play around with the design and color of individual items makes jewelry an even more extensive type of art form and self-expression. We would love to show you some samples or answer any questions you have regarding the variations of gold that we offer. Reach out through our website, give us a call, or stop by today!

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