Gold
From Domicella's wikiStyle
Gold is the most malleable of all known metals [1] and offers superior corrosion resistance. Most of the gold that is fabricated today goes into the manufacture of jewelry.[2] Gold is usually alloyed (mixed with) other metals. The amount of gold in an alloy is measured with a unit called a carat (or karat). One carat is equal to one part in twenty-four, so an 18 carat (18K) gold ring contains 18 parts pure gold and 6 parts alloy material.[1] Therefore, 24 (24K) carats signifies pure gold.
Gold rarely causes a reaction with the wearer’s skin. For cases that do cause a reaction, it may be due to the other alloyed metal if the gold is not pure gold or the gold plating could have worn off, exposing the underlying metal causing the reaction.
50th anniversaries are usually referred to as “golden” anniversaries. Gold has the periodic table symbol of Au.[1]
Contents |
Colored Gold
White Gold
- Nickel can be mixed with gold to create a white (or gray) color; it can cause dermatitis in people who are sensitive to nickel.
- Palladium is another metal used to create white gold alloys. Related to platinum, it is more expensive than nickel, but is less likely to cause allergic reactions than nickel.
Rose & Pink Gold
Copper is added to make gold-colored alloys, but additional copper creates pink and rose tones -- the more copper, the deeper the effect.
Green Gold
Greenish shades are created by adding silver to gold.
Black Hills Gold
Most Black Hills Gold jewelry uses 10K or 12K gold alloys in shades of yellow, pink, rose, and green.
Care
Remember that there are special instructions for caring for gold jewelry with gemstones. This section only refers to gold itself.
- Use a chamois cloth to clean gold jewelry. A chamois cloth is a gentle, safe material for returning the luster to your jewelry.[4]
- Remove all gold jewelry before showering or cleaning. Soap can cause a film to form on karat gold jewelry, making it appear dull and dingy.[5] Soap itself will not harm the gold, however.[4]
- Avoid chlorine. Don't wear gold jewelry in the pool or hot tub or when using chlorine bleach or cleaners. Chlorine reacts with gold, particularly at high temperatures. Exposure to chlorine can permanently damage and discolor your gold jewelry.[4]
- You can remove tarnish with a jewelry cleaner, or by using soap and water mixed with a few drops of ammonia. Carefully brush with a soft bristle brush. An old toothbrush can also be used. After the brushing, simply rinse with lukewarm water and allow to dry.[5]
- Grease can be removed from karat gold jewelry by dipping the jewelry into plain rubbing alcohol.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele079.html
- ↑ http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/gold/
- ↑ http://jewelry.about.com/cs/goldbuyingtips/a/gold_alloys.htm
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 http://jewelrymaking.allinfoabout.com/features/goldcare.html
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 http://www.4facets.com/jacare_cleaning.html
