Gold Qualities
From many years gold has been associated with wealth or social position-decorating royalty and people of power. But did you know some believe gold has spiritual abilities that will gives pleasure, serenity and guard against evil spirits?
One of the great physical qualities of gold is its malleability. This, combined with its physical beauty and resistance to corrosion, makes gold the ultimate creative medium. Pure gold can be considered too soft and delicate for use in jewelry, so it is often combined with other metals for greater strength.
Gold Karat
Gold comes in a variety of karatages (from less than 10k to 24k) to provide a greater range of price for people. The most common and popular karatages for gold jewelry in the United States are as follows:
10 karat (417 parts per 1000, 41.7%) Typically offered in the mass jewelry market for the budget conscious buyer and has the lowest gold content to be legally sold in the United States. This karatage of gold is also the most durable due to the amount of other, harder, metals that are alloyed with the gold.
14 karat (585 parts per 1000, 58.5%) This is by far the most commonly used karatage in the United States d) and provides a nice balance between gold content, hardness/durability and affordability.
18 karat (750 part per thousand, 75%) This is a popular karatage for higher end jewelry in the United States, Europe and other regions, and its usage is expanding in North America. In addition, this is the karatage at which gold can begin to change color as other metals are added to the alloy. Gold karatages above 18k are not typically seen in gold jewelry in the United States but can be more common in other parts of the world. Gold karatages above 18k tend to be too soft to be used in fine jewelry.
Gold Color
The modern alloying process undertaken to increase durability and wearability, now combines pure gold with other metals to create a variety of colors. Mixing in white metals, such as palladium or silver in combination, creates white gold. Rhodium plating is another common addition to give gold its white color. The addition of copper results in the soft pink complexion of rose gold. And gold can now be created in a spectrum of other colors, such as green and purple.
Platinum is a naturally white metal so it will not cast any of its own color into a diamond. Usually 95% pure (by comparison 18 karat gold is 75% pure), platinum never fades or tarnishes but keeps its natural white color for a lifetime. As platinum is so pure, it is naturally hypoallergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin.
Platinum’s unequalled durability and resistance to wear makes it the most secure and protective metal, which means your jewelry will be protected for a lifetime of wear. Platinum does not change shape or wear away so precious stones are held firmly and securely. The density of platinum makes it more durable than other jewelry metals.
Clean platinum in the same way you clean other fine jewelry to maintain its fine appearance and ensure that it lasts. Either use a mild solution of soap and warm water, and gently rub it with a soft cloth, or buy a jewelry cleaning solution.
Silver is a soft metal in its pure form, too soft to hold up against the rigors of jewelry making and even wearing so it’s mixed with other metals to make it more durable. This silver mixture, called an alloy, is known as Sterling Silver. Most Sterling Silver on the market today is made up of approximately 925 parts per 1000 silver and the other 75 parts per 1000 copper, however, the copper has a tendency to tarnish which is the darkening that occurs when Sterling Silver reacts with gases in the air. This is why it is good to clean your silver regularly.
Palladium is a white metal which is has a silver-grey-white color and is similar to platinum. Palladium is one of the metals that is part of the platinum group of metals. The platinum group metals share similar chemical properties.
Palladium is strong and durable. It is low density, which means it weighs less than platinum – allowing bigger and bolder jewelry designs to be created and worn with ease. Palladium is from the same family of precious metals as platinum and shares its strength. Plus, since it’s naturally white, there’s no expensive maintenance to keep it brilliant for life. Palladium is hypoallergenic, will not tarnish and remains white forever. Palladium is 95% pure when used in jewelry.
Titanium is a natural element which has a silver-greyish-white color. Titanium is the hardest natural metal in the world. It is very strong, three times the strength of steel and much stronger than gold, silver and platinum and yet is very light weight. Pure titanium is also 100% hypo-allergenic which means that it if safe for anyone to wear as it will not react to your skin.
Titanium provides several unique factors that make it a good metal for jewelry. It is very strong, more dent, bend and scratch resistant than gold, silver and platinum, is lightweight and importantly offers an exotic array of colors which other metals simply do not.
One factor to consider with titanium is that titanium cannot be soldered, which means that titanium rings cannot normally be resized.
Although Titanium is a strong, durable metal, it is unsafe to wear on your body. It is a great metal to replace bones but not to wear as the durability of the metal makes it nearly impossible to remove from your body if an emergency were to happen. It is for that reason that we do not sell Titanium. We want our customers to be safe wearing jewelry from our shop.
Unique in appeal and strong by design, tungsten carbide is a forged metal with qualities that will last a lifetime. Tungsten carbide jewelry is created from an alloy of 80% elemental Tungsten and 20% Carbon alloyed with other metals.
Tungsten carbide, also referred to simply as tungsten, is a very hard, strong and durable metal. It’s also quite heavy. Tungsten has a characteristic unique to this special metal, tungsten is highly scratch resistant. Unlike gold, platinum and even titanium, tungsten rings do not scratch with everyday wear like the other metals do. It is technically possible to scratch tungsten, though only with objects that are harder than tungsten. And due to this durability, tungsten rings cannot be resized as tungsten can’t be cut and re-soldered, so it’s important to have your finger size accurately measured before buying a tungsten ring.
Cobalt Chrome is a bright white metal with brilliant luster. Cobalt Chrome is often time used for its strength in high temperatures. It is a hypoallergenic metal and has similar weight to a precious metal but is harder and more durable.
Cobalt Chrome is the perfect option for someone who wants the look and feel of gold or platinum without the price of a precious metal. The durability of Cobalt Chrome allows for you to create a complex design.
Zirconium in its natural state, is a silver-grey color. Through a heating process, Zirconium is darkened to a deep black. Unlike many other metals, the black layer of Zirconium will not rub off over time. It is a hypoallergenic metal and a durable yet safe metal to wear.
Zirconium allows for unique customization options and is a lightweight, comfortable metal to wear. Since Zirconium is a lighter weight metal, the wearer of the piece should treat this alternative metal like a precious metal and remove the piece during harsh activity to avoid damage.
Damascus Steel is a mixture of two different kinds of stainless steel to produce the unique flow and pattern of the metal. The metals are heated and twisted to create unique and vivid patterns. Damascus Steel has an increased resistance to shattering, scratching and is more durable than most metals.
Since Damascus Steel is very durable, the metal is limited to its customization ability. Damascus Steel is not for individuals with nickel allergies and should not be worn in saltwater or around harsh chemicals to avoid rusting.
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Meteorite is a grey like metal with natural distress in the metal found from a Gibeon meteorite that landed in Africa. Meteorite has a natural protection against rust, however the Gibeon meteorite is primarily composed of iron so oxidation is a still a possibility.
Meteorite is a not a hypoallergenic metal, people who are allergic to iron should not get a Meteorite ring. The Meteorite metal is easily customizable and can be designed to fit into each unique person’s style.
Carbon Fiber is created with structural carbon fiber produced in the United States. The Carbon Fiber is a mix of compounds, mostly consisting of organic polymers.
Carbon Fiber can be combined with different metals to create a unique look. It is hypoallergenic, 12 times lighter than gold and is durable.
