Gold, the artisan's canvas of personal adornment for the ages.

Gold was among the first metals to be mined and worked because it commonly occurs in its elemental form in deposits. It is beautiful and imperishable, and exquisite objects can be made from it. Craftsmen of civilizations around the world used gold lavishly in decorating tombs and temples, and royalty. Gold objects made more than 5,000 years ago have been found in Egypt. The touring exhibit of the tomb "Treasures of Tutankhamun" from Egypt in the 14th century B.C. attracted more than 6 million visitors in the United States, demonstrating the popularity of gold throughout the ages

Pure gold (fine gold) is softer than silver but harder than tin. Its beauty and luster are unmatched. The extreme malleability, ductility, and softness of pure gold make it practically useless for most jewelry applications. In karated gold, there is a balance of metals in the non-gold percentage. These metals provide the various colors and hardness of karated golds.

Gold colors and alloying elements:

• Pure gold (yellow ) is too soft for most jewelry use
• Yellow Gold can be alloyed with various metals for different shades and purities.
• White gold was originally developed to imitate platinum, and is usually an alloy containing 25% nickel and zinc.
• Rose/Pink Gold has additions of Copper for reddening
• The addition of alloying elements to gold increases the toughness and hardness of the metal. Only certain metals will not dramatically change the color or make the metal brittle.

Price of Gold Jewelry

• Market Price by weight. Gold, of course, fluctuates with the world economy.
• Gold Content by weight
• Design - designer jewelry is more expensive, especially if it is a one of a kind piece.
• Finish - special finishes (matte, or sand-blasted) add to the cost of the gold jewelry piece.

How do I care for my gold jewelry?
Take good care of your jewelry by following a few simple steps : avoid contact with chemicals, perfume, cosmetics, soap, and hairsprays. Take jewelry off at night, store chains flat, to prevent them from breaking. Use a soft cloth to polish gold jewelry after each wearing.