Golden Rules for Buying Gold Jewelry
Know your karats
Look for the karat mark, which will tell you that the piece
is real gold and the percentage of pure gold it contains.
Pure gold, or 24K, has a deeply warm and rich color, but
it is extremely soft and easily damaged. For this reason,
pieces made from pure gold take on unique stamps of individuality
with wear. Oftentimes, gold is alloyed with other metals,
such as copper, silver, nickel and zinc to give it strength
and durability. Different proportions of these alloys also
give gold its rose, green, or white coloration. 18K gold
is 75% gold; 14K is 58.5%; and 10K is 41.6%. The higher
the karatage, the richer the color will be and the more
costly. In the U.S. jewelry must be at least 10K to be legally
sold as real gold. (In Canada and Mexico, the minimum legal
standard of karatage is 9K and 8K respectively.) Imported
gold jewelry may be stamped with different numbers. For
example, the European marking for 14 karat gold jewelry
is 585; for 18K it is 750. Note: Don't be confused with
"carats," the weight and measure used for diamonds
and other gems.
Look
for the trademark
On karat-marked jewelry sold in the U.S., always look for
the manufacturer's trademark. By U.S. law it must be there.
When there's a hallmark, it means the manufacturer stands
behind the accuracy of the karat mark. You may also find
the country of origin marked.
Evaluate the price
In addition to karat weight, the price of gold jewelry is
determined by several factors: total weight; design and
construction; and ornamental detailing, such as engraving
or Florentine finish. Although nearly all gold jewelry today
is made with the help of special machines, some handwork
is always involved. The more there is, the higher the price.
The good news is that through modern manufacturing technology,
large, lightweight, and exciting pieces can be surprisingly
affordable.
Check the clasp
When buying a gold necklace or bracelet, make sure you examine
the clasp to see if it is strong enough to support the chain,
especially if the piece does not have a hallmark. Run your
hand over the chain and look for any rough edges. A well-made
piece of gold jewelry should look and feel like the quality
piece it is. And if you take the time to look it over, you
will have a piece that, with good care, can last a lifetime.
Styles
Buying Gold Jewelry