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Going for Gold
With the Olympics in full swing and the daily reminders of gold, silver and bronze, we thought we would talk about our favorite metal, and the most desired medal. Gold has been prized as a precious metal for thousands of years. Pure gold is very soft and malleable, so modern jewelry uses other metals to create wearable gold alloys strong enough to withstand every-day use. The metals added are not only for practical purposes, but aesthetic changes as well.
  Gold- Gold is naturally yellow in color. When one thinks of gold jewelry, it is usually yellow gold that comes to mind. If you have ever handled a piece of 24 Karat, or "pure" gold, you have experienced its bright yellow hue and felt its fragility. To strengthen yellow gold, a mixture of copper, zinc and nickel are added. The amounts of each metal give the yellow gold a different color as well as a different Karat. A higher percentage of gold means a piece will be more expensive. 14 Karat gold is 58.5% pure gold, sometimes stamped "585", and 18 karat gold is 75% pure gold, also stamped "750". Yellow gold does not require much maintenance over time and can easily be polished back to a high shine.
Silver- White gold is made when nickel, palladium or silver (white metals) are added. Today, most white gold is plated with rhodium to give it a bright white color. Rhodium is a truly white metal in the platinum family. This plating wears off over time, but can be re-applied through an electronic process to make a piece look new. Why not silver? White gold is a good color alternative to silver because it is a more durable metal. Another benefit to gold is that it does not tarnish. White gold can often enhance the whiteness of diamonds, which has contributed to its popularity over the years.
Bronze -Rose gold was very popular in the Victorian Era and is becoming more common today. Gold is given a pink or red color when copper is added. Rose gold is often used to enhance the colors in certain stones such as pink diamonds or sapphires and pink mother of pearl.
The versatility of gold has promoted its use in all types of jewelry. The ability to change the color while maintaining the integrity of the metal allows for intricate styles to fit just about any taste. So, whether you prefer yellow, white, pink, or a combination, you can show your Olympic spirit by going for the gold.
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