Types Of Gold

According to ancient mythology, man hunted for food, shelter, and gold. Most people don’t know this, but the earliest men were gold hunters. The value of gold was also identified far back in 860 BC. As such, the crazed longing for the precious metal has been traced back to early man.

With the chemical formula Ag, the naturally occurring element is one of the earth’s stable metals. The bright yellow metal is available in various colors and sizes and is measured according to a karate standard.

What Type Of Gold Is The Most Popular?

Over the years, yellow gold has been the most popular type of gold. It’s the most popular type of gold due to its shiny appearance and incredible luster. Humans are naturally drawn to shiny objects, so the primary reason for yellow gold’s popularity is its color and value. 

Because natural yellow gold is the purest, the supply is relatively sparse and expensive. It is highly used in dentistry, medicine, and space. Not everyone can afford pure yellow gold, which has been unalloyed with other precious metals. Pure gold is costly and malleable, making it unsuitable for jewelry and ornaments. However, pure gold can be alloyed with other metals or used as gold leaves in deserts and minimal designs. 

Following yellow gold in popularity is white gold. White gold is one of the most sought-after gold because of its availability and the high percentage of gold. White gold contains either of these metals, copper, palladium, nickel and even zinc.  White gold is less expensive than pure gold and platinum. However, it’s still costly due to the mixture’s high ratio of gold to other precious metals.

Rose gold, also known as pink gold, is one of the most affordable gold pieces among jewelers. Pink’s gold gets its color from the use of expensive copper. Rose gold is also more durable and lasts longer when compared to pure gold and white gold. 

Other types of gold are in different colors, but the three most popular gold pieces are listed above. Other factors that may affect gold popularity are purpose, weight, and karats (standard system of measuring gold). 

Different Karats Of Gold

Karat, also called “Carat,” is a measure of the purity of gold. Outside the U.S., it may be known as “Carat.” Both mean the same thing. Karat helps you know how much gold a piece of jewelry contains. The manufacturer’s stamp should be on the gold piece to attest to originality. 

A genuine gold karat is in 24 parts. The purity of gold is therefore measured in the number of parts it contains old. A piece of higher karat jewelry denotes a large amount of gold, while a lower amount includes a lesser amount. Gold karats are present in four popular values and are 24K, 18K, 14K, and 10K. The “K” stands for karat, the most prevalent description you see on most gold pieces. 

• 24-Karat Gold

24-karat gold is gold in its purest form. It has a 99.9 % gold content, while the remaining 1% can be other precious metals. 24K gold is soft to the touch, and when made into jewelry, it’s best not to use it for everyday use because it tends to scratch easily. It has a distinct bright yellow color and is costly and limited due to its scarcity. Another fact about pure gold is that it’s hypoallergenic and doesn’t cause any skin irritation or allergies. 

• 22-Karat Gold

This is another form of gold. 22K means that it contains 22 parts of gold out of 24 pieces. The remaining two parts contain other precious metals. In 22K gold, 91.7% is made up of pure gold. The remaining percent may have zinc, platinum, nickel, or other alloys. This type of gold is malleable and isn’t suitable for making all types of jewelry. Although it weighs the same amount as diamonds, it’s not ideal for making statements or studded jewelry. It is meant to be worn occasionally, which is why it’s an excellent choice for wedding accessories. 

• 18-Karat Gold

18-Karat gold contains 75% pure gold and 25% other metals. It has a dull yellow shade due to the presence of different metals. It’s also the best option for making studded jewelry and other jewelry like rings, bracelets, and chains. 

It is suitable to be worn daily and has a lower risk of allergies due to the low percentage of metals. It’s a better choice for most people because it’s affordable and highly durable. It doesn’t bend or fall, susceptible to scratches or tears. 

• 14-Karat Gold

It contains 58.3% pure gold and a higher percentage of other metals. It has a pale yellow look. By the numerical value, it has a higher alloy concentration and may be easily washed off or scratched. It is tough to touch and durable. It’s a more affordable option and is preferred by people with a vibrant lifestyle. The possibility of having irritations with this gold is less. 

• 10-Karat Gold

10-Karat gold is made up of 41.7% gold and contains a higher alloy of metals (more than 50%) when compared with other karats. It is less vulnerable to wear and tear but less unique in value. 

It doesn’t have a good market value and is mainly used to make low-end jewelry. 10-Karat gold can cause skin irritation due to the high presence of other metals, especially nickel. 

Colors Of Gold

Most people believe that gold exists in three colors: bright yellow, dull yellow, and white. However, there are various colors of gold that fit individual preferences. 

• Yellow Gold

When we think of gold, the first thing that comes to mind is the color yellow. The standard level of yellow gold is 18K. It contains alloys of silver and copper, but at a low percentage. 

• White Gold

This is another popular color of gold—the white color results from silver, palladium, and platinum alloy. When alloyed with silver, it is more durable and rugged. When alloyed with palladium or platinum, it is more malleable. 

• Pink Gold

It is another popular color amongst earrings, necklaces, and phones. The pink’s appearance is a result of copper. The more copper, the thicker the appearance of pink. 

• Blue Gold

Discovery of blue gold is an alloy of indium or gallium. It’s inexpensive, and the purity is around 10-11K pure gold. It is rare to find. 

• Green Gold

Green gold is also known as electrum. Green gold was used as a legal tender in ancient Turkey. Its alloys contain cadmium and nickel. 

• Purple Gold

This gold appears purple due to its alloy of aluminum. It is pretty brittle due to its aluminum properties. 

• Black Gold

It’s a more synthetic color achieved by three chemical processes: oxidation, patination, and chemical vapor deposition. It’s primarily white gold, covered in black, and will wear off over time.

Types Of Gold Jewelry

• Solid Gold

This type of gold doesn’t contain any metal or other impurities. It’s the purest form of gold and mainly exists in 24K and 22K. 

• Gold Plated

This is either copper, brass, or silver covered in a layer of gold that is 0.05% or less. 

• Gold Filled

This contains more gold than a piece of gold-plated jewelry. A high percentage of gold mechanically bonds brass. It’s highly durable and doesn’t wear off quickly.

• Gold Vermeil

Pronounced “ver-may,” gold vermeil jewelry consists of a sterling silver base covered in a thick gold plating. It contains higher quality and is more durable than gold-plated jewelry. It includes 2.5 microns of gold.

 A notable difference between gold vermeil and gold-filled jewelry is how they are manufactured. Gold vermeil uses an electroplating process, whereas gold-filled uses a pressure and heat bonding process.

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