Gold jewelry is popular today. You can find it in many different styles, colors, or finishes. It is also used to set gemstones. However, it is crucial to understand how gold affects price. It will avoid confusion regarding the large range of prices available for what appears to be the “same” thing. Quality differences are common in gems as well. Understanding the factors that influence price and quality can help you get value from gold.
What is gold?
Gold is one the most precious metals on earth. It is so malleable and soft that an ounce can be made into a five-mile long wire or hammered into a sheet that covers a hundred square feet. It is one the rarest of metals. Pure gold doesn’t rust and corrode so it can last forever. It’s not difficult to find gold, though it’s abundant in the earth and its crust. For one ounce, you will need approximately two and half to three tonnes of ore.
A mixture is used to make most of the jewelry gold.
Today, gold is the most commonly used metal for jewelry. Simple wedding bands are probably the most popular type of jewelry in the world. However, pure gold can be very soft so it’s often mixed with other materials to make it stronger and more resistant to bending. We call an alloy a product that is made from two or more different metals. The majority of gold used in jewelry is an alloy. The metals added to the alloy are also called “alloys.”