Understanding Gold

For many people, gold wedding bands are the first fine piece of jewelry they will buy. Because wedding rings tend to be worn all of the time and over a number of years, it is important to know the difference between yellow and white gold or 10k and 14k. This way you can be confident that the ring you purchase today will be exactly what you want 5, 10 or even 50 years from now.

Gold has been a treasured element for centuries due to in part its luster and durability. A small amount of gold can be pounded into an extremely large area. On its own, gold is fairly easy to bend, dent or scratch, and it does not tarnish or stain skin. Pure or 100% gold is referred to as 24k gold. Though 24k gold is more expensive and luxurious, it is not recommended for a wedding ring because it is not durable enough for everyday wear.

Other metals are usually mixed with gold to make it stronger and less expensive. Gold mixed with another metal is referred to as 18k, 14k or 10k gold in the US. 18k gold is 75% gold, 14k gold is 58.5% gold and 10k gold is 41.7% gold. Though they are not 100% gold, these mixtures are still referred to as “solid gold”. Anything less then 10k (41.7% gold) may not be referred to as “solid gold” in the US.

Different metals can be mixed with gold to create different colors. Generally, nickel is mixed with gold to create white gold. Many people have severe skin reactions to nickel. If this is the case, purchasing a higher quality, maybe 18k, may lesson or completely eliminate the problem. Copper is added to gold to make pink colors and silver is added to make greens. Usually the lower the percentage of gold, the deeper the color appears.

When buying a wedding ring, remember that the ring will be worn every day for many years. It will need to be comfortable, attractive and durable. A good rule of thumb is to purchase the highest quality gold your budget will allow for.