What is Gold?
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au.
Atomic number is 79.
In its purest form, it is a bright, slightly reddish yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal.
It is one of the least reactive chemical elements and is solid under standard conditions.
gold is a precious metal that has been used for coinage, jewelry, and other arts throughout recorded history.
Because of its unique qualities, gold has been the one material that is universally accepted in exchange for goods and services.gold is still accepted by all nations as a medium of international payment.
Because pure gold is too soft to resist prolonged handling, it is usually alloyed with other metals to increase its hardness for use in jewelry, gold-ware, or coinage. Most gold used in jewelry is alloyed with silver, copper, and a little zinc to produce various shades of yellow gold or with nickel, copper, and zinc to produce white gold. The color of these gold alloys goes from yellow to white as the proportion of silver in them increases; more than 70 percent silver results in alloys that are white. Alloys of gold with silver or copper are used to make gold coins and gold-ware, and alloys with platinum or palladium are also used in jewelry. The content of gold alloys is expressed in 24th, called karats; a 12-karat gold alloy is 50 percent gold, and 24-karat gold is pure.
Different Types of Gold Karats
Karat is the term used to measure the purity of gold. Before we understand the difference between 24 K, 22 K and 18 K gold, you must know what karat stands for. Karat is basically a unit used to measure the purity of gold. The higher the karat age, the purer the gold. Here’s a simple guide to understanding the difference between 24 K, 22 K and 18 K gold.
24 K gold
24 k gold is also called pure gold or 100 per cent gold. This means that all 24 parts in the gold are all pure gold without traces of any other metals. It is known to be 99.9 per cent pure and takes on a distinct bright yellow color. There is no higher form of gold than 24 K and you must be aware of this before you go to a dealer who might tell you that they’re selling you 25 K or 26 K gold. Since this is the purest form of gold, it is naturally more expensive than 22 K or 18 K gold. However, this type of gold is lesser in density as compared to gold of a lower karat age which makes it soft and pliable. Hence, it is not suited for regular forms of jewelry. Coins and bars are mostly bought of 24 K gold purity. 24 K gold is also used in electronics and medical devices such as those used for children suffering from ear infections who are fitted with gold tympanist tubes that are known to improve aeration of the middle ear.
22 K gold
22 K gold jewelry implies that 22 parts of the jewelry amounts to gold and the balance 2 parts are some other metals. This kind of gold is commonly used in jewelry making. In 22 K gold, of the 100 per cent, only 91.67 per cent is pure gold. The other 8.33 per cent comprises metals like silver, zinc, nickel and other alloys. It is this addition of metals that make the texture of gold harder thereby making the jewelry durable. However, you must know that although this can be used to make plain gold jewelry, 22 K gold isn’t preferable for diamonds and heavily studded jewelry.
18 K gold
18 K gold is 75 per cent gold mixed with 25 per cent of other metals like copper or silver etc. Usually studded jewelry and other diamond jewelry is made in 18 K gold. This kind of gold is less expensive compared to 24 K and 22 K. This one has a slightly dull gold color. Recognizing 18 K jewelry is rather simple – you will see the item stamped with 18 K, 18 K, 18 K or a variation similar to these. At times, 18 K gold is marked by 750, 0.75 or a stamp similar to these in order to symbolize that the jewelry contains 75 per cent gold.
24 karat = 99.5% pure gold and above
22 karat = 91.7 % gold
18 karat = 75.0 % gold
14 karat = 58.3 % gold
12 karat = 50.0 % gold
10 karat = 41.7 % gold
Gold does not react with oxygen at any temperature and, up to 100 °C, is resistant to attack from ozone.
To ensure the purity of gold by BIS look on the hallmarked gold jewelry:
1. BIS Mark;
2. Purity in Karat and fineness;
3. Assaying and Hallmarking Center's identification mark/number;
4. Jeweler's Identification mark/number
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au.
Atomic number is 79.
In its purest form, it is a bright, slightly reddish yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal.
It is one of the least reactive chemical elements and is solid under standard conditions.
gold is a precious metal that has been used for coinage, jewelry, and other arts throughout recorded history.
Because of its unique qualities, gold has been the one material that is universally accepted in exchange for goods and services.gold is still accepted by all nations as a medium of international payment.
Because pure gold is too soft to resist prolonged handling, it is usually alloyed with other metals to increase its hardness for use in jewelry, gold-ware, or coinage. Most gold used in jewelry is alloyed with silver, copper, and a little zinc to produce various shades of yellow gold or with nickel, copper, and zinc to produce white gold. The color of these gold alloys goes from yellow to white as the proportion of silver in them increases; more than 70 percent silver results in alloys that are white. Alloys of gold with silver or copper are used to make gold coins and gold-ware, and alloys with platinum or palladium are also used in jewelry. The content of gold alloys is expressed in 24th, called karats; a 12-karat gold alloy is 50 percent gold, and 24-karat gold is pure.
Different Types of Gold Karats
Karat is the term used to measure the purity of gold. Before we understand the difference between 24 K, 22 K and 18 K gold, you must know what karat stands for. Karat is basically a unit used to measure the purity of gold. The higher the karat age, the purer the gold. Here’s a simple guide to understanding the difference between 24 K, 22 K and 18 K gold.
24 K gold
24 k gold is also called pure gold or 100 per cent gold. This means that all 24 parts in the gold are all pure gold without traces of any other metals. It is known to be 99.9 per cent pure and takes on a distinct bright yellow color. There is no higher form of gold than 24 K and you must be aware of this before you go to a dealer who might tell you that they’re selling you 25 K or 26 K gold. Since this is the purest form of gold, it is naturally more expensive than 22 K or 18 K gold. However, this type of gold is lesser in density as compared to gold of a lower karat age which makes it soft and pliable. Hence, it is not suited for regular forms of jewelry. Coins and bars are mostly bought of 24 K gold purity. 24 K gold is also used in electronics and medical devices such as those used for children suffering from ear infections who are fitted with gold tympanist tubes that are known to improve aeration of the middle ear.
22 K gold
22 K gold jewelry implies that 22 parts of the jewelry amounts to gold and the balance 2 parts are some other metals. This kind of gold is commonly used in jewelry making. In 22 K gold, of the 100 per cent, only 91.67 per cent is pure gold. The other 8.33 per cent comprises metals like silver, zinc, nickel and other alloys. It is this addition of metals that make the texture of gold harder thereby making the jewelry durable. However, you must know that although this can be used to make plain gold jewelry, 22 K gold isn’t preferable for diamonds and heavily studded jewelry.
18 K gold
18 K gold is 75 per cent gold mixed with 25 per cent of other metals like copper or silver etc. Usually studded jewelry and other diamond jewelry is made in 18 K gold. This kind of gold is less expensive compared to 24 K and 22 K. This one has a slightly dull gold color. Recognizing 18 K jewelry is rather simple – you will see the item stamped with 18 K, 18 K, 18 K or a variation similar to these. At times, 18 K gold is marked by 750, 0.75 or a stamp similar to these in order to symbolize that the jewelry contains 75 per cent gold.
24 karat = 99.5% pure gold and above
22 karat = 91.7 % gold
18 karat = 75.0 % gold
14 karat = 58.3 % gold
12 karat = 50.0 % gold
10 karat = 41.7 % gold
Gold does not react with oxygen at any temperature and, up to 100 °C, is resistant to attack from ozone.
To ensure the purity of gold by BIS look on the hallmarked gold jewelry:
1. BIS Mark;
2. Purity in Karat and fineness;
3. Assaying and Hallmarking Center's identification mark/number;
4. Jeweler's Identification mark/number
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