Precious Metals
Precious metals have been used for adornment throughout history. There is evidence, for example, of gold jewelry being worn in ancient Sumeria around 3000 BCE, used for chains and jewelry in ancient Crete, mined underground in ancient Egypt, and worked and worn in ancient Peru. These lustrous elements and alloys have also been used for everything from monetary systems to religious artifacts--though we happen to like them best when they're used for jewelry!
There are a number of things to consider when choosing a metal. First, what color do you like best? Precious metals can range from shining yellow to warm gold to icy white, and each color can work in a variety of styles. When thinking about metals, you'll also want to consider durability. Read below for more information about the different precious metals.
Gold
One of the world's most precious metals, gold dates back to the dawn of mankind. The Egyptians equated gold with the sun, the giver of life, and reserved its use for pharaohs only. The ancient Etruscans created meticulously hand wrought objects using fine granules and threads of gold, a technique still practiced today.
Measuring the Purity of Gold
Many people will recognize "24 karats" or "18 karats" as some kind of measure of gold (not to be confused with "carats" which are a measure of diamond weight), but less realize that karats are actually a measure of the metal's purity. One karat is equal to 1/24th pure gold in an alloy. Subsequently, pure gold itself is 24 karats. Something that is 14 karats, then, means that 14 parts of the total 24 are pure gold, and they are mixed with 10 parts of other metal. In the US, the phrase "karat gold" refers to a gold alloy of no less than 10 karats.
This chart lays out a few examples of gold's "fineness" or percentage of pure gold:
| Karat | Pure Gold Content |
|---|---|
| 24k | 100% |
| 18k | 75% |
| 14k | 58.3% |
| 10k | 41.6% |
Before you assume that 24k gold is the best gold, however, it is important to point out that gold is a rather soft metal and that 100% pure gold (24k) is often considered too soft to use in jewelry. Instead, gold is mixed or alloyed with one or more other metals to produce optimum strength and color. The National Gold and Silver Marking act is a federal law that requires that all gold jewelry to include accurate karat marks, along with a registered US trademark, to assure customers that the gold is actually of its specified quality. If you're curious to find those marks, you can stop by your local Ben Bridge store and ask a Personal Jeweler to help.