Know your gold

For thousands of years, gold has been one of the world’s most valued precious metals. Jewellery, arts and artefacts made of gold have been sought after, possessed, cherished, prized, and handed over from generation to generation for centuries by royalty and commoners alike. In India, gold has been valued as a family asset, an assured saviour against economic hardships and a prized property that can be liquidated immediately to manage an imminent financial crunch. To this day, gold ornaments are among the most sought-after by the rich and poor alike and are an integral part of every special event –celebration of a newborn, birthday, anniversary, wedding, promotion, etc. As you go about buying gold, it would be good to know about purity, colour, certifications and how to maintain your precious gold assets. Here’s some interesting info.

Gold purity

We often hear about 24K gold, 22K gold, 18K gold and 14K gold and often wonder what this is all about. Well, here it is. 24K gold contains 99.9% gold. 22K gold contains 91.7% gold. When you plan to buy a 24K gold coin/bar, check for a hallmark certification that would assure you of its purity. It is advised to buy gold from a BIS-hallmarked jeweler, so you get the prevalent value of gold when you plan to sell it.

Gold is the most malleable of all precious metals and hence is an excellent choice when one has to craft intricate designs or patterns. Besides, gold is resistant to rust and corrosion. Pure gold is too soft and flexible for everyday use and is mixed with silver, copper and atrace of zinc to create an alloy that gives it strength. This hardened alloy can last for several generations. Karat, represented by the letter ‘K’ indicates purity - how much gold is presenting that piece of art/coin/ brick. When it comes to gold, 24K is the highest karat gold, the purest gold. This has a lustrous rich, yellow colour but as mentioned earlier, it is too soft for daily wear. You can detect the amount of gold in your ornament by carefully observing the stamp somewhere on the piece. Solid gold of 18K and 14K is what is suitable for ornamentsand jewellery for daily wear.

Coming to yellow gold, its mix of silver, copper, pure gold (and a dash of zinc) gives it its rich shine. Although the percentages of each metal in the alloy differ, the combinations begin with 75% purity for 18k gold and 58.3% for 14k gold. This gives that classic warm aura that highlights diamonds and other precious stones. Incidentally 18K gold is softer than 14K gold which makes it that much more scratch resistant.

Gold and its many colours 

Although pure gold is a lustrous yellow in colour, gold jewellery or artefacts display different colours depending on the alloys added. The metal additives change the colour of gold and give off a variety of shades based on

· The metal alloys added

· The percentage of each metal alloy added

· Usually the metals added to gold include zinc, copper, nickel, iron, cadmium, aluminum, silver, platinum and palladium

Fine gold jewellery comes in 3 colours: yellow gold, white gold and rose gold. Each of these colours add distinction to the pieces of jewellery created and make their own style statement.

White gold is in fact yellow gold with an alloy coated to give it that silvery-white colour. To achieve the white colour, pure gold is alloyed with a mix of nickel, palladium and silver, plus other alloys to whiten it. The jewellery then undergoes another step known as plating, a process where the metal is coated with a layer of another metal, which in this case is a coating of rhodium. While the rhodium coating is relatively long-lasting, it may after a few years require a repeat coating to restore its original whiteness and shine.

White gold is gaining popularity as an alternative to the more expensive platinum. This is athe common choice for engagement rings and is authentic gold but for the coating. Rose Gold jewellery gives off a pinkish hue and look truly regal, a look achieved by addingcopper as an additive. The more copper added, the rosier the colour. Rose gold jewelleryhas the same amount of purity as yellow and white gold and copper is added in largerquantities to achieve the rose hue. Rose gold is highly popular for engagement rings and itsvintage look has made it highly popular in the last few years. Rose gold is low maintenancecompared with white gold and does not require recoating. The gold’s rich pinkish tones willlast for years with regular jewellery care.

Hallmarks

Gold is usually stamped with a hallmark that reflects the purity of gold content andsometimes the country of origin. Under law gold jewellery must display a maker's mark orregistered trademark. The fineness will be stamped with the value and the letter ‘K’.Symbols such as ‘GF’ and ‘KP’ indicate if the piece is solid gold or plated.

Caring for your gold jewellery

Prolonged exposure to water, sweat, chemicals, and impurities does impact the look and lustre of gold jewellery over time. It is also recommended to remove your jewellery while cleaning or gardening or working in dusty environments to reduce scratches or abrasions.Your jewellery can be cleaned using warm water and a detergent-free soap with a soft brush. It can be subsequently polished using a soft cloth or a mild jewellery-cleaning solution or spray. Also, do not forget to store your jewellery in soft bags separately when you are not using it.

At Bhima Jewellery, we offer an extensive collection of jewellery of gold, silver and platinum that reflects a range of designs – traditional, ethnic and contemporary. Our range includes necklaces, chokers, chains, earrings, nose rings, bangles, bracelets and various other accessories embellished with emeralds, rubies, diamonds and other precious stones. With expertise and experience accumulated over 9 decades, each piece reflects the finest in craftsmanship and purity, making it a lasting work of art you will cherish, for life. We also design jewellery based on your designs and specifications and create matching pieces to suit your existing collection. We offer a fine collection of articles made using silver - lights, utensils, cutlery and several other artefacts.

All our creations reflect the finest in purity, craftsmanship and design. We vouch for thequality of each of our products and offer truly competitive pricing. So, do not get anxiousabout how to look your best on your wedding day. Just step into the nearest Bhima Gold store near you and have a look at our collection. We are confident you will find what youlove. Of course, our experts will guide you to ensure you are the centre of attraction you deserve to be!