Gold Buying Information

Gold jewellery makes a perfect gift that given proper care, can be treasured forever. Gold won't tarnish, rust, or corrode over time and is very strong when alloyed. In fact, it is also surprisingly the most malleable of all metals.

Gold in its pure form (24 carat) is too soft to cope with the tough environment caused from extensive daily wear. It is alloyed with other metals to give it strength. This strength makes gold an excellent choice for a ring setting .Common alloys are silver, copper, nickel and zinc.
There are several things to consider when you're buying gold if you want value for money; Colour, Purity measured in Carats, and the Hallmark.

COLOUR

Gold colour is determined by the percentage of alloys that are included in the metal. When gold is alloyed with silver, copper and zinc, the shade of colour will vary. When it is alloyed with copper, nickel and zinc, it becomes white gold. Yellow gold and white gold have very similar malleability and strength.

PURITY

The purity is measured in carats, which are expressed in twenty fourths. Thus, 24-carat gold is pure gold and has a richer colour than less pure gold. 18-carat gold is especially popular in Europe. Most premium jewellery is made with this specification and it contains 75% pure gold. 14-carat gold is made up of 58.5% gold mixed with copper, nickel among other things. It is the most popular carat of gold purchased throughout the world. It is known for its durability and affordability.