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Gold: the Metal of the Sun
Gold has been one of mankind's most revered substances since the beginning of time.
Throughout history, great civilizations have built up treasuries of this precious metal, reserving
golden objects for their most important rituals and ascribing miraculous powers to it.
The ancient Egyptians equated gold with the sun, the giver of life, and reserved its use for
pharaohs only. The Etruscans created meticulously hand wrought objects using fine granules and
threads of gold, a technique still practiced today. The Chinese saw gold as the yang of the sun
(with silver representing the moon's ying). To this day, Chinese and Indian brides wear jewelry of
no less than 24-karat gold on their wedding day to ensure a lifetime of good luck and happiness.
Meanwhile, the Incas called gold the "sweat of the sun."
In some cultures, gold is even eaten to cure such ailments as arthritis, ulcers and
tuberculosis. One sign of gold's lasting value: it has been used as a currency for more than 5,000
years. It is perceived as permanent wealth as opposed to paper currency and is bought in large
quantities during times of crisis. But perhaps the most alluring use of the sun-colored metal
has always been in jewelry. In fact, three-quarters of the world's gold mined each year is used to
make jewelry. The metal's permanence has made it a symbol of enduring love and heritage, and pieces
are passed down from generation to generation. It is the recommending jewelry gift for couples
celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
Knowing Your Karats
Here are some common gold karatages (karat weights) and the corresponding percentages of
actual gold:
* 24K represents pure gold (100%) and is rarely used in jewelry.
* 21K is 21/24ths gold content, or 87.5% gold. Jewelry of this karatage
or higher is rare in the United States, although it is far more common in parts of Europe, the
Middle East and Southeast Asia.
* 18K is 18/24ths gold content, or 75% gold. This is a popular karatage
for higher end jewelry in the United States, Europe and other regions, and its usage is expanding
in North America.
* 14K is 14/24ths gold content, or roughly 58.5% gold. This is by far the
most commonly used karatage in the United States (and perhaps the world) and provides a nice
balance between gold content, hardness/durability and affordability.
* 10K is 10/24ths gold content, or 41.7% gold. This is an increasingly
popular karatage sold by many U.S. mall jewelry chains, department stores, discount stores and
other mass market venues because it offers budget-conscious consumers precious metal jewelry at
more affordable prices than the standard 14K. It is also the lowest gold content that can be
legally marked or sold as gold jewelry in the United States. Often used in rings because they tend
to be worn every day and experience many knocks and thus require an exceptionally strong alloy.
* 9K is 9/24ths gold content, or 37.5% gold. This is a popular karatage
sold by mass marketers in England and other regions, although it cannot be marked or sold as gold
jewelry in the United States.
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