Gold is the absolute oldest of all metals. It doesn't corrode, tarnish or rust, so you can count on it to always stay gorgeous. Despite being a strong metal, it is still more "flexible" than the other precious metals. To keep gold solid and suitable for jewelry, pure gold is commonly mixed with different metals to increase its strength. Yellow gold is the most common form of gold found in jewelry and is usually mixed with copper and silver. Its color depends upon the amount of pure gold in the alloy. The purity of gold in an alloy is expressed in carats. Pure gold is 24 carats, but it is too soft to be used in jewelry. 18 carat gold is made up of 75% gold and 25% other metals. It is commonly used in fine jewelry. 14 carat gold contains 58.3% gold. This is the most common form of gold found in jewelry where strength matters. 10 carat gold is made up of 41.7% gold. This is the minimum amount of karats an item needs to be classified as real gold in the U.S.
Caring for Yellow Gold JewelryTo keep your gold shiny and free of scratches, store it in a soft cloth bag or a fabric-lined jewelry box. Make sure to keep gold jewelry away from harmful chemicals such as bleach, ammonia and chlorine. Always use a soft cloth to dry your jewelry, never paper towels.
