History
Since prehistoric times, gold has been a valued & coveted resource. Gold is referenced in the New Testament as well as in numerous literary works of the ancient world. Gold was found in Egyptian hieroglyphics dating back to 2600 B.C. Pre-biblical populations from Troy to Africa marveled at the brilliant luster. It was associated with wealth, prestige, & immortality. Used primarily as decor for thousands of years, gold has been made into plates, cups, vases, & jewelry, as well as shrines or idols. Its presence can be found in many of the most distinguished foreign artifacts currently on display.
Gold has expanded its role from being an exquisite metal for personal adornment & general decor. To being used in dentistry, electronics, & even in heating applications. Enjoying a surge in popularity & economic prowess, especially in the emerging markets, gold is trading at historically high prices not seen since the mid 1980"s. From the glitzy masks of Egyptian pharaohs to modern earings, bracelets, & wristwatches. Gold consistently provides a high standard of quality in personal jewelry.
Colors
Although the most common shade manufactured for jewelry is a light yellow, gold is available in a variety of hues. A better understanding of the different color options available can help customers pick out the perfect piece of jewelry. Colored gold can accentuate the presence of diamonds or other gemstones. Although most customers simply select one shade, fusing multiple styles together can create spectacular results.
Yellow Gold
Yellow gold is alloyed with copper & silver for extra strength or just left as is when used in pure 24k form. Its natural tone coincides well with all skin types & gemstones. The concentration of yellow in yellow gold is influenced by its content. The larger or purer the karat, the brighter & deeper the yellow will appear. Pure 24 karat gold, gold that has no alloys mixed in, would thus be the deepest yellow of the colors.
White Gold
White gold has grown in popularity over the recent years as a fresh alternative to yellow gold. White gold is alloyed with a combination of palladium, zinc, & in some cases nickel or silver. The shade looks particularly vibrant when accompanying a sparkling white diamond. The alloys in white gold make it harder then yellow gold. Depending on the alloys used to produce the white gold, much of it is finished with a rhodium plating that gives it a bright white finish. This masks the slightly yellowish tone that may appear.
Rose Gold or Red Gold
Rose gold is a combination of copper & gold. Rose or red gold has a soft tone that compliments & enriches skin’s natural coloring, especially in fair skinned people. The highest karat version of rose gold is 22 karats. This is often referred to as Crown’s gold as many famous crowns from royalty where produced using this method. A medium strength version of rose gold resembles the color of blush wine.
Full Gold Color Chart
Type | Gold % wt | Silver % | Copper % | Colour |
| 22 ct | 91.6 | 8.4 | - | Yellow |
| 91.6 | 5.5 | 2.8 | Yellow | |
| 91.6 | 3.2 | 5.1 | Deep yellow | |
| 91.6 | - | 8.4 | Pink/rose | |
| 18 ct | 75.0 | 25.0 | - | Green-yellow |
| 75.0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | Pale yellow, 2N | |
| 75.0 | 12.5 | 12.5 | Yellow, 3N | |
| 75.0 | 9.0 | 16.0 | Pink, 4N | |
| 75.0 | 4.5 | 20.5 | Red, 5N | |
| 14 ct | 58.5 | 41.5 | - | Pale green |
| 58.5 | 30.0 | 11.5 | Yellow | |
| 58.5 | 9.0 | 32.5 | Red | |
| 9 ct | 37.5 | 62.5 | - | White |
| 37.5 | 55.0 | 7.5 | Pale yellow | |
| 37.5 | 42.5 | 20.0 | Yellow | |
| 37.5 | 31.25 | 31.25 | Rich yellow | |
| 37.5 | 20.0 | 42.5 | Pink | |
| 37.5 | 7.5 | 55.0 | Red |
Karats
The softness of gold allows it to be shaped into a variety of forms and designs. This quality also makes it necessary for gold to be alloyed with other metals to make it stronger & more durable if it is to be used in jewelry. Because the concentration of gold varies from piece to piece, jewelers use the karat system to designate levels of gold purity.
Pure gold contains 24 karats; however, due to its softness, this level of purity is rarely used in jewelry. Most high-end jewelry in North America ranges between 14-18 karats. The most common karat strength in gold jewelry is 14K, because this level of purity provides a popular distribution of hardness and flexibility at an affordable price. Most of the high end designer jewelry & finer imported European jewelry is 18-22k. The lowest level of gold purity sold in the United States is 1K. Below this level an item cannot be called gold jewelry & is then referred to as Gold Filled.
In order to be sure of the purity level of a certain piece of jewelry, customers can check the quality mark which is also know as a hallmark. This designation will either provide the number of karats (the American system), or an exponent of the percentage of gold content (the European system).
US & European Systems
- 24K 999
- 22K 916
- 20K 833
- 18K 750
- 15K 625
- 14K 585
- 12K 514
- 10K 417
- 9K 375
- 8K 333
- 1K 042
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SILVER EDUCATION & INFORMATIONEducating yourself on the products you are selling is key. Please take a few moments of your time to educate yourself on Silver, it's history, & some need to know information.
History
The area of Anatolia (modern Turkey) is considered the first major source of mined silver. Having provided the resource to craftsmen throughout Asia Minor. The Anatolian region served as the major source of silver for the Western cultures flourishing in the Near East, Crete, & Greece.
Moving up a couple thousand years to the present, a variety of advances in the early part of the last century allowed for increased production worldwide. This was critical but hence as dropped the value of silver on a tremendous level.
In its purest state silver is as soft as gold. For this reason the metal is generally alloyed with copper or zinc to add strength. Silver is a strong & durable metal. It is also known for the ease in which it can be shaped into various patterns & designs. The finish of silver depends on the techniques applied. It can be matted, brushed, sandblasted, or oxidized. It can also be polished to a high sheen that even platinum cannot attain. On occasion, silver will take on a worn looking finish when tried on due to a response with the the wearer's skin. For this reason, before purchasing silver jewelry, it is imperative that you establish that you're not allergic to silver.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver as a much higher purity than ordinary silver. At 92.5% purity, its reflective qualities create bold and innovative designs. The most popular form of silver on the jewelry market, sterling silver is usually distinguished by the stamp/hallmark or sterling, 0.925, .925, or ster. Ordinary silver is referred to as coin silver which has a purity of .800.Fake Silver
There are many silver fakes out there in this day & age that have the word silver in it, but indeed there is NOT any silver in the item at all. These are:
Nickle Silver
Alpaca Silver
German Silver
Thai Made Tibetan Silver
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PLATINUM EDUCATION & INFORMATIONEducating yourself on Platinum's History, Rarity, & Versatility will give you a better understanding on why this metal is so valuable. Please take your time to educate yourself before you ever make a decision on how you will be selling your valuable metal.
Platinum is a pure expression of integrity & a reflection of inner truth. Platinum's purity endows it with a brilliant white luster. This helps to reflect the true radiance of diamonds. Because it is generally 95% pure unlike other metals, platinum jewelry does not fade or tarnish. It keeps its looks for a lifetime. Platinum's purity makes it hypoallergenic & is an idea metal for those with sensitive skin. This is why platinum is used in many medical applications from the plating of a simple scalpel to the inner workings of a pace maker.
In addition to its strength and density, platinum has another remarkable quality & pliability. Platinum is so pliable that just one gram of the metal can be drawn to produce a fine wire over one mile (almost 2 km) long. This quality has enabled jewelers to create some amazing versatile platinum mesh accessories, which could not be fashioned from any of the other precious metals. Platinum is also in demand in other fields. It is used in industry, most notably in catalytic converters which Bullion Vault Buyers also purchases. Platinum also plays an important role in medicine as I mentioned above. It is not affected by the oxidizing reaction of blood, has excellent conductivity, & is compatible with living tissue. Because of these properties, platinum is used for internal medicine. At present, more than 75,000 people worldwide are living healthy full lives on pacemakers. Platinum is a life-saving metal for these people.
Rare
Platinum is rare. It is a coveted treasure of discerning individuals. There is little platinum on earth, & it is found very few hard to reach places around the world. This exquisite metal is 30 times more rare than gold. In fact, it is estimated that if all the platinum in the world were poured into one Olympic sized swimming pool it would be scarcely deep enough to cover your knees. Gold would fill more than three pools of that size. Platinum's rarity makes it exclusive & distinctive which in turn is a celebration of your individuality.
Eternal
Platinum jewelry is the perfect choice for a lifetime of everyday wear. Its density & weight make it more durable than other jewelry metals. You can easily feel the additional weight of a platinum piece of jewelry compared to one fashioned from either gold, palladium or silver. Platinum does not wear away and holds precious stones firmly and securely. Like all precious metals, platinum scratches. However, the scratch on a platinum piece is merely a displacement of the metal and none of its volume is lost. Therfore, even though wearing it everyday may leave an impression on the surface, it remains what it was, a symbol for all things eternal weighing the same as the day it was new for a lifetime & beyond.
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PALLADIUM EDUCATION & INFORMATION
Palladium has a history that is sealed with that of platinum, with which it is found, & with which it is also associated as a member of the platinum metals group, also known as PGM. Native platinum refers to the native accuring platinum which is not actually pure platinum at all, but rather a native alloyed mix of platinum group metals including palladium. Palladium was not separated from platinum for quite some time after the discovery of native platinum, so the early history is a shared one.
Despite being worked with some skill by South American Indians over 1,000 years ago, not until the Spanish conquest of the New World during the 15th & 16th centuries did news reach Europe of a new white metal with unusual properties. The Spanish first considered the metal a nuisance because it interfered with their gold mining activities. In fact, since native platinum was considered of little value, it was soon being used by forgers to adulterate Spanish gold coins. The coins were struck in native platinum then plated with gold to look like genuine gold coins. Platinum’s extraordinary properties did interest European scientists where platinum was noted as a substance that could not “melt by fire or by any of the Spanish arts.” It was heavier than gold and virtually impossible to corrode with gases or chemicals & in 1751 recognized as a newly discovered element.
From the Greek name “Pallas” which mean goddess of wisdom, Palladium was discovered by the British chemist William Hyde Wollaston in 1804. It took nearly two centuries for palladium’s significance to be recognized & the fight against global pollution owes a lot to this unique metal.
Following the perfection of his technique to obtain pure samples of platinum in 1801, William Hyde Wollaston went on to isolate palladium from platinum two years later by dissolving native platinum in aqua regia (a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acid). He named it after Pallas, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom.
In an attempt to keep his techniques a secret, Wollaston offered samples of palladium for sale anonymously and his peers were cynical about the new metal’s provenance, suspecting that it was an alloy of platinum. This forced him to publish details of his findings in 1805.
The use of palladium really took off in the 1970s when demand for catalytic converters was need. Palladium's remarkable properties play a key role as increased automobile emission standards were introduced in the developed world. As these standards were tightened & applied globally in the 90s the demand for palladium expanded exponentially.
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