TYPES OF JEWELRY

Jewelry is made of different types of metal, the price of every jewelry is appraised according to the type of metal and details it is made of. This explains why the price of some jewelry can easily swallow others. In this article, we are going to touch on the different types of metals used in making jewelry so that you can understand what you are getting when you order a jewelry.

REAL KARAT GOLD
Gold, just the word brings to mind value, rarity, wealth, beauty, and jewelry. But what is gold? Yes, the scientists tell us gold is an element with the chemical symbol Au. We know it is the heraldic metal and it is a rare yellow mineral that is the most malleable and pliable of all metals. Yes, but what does that mean to me? Gold is a beautiful metal that is used to make timeless jewelry. Gold can be bent and molded into elegant engagement rings to show the eternal affection of one person to another. Gold is an expression of love.

Is all gold the same? We hear a piece of jewelry is pure gold or solid gold or 24 karat gold, but what does it all mean? Gold used in jewelry like wedding rings can come in many forms. Basic to understand the uses of gold in jewelry is karat. Karat with a K is the purity of gold, Carat with a C is a measure of weight use mostly in gem weight (one carat is 1/5 gram). Karated gold used in engagement rings can be from 100% gold to as low as 37% gold. Gold’s karat grade is used to express the proportion of gold in an alloy or the quality of a gold alloy. Fine (pure) gold is 24 karat.

 

316L STAINLESS STEEL
The steel that we use is a low carbon steel and it is the most popular of all of the base metals for plating because of its strength, weight, and cost. There is 304 and 316L stainless steel, the 316L stainless steel is the best material used in making gold plated jewelry.

We mostly use 316L grade stainless steel in all of our stainless steel jewelry because we want you to have the best quality. While stainless steel jewelry can be plated they are typically used in their raw form or vibed to give additional luster. Stainless steel jewelry are very popular in religious and medical jewelry due to the fact that it is hypoallergenic and extremely durable. Stainless is the only base metal that we carry that can be worn all of the time in any conditions without any detrimental effects on the jewelry. It can even be worn in the shower and to the beach.

 

BRASS OR ALLOY
Brass would be the 2nd most popular base metal to plate. The brass we use is what is considered to be a “rich-low” brass C226 alloy and is a mixture of 85% copper and 15% zinc. Brass is more expensive than steel and approximately 13% heavier giving the jewelry a nicer weight with more of a perceived value. Brass is used on higher end pieces when cost is not as much of an issue. Because brass is softer than steel, the jewelry will tend to be slightly weaker, which is usually only an issue on the smaller jewelry.

 

COPPER
We use a 110 grade 100% pure copper for all of our copper jewelry. Copper jewelry is the same price, weight, and strength as a brass jewelry. Copper jewelry can be plated in any of our finish, however, is mostly used in its raw form or sometimes vibed and lacquered to bring out the coppers natural beauty and to preserve its shelf life. It has also been rumored that copper has healing properties for people with arthritis.

 

STERLING SILVER
Sterling silver is an alloy consisting of at least 92 ½% fine silver with the other 7 ½% being mostly copper. While sterling silver jewelry can be plated most people use sterling silver just vibed to bring out the sterling’s luster or vibed with an anti-tarnish applied to prolong the jewelry shelf life.

 

GOLD PLATED
Gold plated jewelry is NOT fully gold jewelry. Gold plated jewelry is jewelry made of a base metal (e.g. copper) or silver that has a thin layer of gold applied to the top. The layer is so thin, but it can last long depending on the base material. 316L is a good base material to look out for when shopping gold plated jewelries. With the price of gold going up over the years, gold plated jewelries have become decent alternatives for many fashion lovers irrespective of class or popularity status.