China Fashion Jewelry Blog

Generally speaking gold in its purest form is used for investment more than decoration, as it tends to be quite vulnerable to scratching. It is in a category with silver, palladium, rhodium which are consider precious metals. Because of its malleable nature, it is usually mixed with other metals to harden it and in some cases change its color. Alloyed gold can be made harder by adding nickel or a small percentage of titanium. These alloys not only strengthen it, but determine the color of the metal. For example, yellow gold will contain copper, and the white variety of the metal will have nickel, zinc and copper is mixed in. With these concepts, it can come in many color such as pink also know as rose gold, or purple etc.

The most widely used alloys jewelry in Europe are 18 and 14 carat, although 9 carat is popular in Britain. Portugal has a unique designation of 19.2 carats. In the United States, 14 carat is the most popular density, followed by 10 carat. In the Middle East, India and South East Asia, jewelry is traditionally 22 carat (sometimes even 23 carat). In China, Hong Kong and some other parts of Asia, chuk kam or pure gold jewelry of 990 fineness (almost 24 carat) is popular.

In many countries, laws require that every item of gold jewelry be clearly stamped with its percentage of the metal.. This is often controlled through hall marking, a system which originated in London at Goldsmiths’ Hall in the 14th century. Today, hall marking is compulsory in such countries as Britain, France, the Netherlands, Morocco, Egypt, and Bahrain. Jewelers generally stamp their gold jewelry with their hallmark and purity of gold even if there is no law to do it. The purity is measured from 1 to 24. 24 karat is purest form of the metal. So when you hear 18k, it means 18/24 karat which is 75% of the precious metal and 25% alloy. More alloy, or lower karat in gold, it becomes much more strong.

This unique metal is also sometimes used to plate silver or other base metal jewelry. As an investment it is sometimes hoarded to hedge against possible economic problems.

Have you wondered about the difference between hypoallergenic jewelry and sterling silver jewelry? If you’ve experienced an allergic reaction to jewelry, the distinction is important.
Hypoallergenic Jewelry
Hypoallergenic jewelry is made for people who experience allergic reactions to normal jewelry. Most people who experience such reactions are allergic to nickel. Hypoallergenic jewelry is made out of pure metals such as stainless steel, which does not contain nickel. Silver and gold, by contrast, can contain varying degrees of nickel. People who are allergic to nickel can still wear these metals, however, if they purchase high-quality (often referred to as “fine”) silver or gold, which is 99.9 percent silver or 99.9 percent gold.

Sterling Silver Jewelry
Sterling silver jewelry is a alloy jewelry of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent other metals. The other metal in sterling silver is generally copper, but it can also be germanium, zinc or platinum. Traces of nickel can also be found in sterling silver jewelry and can cause an allergic reaction in people with intense jewelry allergies. However, most people who are allergic to nickel can wear sterling silver jewelry.
Nickel Allergies
Roughly 15 percent of the population is allergic to nickel. Symptoms include skin rash, redness, swelling, itching and burning at the site of contact. If you experience any of these symptoms while wearing jewelry that is not stainless steel, 99.9 percent silver or 99.9 percent gold, you may have a nickel allergy.
Finding Hypoallergenic Jewelry
All jewelry vendors should be able to tell you what their jewelry is made of. If you find a vendor who sells stainless steel jewelry, you have found hypoallergenic jewelry.
Tips for Those Sensitive Skin
Ears and wrists are the most common trouble areas for people who have jewelry allergies. While you might be able to wear a necklace that contains nickel in it, your ears might become irritated if you wear a matching pair of earrings. For this reason, it is wise to buy only jewelry that is sterling silver, gold, or stainless steel with gold plate.

So you’ve been given a beautiful piece of gold jewellery? Here’s how to look after it properly.
Gold is the softest of the precious metals. In fact the greater the purity, the softer it is. Hence the ‘old’ prospector’s biting test – pure gold is marked by a hard nibble! (Not to be advised without a dentist on standby!)
This ‘softness’ property is one of the reasons why it became so precious and desirable, to every civilisation. Gold, although rare and difficult to obtain could be easily ‘worked’ – Just one ounce can be beaten out to cover a surface area of over 27 square metres!
In it’s purest form it is too soft to be of any use in the making of Jewellery. The pure gold is alloyed with silver, copper and various other metals in order to render a material hard enough for jewellery. The percentage of pure gold, in a alloy Jewellery is denoted by its carat (k) weight. Pure gold is 24k (ie.100%), the other common alloy carat weights are 22k, 18k, 14k, 10k and 9k. 9k is the hardest alloy. Obviously, this means that 9k will scratch all the softer k weights. This is the reason it’s advisable to always wear items of the same  carat weight, if your jewellery is likely to come into contact (rings etc). Gold is resistant to oxidative corrosion – it won’t tarnish, rust or corrode.

Silver jewelry is one of the most common types of jewelry that people purchase. From silver earrings and bracelets to silver rings and pendants, silver jewelries are fine pieces to wear both for casual and special occasions. Some people do not like the look of yellow gold, and so silver jewelry becomes the best alternative to match a person’s skin tone and outfits.

Types of Silver in Silver Jewelry

Silver is one of the finest metals that can be used in jewelry. The purest silver, which is called fine silver, is 999/1000 pure. However, when it comes to silver jewelry, purity is not a good thing. Pure silver is too soft to be used in jewelry. It needs to be mixed with other metals in order to create alloys which are considered more durable.

The most commonly used silver alloy jewelry is Sterling silver. This consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. When these two elements are combined, these create a mixture that is durable enough for everyday use and at the same time, maintains the desired shine. In some cases, rhodium is incorporated in silver to provide a tarnish-resistant finish.

Aside from Sterling silver, there are other jewelries that are composed of silver and other metals. These silver jewelries include silver 800, an 80/20 mix of silver and other metals. There are also silver-plated jewelries. However, these are not good long-term investments because the silver wears off after some time. This is also true of nickel silver jewelry. This type does not actually contain silver; it is a combination of several other metals.

No matter what type of silver is used in silver jewelry, it is important to take care of it since it has the tendency to scratch and tarnish after a period of time. Although silver can make a fine piece of jewelry, silver requires high maintenance compared to gold.