FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT GOLD

Q: IF YOU USE SCRAP GOLD FOR A PIECE YOU MAKE, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF NEW GOLD DO YOU NEED TO ADD FOR CASTING?
A: This question is one that has many variables. One factor is the kind of scrap gold, and the condition it is in. If your scrap gold is a chain, there is a lot of solder already in the piece. A die-struck ring is a very clean piece of scrap gold. Another major factor is what we are making with the gold. As a general rule of thumb, however, 50% new gold should be added to the old.

Q: HOW FLEXIBLE ARE GOLD PRICES?
A: I'm the wrong person to answer this question. Gold had been floating around $1350 to $1425 per ounce for a long time. I sold a lot at $390 and $450 ten years ago. :>( In the first days of the first Gulf War, gold shot up to about $800.00, and returned to $350.00 within the week. Last year (2012), gold neared $1800 per ounce, but has fallen quite a bit since then.

Q: WHAT KARAT GOLD IS MOST DURABLE?
A: Gold is gold and it is as hard as it is. Studies have shown that all things being equal, the gold content of a 10 karat to 18 karat alloy does not seem to affect its durability. Alloying gold with copper and silver in varying amounts, it is possible to make an 18 Karat alloy as hard as a 10 Karat alloy.

Q: IS 24 KARAT GOLD TOO SOFT TO LAST LONG?
A: 24 karat is pure gold, with no alloying metals, and as such, is very soft and malleable.

Q: EXPLAIN GOLD FILLED, GOLD PLATED, 14K, 18K, 24K, ETC, IN GOLD JEWELRY, WITH ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES.
A: Gold filled is a base metal that has been mechanically bonded to a heavy layer of gold. By law, 1/20 of the weight of the piece must be the karat gold listed.
Gold can either be electrolytically plated, or dipped in gold. This process leaves an extremely thin layer, and uses only trace amounts of gold.
14 karat means 14 parts out of 24 are pure gold, the other 10 parts are the alloying metals. 18 karat means 18 of 24 parts are pure gold, and 24 karat is pure gold. Gold alloys can use a variety of metals, the most common being silver and copper (plus zinc for 10 karat), with the addition of nickel (and more recently palladium) for making "white" gold alloys.
The differences become significant in the resistance to stress and corrosion.
White gold alloys made with nickel are not "true" alloys, since the nickel doesn't mix with the other metals, but only coats the boundaries of the microscopic grains which make up the metal. This nickel is very sensitive to chlorine, which is in salt water, bleaches, swimming pools, etc., and can cause the metal to become brittle. This is especially dangerous for prong set ring stones, because the prongs can appear strong, but are brittle and easily broken--with the subsequent loss of the gemstone.
The 10 karat alloy is very susceptible to corrosive influences, since it is less than 50% gold. It tends to react with body acids in some people. It is for this reason that earring posts are commonly made in 14 karat. When the gold percentage reaches and exceeds 50%, the reactivity of the metal is reduced and becomes more stable. Rarely do we hear of someone that has an adverse reaction to 18 karat.

Q: I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT BLUE UNDERTONES LOOK BEST ON ME, BUT MY WEDDING RING AND OTHER FINE JEWELRY ARE YELLOW GOLD. SHOULD I CHANGE ALL MY JEWELRY TO WHITE GOLD?
A: It's not necessary to change your fine jewelry. Many people mix white and yellow gold. When purchasing a large piece of costume jewelry, you may want to stay within the same undertone as your clothing.

Q: WHERE DO WE GET MOST OF OUR GOLD?
A: Gold is almost everywhere around us- in the earth's crust, seas, rivers and plants - but is very difficult to extract. It takes almost three tons of ore to produce an ounce of gold. The leading producers today are Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, the former Soviet States and the United States.

Q: WHY DO PRICES VARY SO MUCH FOR SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE A PLAIN GOLD WEDDING BAND?
A: Many factors are involved in pricing. Different stores have different mark-ups, often reflected by differing overhead. More importantly though, be sure to compare that the item is EXACTLY the same. This can be very hard to do, so here is an example. A plain wedding ring, bright polished. Compare these factors: Width, karat gold and weight (light weight, regular or a very heavy "comfort fit").

Q: IS WHITE GOLD HARDER TO WORK WITH AND MORE EXPENSIVE?
A: White gold and yellow gold have the same amount of pure gold. In 14 karat, 14 of 24 parts is pure gold, The difference is the other 10 parts, or the Alloy used. Silver, copper, and palladium or nickel may be used for alloys. The alloys will affect the color, and can make white gold "Harder", thus harder to work with when setting stones. The price for 14 karat white and 14 karat yellow gold is generally close to the same (depending on the manufacturer) for nickel alloys, but somewhat higher for palladium alloys.