Gold is found in many places across the world, and was probably first found on the ground and used by prehistoric man as a tool. The first known use of gold was in parts of central and Eastern Europe, in 4000BC. Humans have always seemed to have an almost intuitive respect for the value and beauty of gold; many ancient civilisations all over the globe associated it naturally with power and their rulers. The Incas referred to gold as “the tears of the sun”.

One of the reasons humans have an enduring love affair with gold is the way that it lasts. The beauty of the gold jewellery displayed after the excavation of Egyptian burial tombs demonstrates admirably.

Pure gold (24 carat) is soft and easily damaged so it is not often used in jewellery today. To make gold more practical it is alloyed with different metals, like copper, silver and zinc, to give it strength and durability. Different proportions of these alloys are what makes the different shades of gold – red, or rose gold, white gold, green gold or yellow gold.

The purity of gold is measured in carats – 18 carat is 75% gold (Hallmarked as 750) and 9 carat is 37.5% gold ( Hallmarked as 375).

As well as caratage, the price of a piece of jewellery is also affected by how much it weighs. A larger, heavier piece of gold jewellery is more expensive than a smaller, lighter one.

Over the years gold has had a place in society giving it the allure of wealth and power. The desire to own gold stems back to the beginning of time – its magical importance will be understood by anyone who wears it.

White Gold

White gold is an alloy (mixture) of yellow gold and other white metals such as silver and palladium. For example, 18ct yellow gold is made by mixing 75% gold (750 parts per thousand) with 25% (250 parts per thousand) other metals such as copper and zinc.

18ct white gold is made by mixing 75% gold with 25% other metals such as silver and palladium. So the amount of gold is the same but the alloy is different. The natural colour of the resulting alloy is actually a light grey. Therefore jewellery is coated with another white metal called Rhodium, part of the Platinum family, which is very white and gives it a wonderful modern, gleaming sheen. Rhodium plating can wear away eventually through wear and tear but to keep it looking its best, the product can easily be re-rhodium plated to bring it back to its original brilliance.

How long the rhodium plating lasts is dependent on the wear and tear that the ring receives. It can last up to a couple of years, for others it may only last up to a year. We will re-rhodium plate your product free of charge within the first six months of purchase. After this time we are happy to carry out the service at a competitive rate.

Platinum

• Platinum is rare, a treasure coveted by influential individuals for centuries.
• Found in very few places around the world, platinum is 30 times more rare than gold.
• In jewellery it is usually 95% pure (by comparison 18ct gold is 75% pure) Geraldonline platinum jewellery is hallmarked 950.
• Platinum is a naturally white metal so it will not cast any of its own colour into a diamond.
• Platinum never fades or tarnishes but keeps its natural white colour for a lifetime. The density of platinum makes it more durable than other jewellery metals.
• As platinum is so pure, it is naturally hypoallergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin.