GOLDEN INFORMATION
(Also see the table at the bottom of this page.)
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IS IT REALLY 24K GOLD? When considering the purchase of high karat gold from Asia consider the fact that up until only a year ago many gold bracelets and chains in the shops were stamped with "24k" or "100%" as a hallmark even though the actual gold content was below this purity. For years the Thai people thought they were buying pure gold but were duped by the manufacturers. So someone marketing 24k gold in the States can with good conscious think they are selling pure gold from Asia or specifically Thailand but they are not. They could be selling just about any purity without a proper assay to determine gold content. And besides, once you purchase an item that is of an accurate purity of 22k, 23k and 24k, you will realize there is a substantial difference in density and malleability between each as well as appearance. |
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HANDMADE?
The term "Handmade" is used so loosely on jewelry sites and auctions when referring to how Thai gold jewelry is made. Few gold items are hand made in modern times. On some styles of bracelets and chains components are made in wax molds and assembled by hand. There are some exceptions. Sometimes a gold item will go through different phases of fabrication such as the addition of etching or embossing and diamond cutting. These processes are performed by hand on a lathe. In the case of the "Sukhothai" style jewelry the enamel paint is painted by hand on each tiny component. So the degree of making by hand varies greatly and the price will reflect the higher labor cost. But this should not take away from the reputation of the craftsmanship that goes into the making of Thai jewelry. From the original design element which can date back hundreds of years to the skill in which the molds are meticulously made and all of the steps involved in creating the finished product. |
Gold information courtesy of Jewelry Central
Gold has the
longest and most storied history of all precious metals. It is soft enough to be
worked into interesting shapes, and its warm color and scarcity gave it great
value in early civilizations. It has been the foundation of many monetary
systems, and remains important to our economy even today.
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As jewelry, it
was gold's softness and natural beauty that made it appealing, in addition to
the fact that it doesn't corrode or tarnish. It is so soft, in fact, that pure
gold is rarely used in jewelry. It is mixed with another metal, usually copper
or silver, to make a stronger gold alloy, or mixture of metals. The quantity of
gold in a given alloy is expressed in karats (abbreviated as K or KT). Pure gold
is 24K; 18K gold is 75% gold and 25% other metals. In other words, each karat is
equal to roughly 4.17% of the total of the alloy.
As the karat
weight drops, the metal becomes more durable but less yellow. Sometimes gold
that is a lower karat weight will be plated in high-karat gold to enhance the
color. This is perfectly acceptable as long as you pay a fair price. Also keep
in mind that gold plating will wear off with time and your jewelry may need to
be re-plated.
When buying
gold jewelry, look for a stamp with a karat mark, the manufacturer's registered
trademark and the country of origin.
White
Gold
White gold has
the same properties as yellow gold, but it has been mixed with different metals
to give it a white color. Instead of the copper and silver used in yellow gold,
white gold contains such metals as nickel, zinc, or even platinum. However,
white gold should not be confused with platinum, which is much rarer than gold
and hence more valuable.
The karat
weight system used in white gold is the same as that used in yellow gold. 18K
yellow gold and 18K white gold contain the same proportion of gold; only the
remaining 25% of the alloy is different. Sometimes, white gold is plated with an
even whiter metal, such as rhodium (a very rare member of the platinum family),
to enhance its appearance.
White gold was
developed to give a different look to jewelry. The white color is an excellent
setting for very white diamonds, and when used side by side with yellow gold, it
creates a striking effect. Jewelry using both white and yellow gold is called
"two-tone."
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Precious
Metals |
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Consider these fact when buying gold jewelry
| A 20 inch gold rope chain can consist of only one or two grams of pure gold unless otherwise stated. Be careful! | Pure gold can be flattened into a foil that is only 5/1,000,000 of an inch thick. | "100 % gold" could only mean "plated with gold". |
| The price for the gold in a 23K chain is non negotiable. There is no wholesale or retail; everyone pays the published price. | However, the price of the gold jewelry is based on the cost of the gold and the cost of the workmanship that went into making the piece. | Thailand ranks as the second largest jewelry exporting country in the world. |
| "Thai Gold" is .965 fine, a little over 23K. The alloy makes the gold harder so it stands up to wear much better than the very soft 24K gold. | In other Asian countries such as Hong Kong and Singapore, the gold shops sell only 24K gold and is sold by the "Tael" which is 37.5 grams. | "Baht Gold" refers to "Thai Gold" .950 pure or better and is sold by the Baht weight which = 15.2 grams. |
| Baht Gold Necklaces & Chains ll Baht Gold Bracelets ll 22k Gold Earrings ll 23k Gold Rings ll Buddha Amulets ll Pendants ll 23k Gold Clasp |
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KARATS
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