Gold
Pure gold is not practical, that’s why it is often used in different alloys. These alloys in their own turn prolong the life of your jewelry and reduce the price. The metals used in the alloy also determine the color of the gold; a greater percentage of nickel gives white gold its color, while a high percentage of copper lends a reddish tone to rose gold. While gold itself does not tarnish, these alloying metals can sometimes cause a piece to darken with time, or leave a dark residue on the skin.
Platinum
Platinum is rear and that’s why more expensive. It is grayish-white in color, non-tarnishing, and very strong. It’s not an easy task to melt platinum, as a result of this it gained its popularity only with advancements in jewelers' tools in the late 1800s. Since that time it hasn’t lost its popularity. Being rather expensive, platinum is still sure to hold its ground. Jewelry platinum is an alloy, usually 90% platinum and 10% iridium. Platinum jewelry is usually stamped "Plat."
Silver
This jewelry metal is known for quite a long period of time. Before gold and platinum were discovered, silver had been the most popular jewelry metal. Even now it is still popular, despite the fact that it tarnishes and is less durable than gold and platinum. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver; such pieces are often marked "SS," "Sterling," or "925." Coin silver is 90% silver and is sometimes marked "900."
Palladium
Palladium is a member of the platinum metals group. It is harder, lighter and not that expensive as platinum. It was used in jewelry manufacturing during WWII as a substitute for platinum, which was restricted, being considered a strategic metal.
Pinchbeck
Pinchbeck is an alloy of copper and zinc, which has the name of its discoverer Christopher Pinchbeck. It was popular in the eighteenth century to “look goldy”; ladies often had their favorite gold pieces reproduced in pinchbeck to take with them on their travels. Its popularity waned in the mid-1800s with the legalization of 9K gold and the invention of the electrogilding process. Pinchbeck is rarely seen today.
Vermeil
Vermeil pieces, made of sterling silver and coated with gold ("silver gilt") were known in the 18th century in France. Production was banned in the early 1800s, however, when it was found out that the mercury used in the process led to craftsmen’s blindness. |
