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About Gold

Gold in General	Gold is believed to have been the first metal worked by prehistoric man and has been a source of fascination for people since the Stone Age. Interestingly, for more than 70 years, the standard treatment for rheumatoid arthritis was regular injections of a liquid suspension of gold, which appears to act as an anti-inflammatory. For other interesting tidbits about gold, see this fascinating Discover Magazine article.

Types of Gold	The karat (kt) is the measure of fineness of gold. 24Kt is pure gold, 14Kt gold is 14 parts pure gold and the rest is alloy. 14Kt is the standard fineness used for most jewelry in the USA. It has a rich yellow color and hardness and durability suitable for lasting use. Gold-fill is 50 to 100 times thicker than regular gold plating, and it is about 17 to 25 times thicker than heavy gold electroplate. The base metal used is usually brass, copper, or steel. Gold-filled items are made by combining a layer, or layers of gold alloy to a base metal (usually brass) then rolling or drawing the metal to the desired thickness and shape. Gold-plate is a very thin deposit of gold, electroplated or electrochemically applied to the piece. The industry standard is .15 to .25 mils thickness of gold-plating to the surface of the base metal; it is a very small fraction of an inch thickness (1/1000 inch to 1/1,000,000 or so). Heavy gold electroplate might be .002 or .003 inches thick. Gilt is another term used, which means there is a very thin finish of gold color over the base metal which may or may not actually be gold.

Caring for Gold Jewelry	Gold can scratch easily, so store your gold pieces away from other jewelry that can cause damage (e.g., diamonds), such as in a velvet-lined jewelry box or case that contains compartments for each item. Or, separately wrap each piece in tissue paper or keep in small bags or pouches. Make sure your jewelry is dry when you put it away, because moisture can cause springs and clasps to weaken over time. Gold jewelry can be cleaned with a soft toothbrush and some soapy water (dishwashing liquid works fine for this). Rinse thoroughly and buff your piece dry with a soft, lint-free cloth to make it shine. If you prefer, you can also use a non-abrasive jewelry-cleaner but if your jewelry contains gemstones, verify that the cleaner is safe to use with them.

Dangling Divas' Gold Jewelry	We purchase components from several reputable suppliers of jewelry components and indicate in each product description whether our jewelry is made of gold-filled or gold-plated components. To date we have not yet explored the use of 14K gold (because of cost). Price is usually a good guide.

Dangling Divas Jewelry Design | www.danglingdivas.com | info@danglingdivas.com