6 Tips to Buy Gold with Confidence!

Gold has been entwined with the fate of men and women since time untold. Its desirability is universal, and plays a heavy role in literature, being mentioned in folk-tales, scriptures and sciences.

From the mythological Midas’s golden touch to the modern, quick-witted computer chip, gold is an invaluable substance in all of its applications. Even though it's desirable world-wide, the creation of fine jewellery remains to some a mystery as potent as Daedalus' labyrinth. That is what I'm here to detangle for you, with a guide to what you should ask your jeweller, and what you should already know about gold.

1. What is 24kt gold?

24kt gold is gold in its purest form. It is 24/24 parts gold (100%).

The higher the karat, the more expensive your jewellery will be and the more value it will hold in future. Low gold content will mean lower value, less saturated colour and stronger jewellery. Officially recognised gold in India ranges in karat with benchmarks at 14kt, 18kt and 22kt, however, in other countries you can buy gold with as little as 9 karat purity too. When you're eyeing new glam, ask your jeweller what karat it is first to avoid paying big bucks on low purity pieces.

2. Is jewellery made of pure silver/gold?

Practically speaking, jewellery will never have 100% metal purity. Pure gold and silver are simply too soft to make into functional jewellery, so your piece will always need some percentage of alloy with the precious metal to keep it strong enough to work with and wear – especially if there are gemstones that need strong prongs to hold them in place.

The finish of the gold – white, yellow, rose - will not effect the cost, but purity will. For instance, a gram of 18kt yellow gold will cost the same as a gram of 18kt rose gold, irrespective of the colour because they both contain 75% pure gold.

For silver jewellery, the purest quality you can buy is 925 silver. Also known as sterling silver, it is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy. The purer the silver, the faster it will tarnish and blacken. Rhodium-plating is used to slow down the aging process on silver pieces, however it will eventually surrender to environmental factors, so remember to care for it!

Don't ask whether the piece is pure, it won't be. It's more fruitful to ask for percentages of purity or karat. The information is freely given, and we would love to skip the explanation on why "pure" isn't the right word for your fine piece!

3. Can I wear gold-plated pieces if I have allergies to alloys?

If the base metal is silver or gold then you can wear it safely - unless you're allergic to gold or silver. Do not be misled by the term “gold-plated” if it’s not followed by a clear statement of 925 silver. Think about it, if a jeweller was selling silver they'd definitely want you to know it! If that assurance is missing from the description then the item is most likely made on a base of brass or stainless steel.

4. How can I tell whether something is solid gold or not?

Pricing will be the first clear indicator. Gold will never be sold cheap unless it's a product of human error. Each gram of gold is valuable - the weight of gold is meticulously recorded up to 3 decimal places, especially in countries like India. All fine pieces will have some kind of purity symbol on it for authenticity – unless you are shopping vintage!

Gold is also almost double the density of silver, which makes it much heavier. If you're trying to see whether a piece is gold or not, first check for purity markings. If those aren't present, take stock of the weight of the piece. If it feels heavy it might be worth a trip to your local jeweller to get it tested.

5. Is gold-plated jewellery just as valuable?

Gold plating, on the other hand, is an extremely thin layer of gold which is measured in microns and is practically negligible. It is so thin, you can't weigh it so the value of that gold is not recorded.

Gold plating can rub away and fade over time with usage and exposure to chemicals, but re-plating your piece with a local jeweller is easy and cost-effective when you want a gold look without the heavy investment. If you're allergic to alloys, gold plating on a silver base will keep your skin safe.

Pro-tip, if you want a well-loved piece freshened up with a new look, consider asking the jeweller to plate it in an unusual finish, e.g. making a faded yellow piece into a bright, rose gold or giving it an icy white hue with rhodium! Play with colour and see what you like through mini-tests so you know what to choose when you go for gold.

6. Which metal finish will look best on me?

The colour of yellow gold is highly desirable since it combines yellow and red like the sun. As a maker-turned-designer for jewellery, I have had the pleasure of weaving stones into specific metal tones myself and here’s what I have learned.

Whilst yellow is universally suitable to just about anyone, colour theory can be used to help you try something new, just like how it helps you select the right shade for makeup! Feerozaj will help you select what will compliment both your skin tone and the gem colour.

At the end of the day, it's down to your personal preference but ask your designer to advise you on complimentary colour schemes, and trust them to show off every facet of your jewellery in it's best light!