Gold in its pure form is too soft to be worn as jewelry, as it would not withstand the everyday stresses that jewelry is exposed to. Instead it is mixed with other metals such as e.g. copper, zinc, silver or cobalt, to make a stronger alloy. A pleasant consequence of alloying gold with other metals is that it the end result is often a different color - so white and rose golds are now cherished in their own right.
The Karat system is used by the jewelry trade to indicate the proportion of gold in an alloy, and therefore makes implications as to the quality of a ring. Gold is stamped 10K, 14K, 18K and 24K. 24K yellow gold is often thought of as ’pure gold’ - it is extremely rare to get jewelry any purer than this as it would not be practical for the purpose. As 24K gold has only a small proportion of other metals, you might find the ring is much softer than other karats.
10k yellow gold is the lowest that can be termed gold. 10K gold is 37.5% pure gold, with other metals making up the other 62.5%. People often prefer to have a higher percentage of gold than this, as it makes the metal more precious, but 10K is favored by some as the high proportion of other metals makes it more hard-wearing. If you want a more long-lasting ring, and don’t mind it being less ’pure’, then 10K is the choice for you.
18K yellow gold is often used as a happy medium between the pleasant color and status of 24K, and the durability of 14K.
Over time, the ring may dull from contact with detergents, moisturizers and other chemicals - ideally you would take the ring off as needed to protect it from such substances. If it does dull then even a quick buff with a soft cloth should brighten it up. Gold will show scratches from every day wear and tear; the first few will be the most obvious but over time it will develop a more pleasing patina. It can be polished/refinished to remove any particularly deep scratches.
The scientific name for gold is Aurum, and its chemical symbol is Au - from Aurora, which means dawn.
Gold’s qualities make it ideal for the jewelry trade, and it is also indispensable in industries as diverse as video technology, lasers, medicine & for spacecraft. Golds many uses stem from its incredible malleability & ductility, meaning it can be shaped and stretched easily; and because it is resistant to chemical changes so it doesn’t tarnish as easily as some other metals. Of course, the color as well as the physical properties means gold has been used for decoration throughout history and amongst many cultures.
The first suggestion of gold being used for decoration was in Eastern Europe in 4000BC. In 1500BC, gold was used for trade for the first time by the Ancient Egyptians, and was first legalized as money a thousand years later in China. Between then and now, gold has been linked to many historical events and discoveries. Discoveries of new sources of gold in North America caused several infamous gold rushes during the 19th century, which hastened the colonization of the American West. Scientific developments in France in 1927 lead to the discovery that gold can aid recovery from rheumatoid arthritis.